[Guess what? Deanna over at The Mommy Bowl is giving away a package of all three of my ebooks! Hop over there to enter--after you read this post, of course! ]
[Topped with Macadamia Spice Butter from Good Morning! ebook plus fresh pineapple chunks]
Hope all of you who celebrate are having a great Passover! And Happy Easter to everyone who will be celebrating this weekend. The HH and I were invited to not one, but two seders this year (one of which was entirely vegetarian–whoo hoo!) and had a lovely time. This weekend, I’ll be cooking up a special meal in honor of Easter featuring a new nut roast recipe, to be posted next week (wish me luck!).
You know that old adage, “You can never be too rich or too thin”? Well, I would modify it somewhat to say, “You can never have too many pancake recipes.” (Oh, and also, you can never be too rich).
Yes, indeed, I do love me some pancakes! Fluffy pancakes, grain-free pancakes, savory pancakes–they all appeal to me. I love pancakes so much that I even adopted the CFO’s irreverent toast that used their name in vain.
As I am fond of repeating (and anything worth repeating is worth repeating often), breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. It’s also a pretty darned good snack, if you ask me. Not only do I relish every Sunday brunch that I share with the HH, I even wrote an entire ebook filled with delectable ACD-friendly, gluten free breakfast recipes!
In fact, it’s because of the ebook that I present you with this recipe today. Around the time that the book was going to launch, I received an email from Howard, a co-worker of one of my recipe testers. Howard mentioned that Ms. Tester had talked about a specific Coconut Pancake recipe that had been tested, but which never made it to the ebook (the result was a little too dry for my tastes and I wasn’t 100% happy with it). He asked if he could have the recipe anyway, as he loves coconut.
Well, I just didn’t feel right about sharing a recipe that I myself didn’t enjoy eating. I offered to work on it until I got it right–and then post it on the blog.
I’ve been playing with the recipe since then. I wanted it to contain both coconut AND coconut flour. I’ve always found that coconut flour on its own is difficult to use in baked goods, as it absorbs so much moisture that the result is often too wet and gooey. If you use less liquid to compensate, your batter is often too thick to spread. In this case, I finally decided to compromise (after about 16 trials–good thing I love pancakes), and decreased the coconut flour while adding a touch of brown rice flour. The result was a fairly light and very coconutty breakfast cake.
So Howard, this one’s for you. Though, having said that, I do hope you won’t mind sharing it with Hallie and her readers. Hallie is hosting a cool breakfast-themed event called Build a Better Breakfast. The challenge is to create a nourishing breakfast and post about it–either a recipe, or any other tip on how you might improve on the first meal of the day. In fact, I’m getting this in just under the wire, as today is the deadline.
As for a tip, I’ll leave you with one I included in the Good Morning! breakfast ebook. For a quick and foolproof method to ensure a balanced meal (whether breakfast or any other), just think in terms of threes–the three macronutrients, that is: protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. If you team up one food from each category in a meal, you’ll be well nourished and well satisfied, for hours.
These pancakes almost fit the “three nutrient” bill on their own; they are rich in complex carbs (from the flours) and healthy fats (the coconut, flax seeds and olive oil). But protein? Not so much. So I always top my pancakes with a delicious nut butter “sauce” such as this one to add a touch of protein. (Two tablespoons/30 ml of almond butter has about 5 g of protein. Win!). Of course, you could also pair your pancakes with tempeh or tofu, for instance, or some high-protein hemp or chia seeds.
Perfect for an Easter brunch, I’d say. Because you can never have too many dishes at the brunch table, either.
“Mum, pancakes are fine and everything, but we think you can never have too many treats in one day. . . so how about giving us that sixteenth biscuit now?”
[The money shot: inside, coconutty goodness]
Coconut Pancakes (suitable for ACD stage 2 and beyond)
These are thick, coconut-rich pancakes that are moist without being gluey. Because I’m basically lazy, I used untoasted coconut, but you can certainly toast it first to enhance the flavors even more. This recipe makes only 4 pancakes, but it can easily be doubled.
6 Tbsp (90 ml) unsweetened plain or vanilla almond or soy milk
2 Tbsp (30 ml) finely ground flax seeds
1 Tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil, preferably organic
1 tsp (5 ml) apple cider vinegar
6-8 drops plain or vanilla stevia liquid, to your taste
1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract (or use 1/2 tsp coconut extract)
1/3 cup (80 ml) unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted if desired
2 Tbsp (30 ml) brown rice flour
2 Tbsp (30 ml) potato starch
1 Tbsp (15 ml) coconut flour
1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) xanthan gum
1/8 tsp (.5 ml) fine sea salt
In the bottom of a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, flax seeds, oil, vinegar, stevia and vanilla. Stir in the coconut to coat.
Into the same bowl, sift the brown rice flour, potato starch, coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt. Stir quickly to blend; do not overmix. It will be thick.
Heat a large nonstick frypan over medium-low heat (cooking over slightly lower heat, but for a longer time, ensures that the pancakes are fully cooked). Using a large ice cream scoop or spatula, scoop about 1/4 of the batter into the pan and spread it fairly thin with the back of a spoon or spatula (it should be too thick to spread on its own). Allow to cook for 4-6 minutes, until the edges of the pancakes begin to dry and the bottoms are a very deep golden brown. Flip and cook another 4-5 minutes, until fully cooked. You want the pancakes to be very well browned.
Serve with nut butter, fruit topping, or any other topping of your choice. Makes 4 medium pancakes. May be frozen.
I thought it would be fun to run a little series over here at DDD: I’ll profile one one of my favorite foods, or a food that I’ve recently discovered and enjoyed, over several days. The series is presented on an occasional (and entirely arbitrary) basis, before I move on to the next lucky comestible. This is the final entry on apples.
Even though it’s the US Thanksgiving holiday (Happy Thanksgiving, all!) and I’m Canadian, (we in the Frozen North celebrated last month), I am still feeling incredibly thankful today. There are the obvious, quotidian reasons: my (long-suffering, incredibly tolerant and indulgent-of-my-quirks) HH, The (furry, funny and entirely fetching) Girls, my dear friends and family.
But perhaps less obviously yet just as importantly, I’m thankful for the world of bloggers, my blog buddies (both new and long-standing) and amazing readers and commenters who visit this site. I’m sure you all know that a blog is a lonely, deserted space without the community of readers and commenters, but perhaps we bloggers don’t acknowledge that often enough. So thanks, folks, for sticking around and taking part. I love (lurrrrve) hearing from you!
And–there’s more! Right about now, I’m thankful for my lucky streak these past few days. I’d say I feel like one of the luckiest bloggers in the world. Why?
EXHIBIT “A”: Prize Number One!
I was the delighted recipient of a package that arrived in the mail this week, from the lovely Elizabeth at Don’t White Sugar Coat It. I won Elizabeth’s “Stevia in the Raw” giveaway, and was tickled to open up the box to see this:
I’ve never used powdered stevia before and haven’t encountered this particular brand, either, so I am keen to get started creating recipes! Today’s giant pancake was made with this new ingredient (yum!). Thanks so much, Elizabeth–I can’t wait to see what other ACD-friendly goodies I can whip up with it!
EXHIBIT “B” : Prize Number Two!
But wait, folks, there’s more! Yesterday,I received an email from Ashley over at Eat Me, Delicious , informing me that I was also the winner of her Epicure Selections package! This generous giveaway prize is made up of some awesome baking tools and ingredients (including some mouthwatering Belgian chocolate–mmmm!). Of course I’ll post about the package, with photos, when it arrives; all I can do for now is dream about what I’ll concoct, and drool. How lucky can one gal get? Thank you, Ashley!
EXHIBIT “C”: Prize Number THREE!!!!
I know, it’s totally outrageous that I would win THREE prizes–and, in fact, I didn’t! Instead, I’m giving this prize away to one of you! I’ll be holding my own giveaway next time (be sure to come back and check in)–but for now, perhaps I can entice you with this lovely teaser photo. Can you tell what this prize will be? All I will say is that it’s beautiful, it’s healthy, and I try to consume some every day. . . and it’s not chocolate! For all the details and how to enter, see my next post.
Gee, I could kinda get used to this Thanksgiving thing!
Well, I couldn’t end this Lucky Comestible: Apple series without a dessert (especially since I promised to include one dish for each course of the meal). Now, I know that a pancake is traditionally a breakfast food, but the base was so cakelike that I decided to use it in this post. Besides, if I can eat dessert for breakfast on occasion (okay, too many occasions to mention), well, why not breakfast for dessert?
I’ve been thinking about giant pancakes ever since I read Alisa’s post a while back on her Apple Dutch Baby. This delicacy isn’t quite as puffy or moist as a true Dutch Baby, but it does have an authentic pancake fluffiness. By placing the apples under the batter, you ensure complete cooking (and won’t end up with those underbaked, slightly crunchy slices you get sometimes in muffins or quick breads). Then, when you flip it over, you’ll have a lovely and visually impressive treat to serve your guests, your family–or just yourself.
I made these with almost no added sweetener, as I enjoy the natural sweetness of the apple. For breakfast, I serve my slice with almond butter for a complete meal. To serve the pancake as a conventional dessert, however, I’d add the suggested sweetener to the recipe, and would even top each serving with some maple syrup and perhaps a dollop of whipped cream. A berry coulis would also be superb drizzled over the top of the pancake.
And if a delectable, ACD-friendly pancake for dessert isn’t something to be thankful for, well, I don’t know what is.
“Mum, we’re thankful for your pancakes, too. Especially the leftover ones that you give to us. Oh, and squirrels.”
Giant Baked Upside-Down Apple Pancake
A perfect weekend breakfast or dish for a brunch crowd. Slice and wrap pieces of the pancake, then store in the fridge for breakfast throughout the week.
Apple Botton/Top:
1 large sweet apple (such as Gala or Delicious), peeled, cored and cut in thin slices
1 Tbsp (15 ml) cinnamon
2 Tbsp (30 ml) Sucanat (omit for ACD-friendly version)
Pancake Batter:
1/3 cup (80 ml) cashew butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (120 ml) unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) pure almond extract (optional)
2 Tbsp (30 ml) agave or maple syrup, 15-20 drops stevia liquid, or 2 packets dry stevia (such as the Stevia in the Raw I won!)
3/4 cup (180 ml) plain or vanilla soy, almond or rice milk
1/3 cup (50 g) brown rice flour
1/4 cup (60 ml) coconut flour
1/4 cup (60 ml) oat flour (or grind oats in a coffee grinder to a fine powder)
1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon
2-1/2 tsp (12.5 ml) baking powder
1/4 tsp (1 ml) baking soda
1/8 tsp (.5 ml) fine sea salt
Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Line a large tart pan, springform pan or pie plate with a circle of parchment paper; then grease both the pan AND the paper (this is necessary to ensure that the fruit bottom unmolds properly; if you don’t intend to flip the pancake over after it’s baked and you just cut slices straight from the pan, you can omit the parchment).
In a small bowl, combine the apple, 1 Tbsp (15 ml) cinnamon and Sucanat, if using. Toss with a spoon or your hands until all the slices are coated, taking care to separate any slices that stick together (discard any coating that’s left at the bottom of the bowl). Place the slices in a single layer (or just slightly overlapping) over the bottom of the pan in a decorative arrangement. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the cashew butter, applesauce, vanilla, almond extract, agave or stevia and chia until combined. Slowly add the soymilk and whisk until well mixed. Set aside.
In a large bowl, sift together the remaining ingredients. Add the wet mixture and stir until well combined. Carefully drop the batter by spoonfuls evenly over the surface of the apples, then spread gently to cover all the fruit, disturbing the slices as little as possible. Smooth the top (it’s okay if a few bits of apple stick out here or there).
Bake the pancake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes, rotating the pan about halfway through, until the top is golden, the edges are browned and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Once cool, carefully run a knife along the outside edge of the pancake to loosen it. Invert a serving plate over the pan and flip it over (the pancake should fall right out onto the plate). Gently peel off the parchment paper (the apples should be in the same positions as they were when the pancake went into the oven; if they’re not, carefully rearrange them on top of the pancake).
Serve with maple syrup, fruit purée, or ice cream. Makes 6-8 servings. May be frozen.
[Quick reminder: Don't forget to go here and enter my contest to win chocolate or treats from my upcoming cookbook! You've got until January 30th to enter.]
Over the past couple of years, the HH and I have developed a fairly steadfast routine: every Tuesday at mid day, we connect for a hefty serving of afternoon delight. (No, no debauchery, silly! Forget the cheeesy song. I’m talking about afternoon culinary delight). To wit, food. To wit, Japanese food. To wit, Sushi.
As our own unique twist on “date night,” we have “date lunch”: at a little sushi bar near the HH’s place of employ, he feasts on various species of marine life (well, I suppose that would more properly be “marine after-life”), and I enjoy some of the best vegetarian sushi I’ve ever tasted. While clacking chopsticks, slathering wasabi and dipping into soy sauce, he reports on his recent work projects, while I regale him with anecdotes about The Girls’ antics. We eat, we laugh, we fight over who gets the last piece of pickled ginger, and then we kiss goodbye and go about the rest of our day. It’s a lovely interlude in an otherwise bland workday.
Well, a few weeks ago at the habitual time and place, I was devastated to discover that the establishment had unceremoniously changed owners. Oh, the new folks are nice enough, but the distinctive sheen of the place had definitely tarnished. (The new vegetarian option consists of 8 pieces of cucumber and avocado maki. Now, how could they possibly think vegetarians want 8 identical pieces of a single variety, when the HH gets a full dozen varieties of raw, slimy oceanic tidbits on his plate?). Haven’t these people heard of the expression, “If it ain’t broke. . .”? Harrumph.
Being fairly close to Toronto’s Chinatown North, we opted that day to try one of the many Asian restaurants in the vicinity instead. I assumed I’d have no trouble finding plenty to eat.
Well, you know what they say about assumptions. (No? It’s even too puerile to repeat here. But there are plenty of others out there who’ll tell you.) I sat down feeling peckish. Perusing the menu, I quickly discovered there was precious little I could consume save steamed veggies and rice. (Not that there’s anything wrong wtih steamed veggies and rice, you understand, but I get plenty of those at home–and certainly don’t feel like driving halfway across the city and dishing out restaurant prices for someone else to throw them on a plate for me).
Yes, every single dish contained at least one ingredient I can’t eat. The few animal-free options all contained wheat (another no-no). Listed under “Vegetable Dishes,” we had Vegetables and Ground Beef; Vegetables and Pork Stir-Fry; Egg Noodles with Vegetables; Chicken and Shrimp with Vegetables. Even the “Vegetable Dumplings” contained ground pork. Argh! (And another “harrumph,” just for good measure. ) Would I have to sit there starving*, I wondered, while the HH gorged himself on beef, chicken, and pork-laden vegetables?
And then, I noticed these: Scallion Pancakes. Simplicity itself, these pan-fried cakes studded with rings of shiny green onion were cut into four triangles, served with a variety of dipping sauces. Humble, yet divine; my mouth began to water. And then, I realized: they were made with wheat flour. Which I am not supposed to eat.
True, my wheat sensitivity induces heartburn, bloating, and sometimes an achy stomach a couple of hours after ingesting it. True, wheat encourages my inflamed sinuses to close up shop entirely, forcing me to pant through my mouth like a dog in July. True, any sane person in my situation would have passed on the wheat. Also true? I was hungry. Those pancakes were the sole item on the menu that appealed to me. I ordered them.
And, by golly, I loved them! (Well, for about 10 minutes, after which a volcano erupted in my chest, my stomach inflated like a beach ball, and my nasal passages sealed up like a mine shaft collapsing).
After reading about Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarianseveral times on Lisa’s blog, I finally picked it up from the library a few weeks ago. And wouldn’t you know–right there, tucked near the back of the book, was a recipe for Chinese Scallion Cakes! I was elated. Since the entire recipe contains only five ingredients (two of which are salt and pepper), I felt pretty certain I could adapt these with (Ricki-friendly) spelt flour instead of wheat. I did, and guess what? They replicated the restaurant variety almost perfectly.
The HH and I were so smitten with the results that we polished off two pancakes just on their own, with no accompaniments. The second time round, we used them as a base for leftover dal, and they were spectacular. I’m not generally a fan of salty foods, but something about the combination of salt and browned green onion (or would that be green browned onion?) is heavenly.
I toned down the fat content by simply brushing the raw pancakes with olive oil (instead of following the original directions for filling a frypan with the stuff, as if drawing a bubble bath or something). The results worked out pretty well, I’d say, as I couldn’t tell the difference in taste.
These boasted a crisp and even somewhat flaky exterior, with chewy insides punctuated here and there by the partially caramelized green onion. My only regret is not having coarse sea salt in the house to sprinkle on top, as it would have made for a more photogenic bread. (You’re actually meant to sprinkle the salt into the batter, anyway–but I forgot, so scattered it on top once the bread was cooked).
I’ve copied the recipe exactly as written because the method is quite particular. It appears long and complicated, but once you’ve made them once, you’ll see how easy it is to prepare these wonderful savory cakes at home. I’d even whip them up for a quick lunch–except not on the days I meet the HH, of course.
(Oh, and I made these again this morning, in honor of Chinese New Year. Happy New Year to all who celebrate on Monday! )
*Clearly, not literally. But in terms of gustatory satisfaction, for sure.
Chinese Scallion Pancakes*
adapted from Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian
An easy and quick homemade flatbread that you can whip up while your dinner warms in the oven or the pot. With only 5 ingredients, these could qualify as a Flash in the Pan recipe–once you get the method down pat, that is.
3-3/4 cups (525 g.) light spelt flour
about 5 Tbsp. (75 ml.) peanut or olive oil, divided
10 scallions, cut into rounds (both white and green parts)
1 tsp. (5 ml.) fine or coarse sea salt
1 tsp. (5 ml.) pepper, or to taste
Put the flour in a bowl. Add about 1-1/4 cups (300 ml.) of warm water, mixing as you go to make a soft dough. Collect all the dough together and make a ball. Knead very briefly [spelt will toughen faster than wheat if over-kneaded] and make a ball again. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for 15 to 20 minutes.
Flour a large work surfact thoroughly. Put the dough ball in the center. Put some flour on top of the dough ball and roll out a 20-inch (50 cm.) round. (Dust with flour whenever you need to). First spread about 4 Tbsp. (60 ml.) of the oil on the round, and then scatter the scallions evenly over the surface. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Now roll up the round tightly into a long fat snake. Pinch the “snake” into 4 equal parts.
Take one of the snake “logs” and put it in fron of you. Put your hands on either edge (ie, the cut edges). Twist one end away from you and one end toward you in order to close the ends tightly shut [I thought of a wrapper on a piece of hard candy]. You will be twisting the entire log slightly, but that is as it should be. Now stand the log on one end and push down to get a patty. Make all the patties this way and keep them well floured.
Flour the work surface again. Roll out one of the patties, always going outward from the cetner and dusting with flour whenever you need to, until you have a 7-inch (18 cm.) round. Roll out all the cakes this way, making sure you keep them all in a cool spot well dusted with flour.
Heat a nonstick frypan over medium heat. Brush one side of the first cake with oil, and place oil-side down in the frypan; then brush the top with oil as well. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until dark brown in spots on the bottom. Flip the pancake and cook another 3 minutes or so, until that side is browned as well. Place on a plate (line with paper towel to absorb some of the oil, if desired). Make all the cakes this way.
Cut each pancake into 4 and serve immediately. Makes 4 large cakes.
[*Looking for a gluten-free version? I made it here.]
Today began like most other mornings: a wet, cold nose against my ear (that would be Chaser, not the HH) rousing me from sleep; a quick (warm, dry) kiss to the HH; and popping (okay, more like fizzling) out of bed before stretching, going through the usual ablutions and tramping over to the office to turn on the computer and check out some blogs. For our lazy Sunday morning (after shovelling the additional 15 cm./ 6 inches of snow that arrived overnight, of course), I thought I might make some pancakes for breakfast–maybe banana; maybe apple.
Then I read Ruth’s Hannukah (or, for us Canadians, Chanukah) post and before I knew it, I was craving potato pancakes (aka latkes).
Which is weird, because I hate latkes.
Let me explain. Over the years, I’ve sampled many different kinds of potato latkes in many different kitchens; and I can honestly tell you I haven’t enjoyed a single one. (Sorry, Mrs. D who kindly invited me to her Rosh Hashanah table back in university; sorry, all my friends who’ve been generous enough to share; sorry, Aunty M. and CBC; sorry, all those caterers whose miniature pancakes I’ve sampled at festive tables in the past).
Given that I adore home fries and even hash browns, this latke enmity always seemed odd to me. But whenever I’d try again, the results were the same: the pancakes in question were very heavy, very greasy, and fairly bland, with a high-gloss exterior and mushy, mealy insides. Was I missing something? Is there some kind of Freemason-like secret latke society that knows something those of us using the regular latke recipes don’t know? Or was I simply hanging around with horrible cooks?
Whatever; I decided to change all that this morning. That plate of latkes (and the explanatory article that Ruth included, as well) simply caught my fancy, and I had to have latkes!
I’m happy to report that the Latke Loathing has been vanquished, once and for all! (Must have been those sweet potatoes). The HH was also a fan. We had ours with a slightly unconventional topping, a balsamic-fig sauce that was given to me a few weeks back (more typical accompaniments include sour cream or applesauce). What a fabulous combination! The cakes were decidedly not mushy, as I remembered latkes of old; they were crispy on the outside and supple on the inside, the potatoes just cooked. They held together beautifully and offered up an alluring aroma of caramelized onion and fragrant dill as they were grilled. With the sweet-tart contrast of the fig sauce slathered over the top, these were the perfect Sunday breakfast.
Now, it seems the Sunday pancake options are limitless. So glad I start my days the way I do.
To those who celebrate, Happy Hannukah! (and Hanukkah, AND Chanukah!)
While we ate these for breakfast, latkes are more often eaten as a side dish or appetizer with savory foods. They’re great both ways.
3 small white or Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed and grated
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and grated
1 large onion, grated
2 Tbsp. (10 ml.) extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup (110 g.) kamut flour or (100 g.) whole spelt flour
2 tsp. (10 ml.) baking powder
3/4 tsp. (7.5 ml.) fine sea salt
1 Tbsp. (15 ml.) finely ground flax seeds
2 Tbsp. (10 ml.) water
1 tsp. (5 ml.) garlic powder
1 Tbsp. (15 ml.) dried dill weed
1/2 tsp. (2. 5 ml.) smoked paprika
Using a food processor or box grater, grate the potatoes and sweet potatoes and place in a large colander. Squeeze the mixture with your hands as if squeezing a sponge to get out as much of the starchy liquid as you can. Place in a large bowl.
Grate the onion and add it to the potato mixture along with the remaining ingredients. Mix together very well, using your hands if necessary.
Heat a cast iron or other nonstick skillet over medium heat. Using a large ice cream scoop or 1/3 cup measuring cup, scoop the mixture into the pan, flattening the pancakes with a spatula (they should be fairly flat). Cook about 3-4 minutes, until bottoms are golden; flip and cook on the other side another 3 minutes or so, until golden. Keep pancakes warm as you continue to cook them. Serve immediately with apple sauce, sour cream, ketchup, cranberry sauce, chutney, or other topping of choice.
]
Hallie is hosting a cool breakfast-themed event called Build a Better Breakfast. The challenge is to create a nourishing breakfast and post about it–either a recipe, or any other tip on how you might improve on the first meal of the day. In fact, I’m getting this in just under the wire, as today is the deadline. 
