Pancake Day in the UK

I have a foodie friend, Polly. We've been quilting buddies for, wow!! almost 16 years. Gosh, when did that happen? She facebooked that today is Pancake Day( Mardi Gras) for our UK cousins, so in her honor, I'll post a pancake recipe that is from the other side of the pond. Not the UK, but Belgium....cuz the hubster was born in Brussels.
From the cookbook: Everybody Eats Well in Belgium Cookbook by Ruth Van Waerebeek (1996)
FYI, haven't had a failed recipe yet.

Brueghel Pannekoeken (Flemish Yeast Pancakes)

1/2 oz fresh yeast cake or 1 package active dry yeast
3 cups milk, warmed to 100º
4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, slightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
About 1 cup of water
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp or softer for frying

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in  1/4 cup of the lukewarm milk. Let rest until foamy. About 5 minutes

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, sugar and salt until well mixed. Make a well in the center. Pour the eggs, dissolved yeast and vanilla into the well. Using a whisk or wooden spoon, gradually  stir the flour into the liquid ingredients.

By working this way, you'll avoid having lumps form in the batter. Add the remaining 2 3/4 cups of milk and the melted butter and stir. Add water, a little at a time, to make a smooth but liquid batter that is the consistency of thick, heavy cream.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in volume. About an hour.

Place an 8 or 9 inch skillet over medium heat and brush with the soft butter.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup of the batter into the pan and tilt the pan so a thin layer of batter covers the entire surface of the pan. Cook until lightly browned. Turn and cook until lightly brown on this side. Thinner than a ihop pancake but thicker than a crepe.

Stack pancakes on a warm plate until you have finished the batch. Serve as soon as possible.
Serve with butter, dark brown sugar and a assortments of jams and preserves.

Bon Appetite!!

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