Snow in January, sticky fluffy pancakes and clay modelling

7th January 2021 - Snow, sticky pancakes for a weekday snow-day and afternoon activities

I got up just after 6 to workout and peered out through the windows into the darkness. Snow!! There is an actual sprinkling of fresh snow. This calls for a proper breakfast of pancakes and fillings. Lots of sweet, stickiness to fill bellies before going outside to make footprints, feed the birds and throw tiny snowballs. There will be complaints of course, as this is not the snow that they were born into in the Swiss Alps – months of deep snow to ski on, build snowmen and sled to school. But Irish snow is like diamonds - rare and sufficient in tiny amounts.

Of course, we knew there was a cold snap coming, but with two adults at home these days and a stunning loss of routine since the Christmas break, neither of us thought to go to the shops and stock up.

There are advantages and disadvantages to a childhood moving house. Our children had the joy of being born and living in Switzerland for their early school years, before spending a blissful 2 years in Antigua in the Caribbean. Then we moved ‘home’ for me, to Ireland. This is a place where they can comfortably and confidently finish their school years and choose university or other training. It was a difficult decision to move back here, but we look back now and know that it was absolutely the right decision. The travel part was fun but we never belonged, and I think that is super important. I don’t want the children to pay the price for our freedom.

This year, with Covid impacting everyone’s lives from fear, security and loneliness amongst a thousand other emotions, it really is a time for inventiveness and a stiff upper lip. As eating out is cancelled for the foreseeable future, we are making eating at home almost as fun but definitely as yummy. I like it too as it is all within my control, as I like to control everything. (I can say that now that I am 45).

So sweet, sticky pancakes on a chilly morning seemed just in order. I started with a blueberry compote - frozen blueberries only at this time of year, they have to travel far too far otherwise. I popped a handful in the saucepan with the juice from half an orange and a teaspoon of vanilla paste. The other half orange went straight into my tummy as I just can’t resist.

I used wholemeal flour for the pancakes and they were just perfectly tasty, the kids only minded a little bit!

So take: 100g wholemeal flour, 2 eggs, separated - whites whipped up and yellows mixed with the other ingredients, 180mls Greek yoghurt, 1 tsp baking powder. You will get a light and fluffy cloud-like batter. (By the way, if you don’t have Greek yoghurt, just use any kind of yoghurt or buttermilk.).

Heat a skillet or other frying pan to a medium temperature. Drop in a little butter and then a spoonful of batter for each pancake. This recipe will make a batch of 10-12 pancakes.

By now the blueberry sauce will be sticky and sensational. Drop some onto the pancakes and if you are feeling fancy add a dollop of coconut yoghurt and some toasted, flaked almonds for a gourmet Thursday, snowy morning breakfast at home.

I must mention the snow play now - not nearly as idyllic as I thought. It was fun for a few moments until someone had snow dripping down the back of their neck and then a huge fight ensued. Everyone was back inside 5 minutes later, screens on and “Don’t-talk-to-me” attitude.

In the afternoon we took out the modelling clay. I thought it might be fun to make something useful, so suggested pots to put pens in on their desks. We made a few shapes and pots and then back to the more fun task of playing Texas Hold’Em .