Here in the States, when we hear "flapjacks," we think "pancakes." Just across the pond, it takes on an entirely different meaning. We can throw flapjacks in with chips, crisps, and football — all of these words have meanings in both languages, they just vary. Chips are french fries, crisps are chips, and football ... well, I think you've got that one covered.
So if the Brits don't mean "pancakes" when they say "flapjacks," what do they mean?
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Andrews McMeel writes in his 2007 book, 1,001 Foods To Die For, that it wasn't "until 1935 that the term was first used in the United Kingdom to mean an oatmeal bar..." Prior to that, the United Kingdom used the word flapjacks in the same way we do.
While there isn't much information on why this switch happened, we're not entirely concerned about it. Unlike two outlaws in a small Western town in the 19th century, there's plenty of room in this world for two types of flapjacks. Especially after seeing how sinfully easy these ones are to make.
Food Network's flapjack recipe calls for nine ingredients, but there are many variations out there that call for less. McMeel, for instance, shared a flapjack recipe in his book which calls for just four ingredients. While the latter might seem like the easier option, there's more to look at than just the number of ingredients.
McMeel's recipe needs time in an oven, whereas the Food Network recipe just needs a quick trip to the microwave. Food Network's recipe is likely to be a bit more complex tasting, too. With a cinnamon dusting to top it off, this easy microwave recipe is sure to please.
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