“Kitchen Krafts,” Friend, Feb. 1996, 15
Kitchen Krafts
Fruity Valentine Pancakes
your favorite pancake recipe or mix
red food coloring
1/4 to 1/3 cup applesauce
2 bananas, sliced thin
raisins
syrup, jam, or preserves
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Make the pancake batter, but if it calls for oil or shortening, use only half of what it calls for.
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Stir 2–3 drops of the food coloring into the batter until it is a pretty pink.
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Gently stir in the applesauce and bananas.
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Heat the griddle and form some batter in the shape of a heart on it.
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While the first side is cooking, very carefully push raisins in a decoration on the top side. When the batter is bubbly, turn the pancake over and cook the other side.
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Serve the pancakes, raisin side up, with syrup or jam or preserves.
Chocolate Whip
3 tablespoons cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
4 cups milk
red construction paper
a straw for each person (optional)
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Blend cocoa, sugar, and milk in a blender, or put into a jar with a screw-on lid and shake vigorously until blended.
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(Optional) Draw and cut a heart out of red construction paper, cut two 1/2″ (6 mm) slits in the middle of it, slip the top of the straw through the slits, then serve the Chocolate Whip with the decorated straw.
Black-Bean Microwave* Soup
1 large onion, chopped
6 ounces (170 g) ham, in half-bite-size pieces
garlic to taste
2 cans (each 15 ounces/425 g) black beans, drained
1 can (14.5 ounces/411 g) chicken broth
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
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In a large (12-cup) microwavable bowl, combine the onion, ham, and garlic. Place in the microwave and cover it with the lid to the bowl or a piece of waxed paper.
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Heat on High for 3 minutes; stir; then continue heating another 2–3 minutes until the onion is tender.
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Set aside 2/3 cup of the beans and puree the rest of them in a blender with half of the broth until they are smooth.
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Mix together all the ingredients in the large bowl, return it to the microwave, and heat on High ten minutes more, stirring every 3–4 minutes.
Photos by Maren Mecham