IRC Poffertjes Event 2008 Geocoin 'Bill Clinton'

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In 1998 Bill Clinton visited the Netherlands. During his stay he also visited Delft. He spontaneously entered a small restaurant, "Het wapen van Delft", in which he ate a dish of poffertjes.

Poffertjes are a traditional Dutch batter treat. Poffertjes look like tiny pancakes, but they are much sweeter. In contrast with pancakes, poffertjes are turned before one side is completely done, which results in a much softer core than pancakes have. Typically, poffertjes are served with powdered sugar and butter.

Poffertjes are not hard to prepare but a special pan is needed. This is a special cast-iron or copper pan also available in aluminium with teflon-coating with several shallow indentations in the bottom. In large restaurants, special plates are often used to prepare poffertjes. Restaurant chefs are quite skilled in turning the almost baked poffertjes with a fork.

Ingredients
Poffertjes being baked in a special cast-iron pan
420 g of self-raising flour
1 litre milk
3 eggs
pinch of salt
a teaspoon of vanilla essence
yeast

Instructions
Dissolve the yeast in some milk. Put the flour through a sieve, make a small hole in the middle of flour and pour the milk with yeast into it. Starting in the center add the remainder of the milk, meanwhile whirling the batter. Finally add the egg. Put the batter away for 30 minutes. Place the pan on the stove and grease the pan with butter when it's hot. Add a little bit of batter to each hollow, only filling them half way. Just before the topside of the poffertje is completely dry, turn it over. It should let go easily. Wait till the other side also has a nice golden brown color. Put them on a plate and dust them with the powdered sugar, till they are completely covered with sugar, and put a small piece of butter on top, this should melt. Serve immediately.

Variation
Poffertjes can also be baked without yeast and thus without the waiting time, but some would say that they do not taste as nice.

Supermarkets also stock mixes for poffertjes, to which only the eggs and milk need to be added. Usually they contain some kind of leavening agent, like baking powder to prevent the issue mentioned above.

They can also be served with other sweet garnishes, such as stroop (molasses), slagroom (whipped cream) or aardbeien (strawberries), for added tastiness.

Served with strawberries and cream they are known as 'Poffertjes à la Bill Clinton' in honour of his visit to Delft.

Recipes posted so far:
- Kaiserschmarrn (Austria)
- habsburger nusskuchen (Austria)