I have no idea what is going on in this comic, but I do know that baking soda will not work in a pancake recipe unless you also include something acidic, such as buttermilk or a small amount of lemon juice. Most pancake (and waffle) recipes call for baking powder, which comprises both the acidic and basic components necessary to generate the CO2 for the leavening effect.
Now that I hit the “POST” button, I feel the need to clarify that “pancake mixer” in my comment refers to equipment that makes the batter, not social gatherings centered around pancakes. :-)
@ Chak (4) – Time to double down on culinary nerdliness: If you’ve ever seen “double-acting” baking powder, it contains an acid component (or a pair of different ones) that release part of the CO2 immediately (creating lots of little bubbles in the batter), but the rest of the action does not occur until the batter is heated (so that more CO2 is released when it is really needed). Older baking powders used to depend in part on aluminum compounds, which are no longer considered entirely safe, but newer versions have aluminum-free formulas.
Comics I Don't Understand 
I have no idea what is going on in this comic, but I do know that baking soda will not work in a pancake recipe unless you also include something acidic, such as buttermilk or a small amount of lemon juice. Most pancake (and waffle) recipes call for baking powder, which comprises both the acidic and basic components necessary to generate the CO2 for the leavening effect.
LikeLike
AFAICT, every Cat and Girl is a CIDU
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breece_D%27J_Pancake on writer Breece D’J Pancake does not, on first quick read, seem to say anything about the origins of his family name.
LikeLike
Kilby, thank you! I never knew why there were two different ‘floofers’.
LikeLike
FWIW a “mixer” is a social gathering. Also, apparently “pancake mixer” is a common enough phrase that Google completed my query automatically.
LikeLike
Now that I hit the “POST” button, I feel the need to clarify that “pancake mixer” in my comment refers to equipment that makes the batter, not social gatherings centered around pancakes. :-)
LikeLike
@ Chak (4) – Time to double down on culinary nerdliness: If you’ve ever seen “double-acting” baking powder, it contains an acid component (or a pair of different ones) that release part of the CO2 immediately (creating lots of little bubbles in the batter), but the rest of the action does not occur until the batter is heated (so that more CO2 is released when it is really needed). Older baking powders used to depend in part on aluminum compounds, which are no longer considered entirely safe, but newer versions have aluminum-free formulas.
LikeLike
Never heard of pancake mixer – have heard of and during Covid used pancake mix. (Still have most of the box of the mix.)
LikeLike