Perfect Pancakes

Perfectly lofty, feather-light pancakes are easily achievable if you follow a few basic tips. First, use fresh, quality ingredients; baking soda should be no more than six months old. Next, stir the batter only until the wet and dry ingredients are incorporated; overbeating will make pancakes chewy instead of fluffy. And finally, cook the pancakes on a flat, heavy-bottomed, preheated, and well-greased surface. Each of the following recipes serves four to six.