Beavers and Cubs: Tin Can Pancakes

 Celebrate Pancake Day by Making your own mini stove to whip up a batch of delicious but tiny pancakes.

You will need

• Tin cans
• Tin openers
• Screwdrivers
• Tea lights
• Matches
• Plates
• Bowls
• Spoons
• Knives
• Ingredients, see below
• Heat-proof gloves

 

Make a tin can stove

1. Make sure the tin can is empty, clean and dry. Take off any labels and check there’s no coating on the inside.

Watch out for sharp edges on the open end of the can (the bottom of the can).

2. Use the tin opener (or hammer and nail) to carefully punch some holes in the side of the can near the top (the end that’s still covered). Punch the holes all the way around.

If you’re using a hammer and nail, slide the can onto a piece of secured timber so that the can stays still and the nail goes into the wood (instead of your hand!).

3. Gently place the screwdriver into each hole and wiggle it to make the holes a bit bigger.

This will make sure enough oxygen circulates around the candle.

4. Repeat steps two and three at the bottom of the can.
5. Put the tea light on a plate and put the tin can stove over the tea light.

Don’t light the tea light until you’re ready to use the stove.

 

Make pancake batter

Ingredients

• 200g flour
• Three tablespoons brown sugar
• One teaspoon baking powder
• 375-500ml milk
• One tablespoon oil
• One teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

It’s up to you how you make this work socially distanced. One person could make a batch of the mixture, split it into small portions, and leave it two metres away from each young person for them to collect. Alternatively, you could give everyone a scaled down version of the ingredients so they can mix their own or they could make their own mixture at home and bring it to the meeting in a container.

1. Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl, then add the oil (and vanilla extract, if you’re using it).
2. Gradually add the milk and mix it in. You may not need all of it – keep mixing and stop adding the milk when the batter’s the perfect consistency.

Cook the pancakes

1. Use the matches to light the tea light and gently put the tin can stove on top.
2. Add some oil to the top of the can and let it heat up.

Remember, once you set the stove up it will be hot. Don’t touch it with your bare hands.

3. Test whether the oil’s hot enough by putting a dot of batter onto the tin can. If the oil’s ready, the dot of batter will start to cook. Remove it with a table knife.
4. Pour about a teaspoon of batter onto the top of the tin can stove. Once bubbles come to the surface, work the table knife around the edges of the pancake to loosen it so you can flip it over.

If you need to hold the can steady, use a glove to protect your hand.

5. Continue to flip the pancake over to make sure it cooks evenly on both sides. Once the pancake’s cooked, use the table knife to remove it.

Once you’ve cooked your pancakes, add your favourite topping and taste them. 

Reflection

Learning how to cook simple recipes that don’t use many ingredients or much equipment is a great skill for any budding adventurer. Why might this knowledge be helpful on expeditions or nights away? People could think about the importance of being able to create as many different and tasty meals as possible from a small amount of food and equipment. This makes it easier to pack lightly when camping or trekking.

Being able to cook basic meals is also an important step towards independence. Cooking with a limited number of ingredients can help people develop their creativity. Everyone should get into small groups and chat about other meals they could cook with the equipment and ingredients they have (and two or three added extras). Could they put these ideas to the test into an upcoming session?

 

This activity completes:
Beavers Cook Activity Badge – requirement 4
Cubs Our Skills Challenge Award – requirement 4.b

Safety

Food

Check for allergies before you begin. Make sure you have suitable areas for storing and preparing food and avoid cross contamination of different foods.

Flammable items

Always take care when using flammable items (especially if you’re near fire). Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Sharp objects

Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

Cooking

Teach young people how to use cooking equipment safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Make sure it’s safe to use and follow manufacturers’ guidelines for use.

Fires and stoves

Make sure anyone using fires and stoves is doing so safely. Check that the equipment and area are suitable and have plenty of ventilation. Follow the gas safety guidance. Have a safe way to extinguish the fire in an emergency.