A First Class Recipe

A First Class Recipe

Listen to the Chicken, I mean Chef. 

Mouth-watering pancakes are famous worldwide. I know my family finds them irresistible. They are also so easy to cook, even if you burn everything. The ingredients can be found in any cook’s cupboard. Some have been there for years, so this would be a good time for you to use the flour. Just watch out for mould. Having said that, if you do find the flour is years old, you can find new ingredients in the local supermarket or village. They are crying out to sell their flour and eggs. But usually, they are on tap in your cupboards. They do not really need a special visit to the supermarket or local shop.

This delicious food recipe originated in prehistoric societies worldwide.

The preparation and cooking utensils are easy to obtain and use without any mind-boggling fuss that raises the heartbeat and sends the pulses racing. We don’t want to get doctors and surgeons involved if we can help it.

As I said, all you have to do is retrieve the ingredients that are usually hiding in your kitchen cupboard. Then you can easily access a pan and a grid or just switch on your oven.

A pinafore might be a good idea because of the flour. And, if you have today’s fashion of waist-length hair, you can just put your hair up in an elastic band. But, of course, if you are male, then you can just brush it back; having said that, I have seen quite a few males with shoulder length and longer hair. And why not? They look lovely with their beards as well. So, it is up to you. I mean, it’s nature’s way of keeping us warm. Not me; I’m female, but I do have hair but not a beard, or hair on my chest. Thank goodness.

 But apart from these little tips, it is so easy to produce a pancake. No fuss or bother. The joy of this recipe is that all you need is flour, eggs, milk, and your favourite cooking oil. I use olive oil unless it is rancid, then I do throw it out. You don’t want to poison your family even though you may have been rowing. Olive oil does damage the taste somewhat. But the joy of this recipe is they can be made just from flour, sugar, oil, and fruits. I think that is a repetition, but better to be safe than sorry. It’s just like leaving the pancake in the oven while you take the dog for a five-mile walk. Easily done, though you should warn the Fire Service. But leaving it in the oven for some time does have its advantages; the dog is healthy with the extra exercise. So really, it is something to think about.

But, I am getting away from the subject. The shape of the pancake is usually round unless you like cutting out patterns in the batter, which is almost impossible; if it is runny and only becomes solid after cooking. I find it is off-putting as I have yet been unable to cut patterns in a runny batter. But of course, once the batter is cooked, you will have more joy with cutting patterns in it. It won’t run away, you see.

The pancake can also have differences. Some are fluffy or thin and flat. Again, not much choice, but even then, fluffy ones are flat. They are all a quarter of an inch in depth. To help out here, I have never seen a runny batter with holes cut in it.

Oh, and one more thing, it is exciting to know you can have a potato pancake. I think the French call them pancakes or crepes.

But now, for the really exciting tip, you can choose chocolate or cheese. If you have a special taste, you can put the chocolate and the cheese together in just one pancake!! And wait for it; you can then cover the cheese and the chocolate in strawberry jam. As you can imagine, the pancake can be cooked in so many ways with so many ingredients. I even know one friend who uses seaweed and then coats that delicious ingredient in red jelly. Scrumptious.

Happy eating!


I do hope you enjoyed this post, and that it induced crazy snorting laughter … or at least a glimmer of a smile. Feel free to check out my many other blog posts on WordPress as well as my large collection of novels on Amazon. My books cover a number of genres, such as Regency Romance, Science Fiction, Crime Horror, and fantasy. I am sure you will find something you like. Please click on the link below to visit my US Amazon author page (or search for other regions).

Bara Brith: A Welsh favourite of my mother … and her mother.

Bara Brith is another recipe from the Welsh side of my family. It was a favourite in my mother’s kitchen, and mine once I had a hungry hoard to feed.

Bara Brith

I was interested to read the history of Bara Brith.

According to Wikipedia, Bara is derived from the Welsh language and means bread. Brith means speckled. Apparently, a Welsh chef added mixed dried fruit to bread dough. It is believed to be the first version of the Welsh tea loaf.

I do know that this recipe has been handed down through the ages. The women of my Welsh family know this recipe by heart, and it is a recognized treat on a Sunday.

Bara Brith Recipe

  • 325 ml/11 fluid ounces of hot boiled tea
  • 230 ml/8 ounces of mixed dried fruit
  • 340 mg/12 ounces of self-raising flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon of mixed spice
  • 60 mg/2 oz. brown sugar
  • 1 beaten egg

Pour the hot boiled tea over the fruit in a mixing bowl.  Leave to soak overnight.

Thoroughly grease a 1ltr/2 lb baking tin.

Next morning or day, pour the mixed fruit along with the tea into a bowl.  Add the egg. Mix gently.

Stir in the flour and then add the baking powder. Then stir in the brown sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined together.

If it is a bit stiff, pour in a little more hot water.

Make sure the mixture can drop easily off a large spoon.

Spread mixture evenly in the greased loaf tin and place into a preheated oven: approx. 170C/325F/Gas 3

Bake for around 1 and a half hours. For the last twenty minutes of cooking, cover with foil to avoid the crust burning.

Cool it for at least five minutes.

My mother would always leave it for a day in a cool dry place before eating, but it never lasts that long in our house.

Happy Eating.


If you like intriguing romance set in our modern topsy-turvy world then look no further than ‘Window to Love’: A wonderful new work by author Katy Walters. Available to purchase now at Amazon in either digital Kindle format or paperback: AMAZON UK or AMAZON US

Sam peered through the window; where was Tammy? After a life-threatening car accident, Samantha used a wheelchair and depended on her friend Tammy.
As Sam waited, she saw a large dog bound across the garden lawn to her window. Perhaps the dog was a stray?
Sam peered through the window and saw the dog trotting happily at the side of a reasonably handsome, reasonably aged man. As Sam lifted the curtain slightly for a better look, the man turned and waved. Sam shot back behind the curtain. ‘Blast!’ She didn’t want him knocking on her door. After all, she was home alone. She didn’t return the wave, and abruptly dropped the curtain.
Little did Sam realize this was just the beginning of a stream of giddy and sometimes frightening adventures with this reasonably good-looking man and his handsome dog.


I am so glad you have read my blog. Please stay a while to read more blog posts or my website pages:

Katy Walters Author – Regency Romance Crime Sci-Fi Horror

Doggy interview with author Mimi Barbour.

Doggy interview with author Mimi Barbour.

Please enjoy this video interview with author Mimi Barbour – our two dogs, Lucy and Charli do the ‘talking’. Light-hearted and informative, the interview provides a cheerful insight into an author’s life.

If you want to find out more about Mimi Barbour’s work, or subscribe to her newsletter, and most definitely purchase her superb novels, then please use the following links:


Watch Captain Pug

Watch Captain Pug

Watch my Captain Pug video! On the 23rd of March, 2021, The Golden Legacy will be released on Amazon Kindle, though is already available for pre-order. A romance box-set, based upon the premise of the lure of cursed pirate treasure. It can be used for good or evil, but expect consequences. As far as I am aware, there are no pugs involved in this excellent collection of books, but do expect a really good read.

Music: Jackson Parodi – Barrett’s Privateers

You can pre-order The Golden Legacy at Amazon using the following links:

The Canine Fostering Bridge

How do you cope with the loss of a loved canine pal? Should you just get another dog and carry on? Perhaps fostering provides a bridge to your next four legged family member.


When we lost Lily, our beloved ‘blond bombshell’ golden retriever, my husband and I were not sure about having another dog. Changed personal circumstances and our obvious grieving meant that for the first time we wondered whether we could cope with another canine companion. Our hearts said yes but we had serious doubts.

Lily as a puppy


A simple walk in the local park on a crisp Spring morning changed everything. I got to talking with a woman about her dog – a large happy retriever who immediately rolled on it’s back for the obligatory belly rubs. To my surprise, the lady told me that she was not the owner, and that she was fostering the dog whilst it’s real owner was in hospital for a few weeks.


Soon after the fortuitous encounter in the park, we fostered two adorable characters from ‘The Cinnamon Trust‘, an organisation that specialises in helping elderly, infirm, and terminally ill dog owners manage their canine companions. The process was easy but thorough, and the organisation were always on hand to answer any queries. Digger, an overweight Chihuahua, and Suzie, a Chorkie or Chihuahua Yorkie cross, were our new doggy friends.

Digger and Suzie inseparable as always
Katy Walters with Suzie and Digger


The two dogs were inseparable and were quite the team. Despite their small size compared to our previous dogs, the two really kept us on our toes. Domineering Digger ruled the roost and the two pals would fight like demons and then quickly make up with some loving licks.

As the months passed, we realised that we were ready for another dog of our own. When it came to bid a sad farewell to Digger and Suzie, as their infirm owner decided she could once again cope with her beloved pets’ return, we acted straight away.

If you are interested in fostering in the UK then please use this link:

The Cinnamon Trust


And, now we have Lucy, our lovable though extremely active Sprocker Spaniel. We are so pleased we tried fostering. If we had not, we may never have considered owning another dog. I recommend that anyone facing a similar dilemma as ourselves consider fostering as an option.

Lucy relaxing on the sofa

Please visit my website, where you will find information about all of my books plus a gallery of my paintings and photos. Love, Katy.

Katy’s Website