Try this...Pancakes with toffee bananas

“Making pancakes is great fun and they are so popular with all the family no matter what age. They are delicious with both sweet and savoury fillingS,” says Arlene Thompson, Regional Community Food and Health Manager with Sainsbury’s Try Team.

She added: “Have a go at this basic recipe and then experiment with your fillings-there are loads of pancake recipes to inspire you online www.sainsburys.co.uk”

Arlene will be practicing her pancake flipping skills in Ballymena at Clough Nursery PTA cookery demonstration on March 1 and also on March 7for Sailability.

Pancakes with toffee bananas, ice-cream and chocolate sauce

Basic pancake recipe: 100g plain flour, Pinch salt, 1 egg, 250 ml milk, 10g butter, melted, 25g vegetable oil for frying, 50g caster sugar.

1. Sieve the flour and salt in a bowl and make a well in the centre; 2. Add the egg and milk gradually incorporating the flour from the sides, whisk to a smooth batter; 3. Mix in the melted butter; 4. Heat the pancake pan and add a little oil and heat until almost smoking; 5. Add enough mixture to cover the bottom of the pan thinly; 6. Cook for a few seconds until brown; 7. Turn and cook on the other side and turn on to a plate, keeping the pancakes flat; 8. Sprinkle with a little of the caster sugar; 9. Repeat until all the mixture is used up.

For the toffee bananas and chocolate sauce:

Try peeling and slicing two bananas on the diagonal. Put 1 tablespoon butter and 2 tablespoons soft light brown sugar in a frying pan. Gently heat stirring for a few minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the banana slices and cook for oneminute. In a small saucepan heat together 4 tablespoons of Nutella and 2 tablespoons crème fraîche, stirring until combined. Put a warm pancake on to each plate, top with a spoonful of the banana mixture, followed by a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle each with the warm chocolate sauce and finish with a sprinkling of toasted hazelnuts or almonds.

Eat as soon as possible, without an inkling of guilt.

TIP: For extra flavour add a splash of dark rum to the butter and sugar mixture and allow to bubble for 30 seconds, before adding the bananas.

For more recipes go online www.sainsburys.co.uk/trynation