Puffed Apple Pancake
I won’t lie – it was a terrible New Year’s Eve (with the exception of the party we went to!), and an even worse New Year’s Day, starting before I even got out of bed. Today ended with taco chips for dinner and a house more disastrous than it was before Christmas, with the tree still up, no new stove, and a kitchen that looks like someone picked it up and shook it. I suppose that means things can only improve this year, right? I’m happy to read of all the clean slates and beautiful beginnings, but mine was not. It’s the worst kind of writers’ block, where you can’t think of anything good to say, and so probably shouldn’t say anything at all, but you really want to.
This apple pancake was good. There, that’s something.
A puffed pancake is easier to make than you might think, easier than traditional one-at-a-time pancakes, even. You whisk the batter together, pour it into a hot (from sautéing those apples) pan, slide it into the oven and let it puff up all crusty and crackly, like a ginormous Yorkshire pud.
If you want it to rise even higher, take the sautéed apples out of the pan, set them aside, pour the batter into the pan and bake it on its own. Then dump the apples on top when you serve it, in wedges. If you don’t want to do apples, heat up the pan on the stovetop with a little oil (and butter too, if you like) and bake the batter as-is, then fill the pancake with fresh berries to serve it.
I’m also struggling with the fact that it’s January 1st, which means a) this blog has been here 4 years! and b) I want to launch something new, which I know is either a very good or very bad idea, but would be so much fun, wouldn’t it? Especially if I start tonight and do 365 days of something. There’s so much potential on this here world wide inter-web.
And so regarding this new year, I declare a do-over. I’m back to deadlines this week but W is still home, so I’m hoping to spend some me and him time clearing the clutter, three-dimensional and otherwise, and hopefully get a good and proper start on the year – next Monday morning. Tomorrow just can’t count. I’m not fresh and focused and ready! Where did the week go?
Puffed Apple Pancake
AuthorJuliePreheat the oven to 450°F.
In a large skillet (if you have an ovenproof one, use it), sauté the apples in the oil and butter over medium heat for a minute or two. Sprinkle them with the sugar and cinnamon and cook until they start to turn golden. Remove them from the heat.
Whisk together the eggs, flour, and milk. Don’t worry about getting all the lumps out. Pour the batter over the apples in the skillet and put it in the oven. (If you don’t have an ovenproof skillet, pour the sautéed apples into a pie plate and pour the batter over them.)
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the pancake is puffed and golden. Cut it into wedges and serve warm, sprinkled with icing sugar if you like, with the fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
In a large skillet (if you have an ovenproof one, use it), sauté the apples in the oil and butter over medium heat for a minute or two. Sprinkle them with the sugar and cinnamon and cook until they start to turn golden. Remove them from the heat.
Whisk together the eggs, flour, and milk. Don’t worry about getting all the lumps out. Pour the batter over the apples in the skillet and put it in the oven. (If you don’t have an ovenproof skillet, pour the sautéed apples into a pie plate and pour the batter over them.)
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the pancake is puffed and golden. Cut it into wedges and serve warm, sprinkled with icing sugar if you like, with the fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup.
I’m doing a 365 this year (OK 366 because of the leap year and all)
I picked up one of those page-a-day calendars and I’m going to do a drawing on the back of each page when I tear it off and post it online at Google +…
I hope it’s going to be as fun as I imagine it to be….
I’m sorry your New Year’s did not go so well. I’m loving the Puffed Apple Pancake and will be trying this for breakfast tomorrow!
I appreciate the honesty. Clean slates and beautiful beginnings are sometimes a little … dull, maybe even pretentious.
We call this recipe Dutch Puff, but minus the fruit. The kids are nuts for it. http://bit.ly/hkgAgn
Happy New Year! it comes around whether we are ready or not, have you noticed?
My NY Day was almost as sucky. My kids came home from their grandmothers with – Pink Eye. They acted like we were killing them when we had to apply the eye drops. It was dramatic.
Danny and I were also feeling lousy with colds (still are) and we threw in the towel on the big family dinner and stayed home. I boiled spaghetti. =)
Still, looking forward to what this space holds for 2012.
Perhaps today we’ll make this pancake. It looks amazing!
Happy New Year, Julie! Sorry to hear about the not-so-fun weekend. We spent Saturday night and Sunday at home and it wasn’t glamourous by any means.
Good luck meeting your deadlines with the little guy home all week. I have a bit of that going on myself.
Looking forward to chatting with you more in 2012!
Too right! Our New Year’s eve was spent having to say goodbye to our dog of 11 years, then returning home to the aftermath of four devastated children. Happy New Year! I’m with you – let’s throw in the towel on 2011 (belatedly), and chalk this week up to…I don’t know, breathing? Give ourselves permission to just plod through, wear pjs all day if we want, make a huge mess while “cleaning up”, and getting some clear head space. Sigh. Certainly a pillowy pancake, not an assertive or demanding meal, are right up my alley right about now. A food hug, if you will. See you next week 🙂
Oh yay for do overs! How about 52 of something instead of 365? Then it could be a weekly thing in your blog.
I always feel so guilty when I read about all your yummy food. Kind of glad to hear you’re human too!
Julie I think clean slates and beautiful beginnings are a myth for most of us. Sorry to hear about your crappy new years. I spent mine feeling bad and guilty and that just doesnt go away cause its new years. I also appreciate your honesty. And I appreciate your recipes! I have tried many and without fail they have always turned out. I know if you say something is good it will be! All the best to you and your family!
“…and a kitchen that looks like someone picked it up and shook it.”
Wow can I relate! (though it’s more house than just kitchen over here) I’m totally up for a do-over. We spent the holidays dealing with DH’s eye surgery & sick kids. We’re all on the mend now though and ready to tackle 2012… a little late getting started but there are still 365 days left in the year right? 🙂
What was it with 2011? Mine was full of close calls ( burned down shop and injured husband ) and a drama filled ending of a ‘relationship’ with an acquaintance. I bid 2011 adieu and fart in it’s general direction…I don’t see 2012 as a new beginning but more of a more marked place in the calendar to remind myself that the bad stuff from the last 12 months is now in fact in in the past. Not to mention that despite the challenges I am still here and that it could always have been worse.
Maybe do that 52 weeks of something that was suggested above. And remember that even if you miss one or two or even all of them that the world will still turn and that you will still be in possession of your sanity!
Enjoy your time with W 🙂 And please tell M and the rest of the fam that I said hello!
Ok! I actually just checked your archives because I was sure you must have been mistaken when you said you have been doing this for four years!! But of course, you’re right!!
Wow! I found this blog in about September of your first year….it seems like just a year ago.
Thank you for four years of wonderful posts – I’m sure I’ve said it before, but this is always the place I look to first when I want to know how to do something right – churros, no-knead bread, trail bars…I find all the info I need here.
Dear Julie,
Sorry to hear you had a crappy New Year. Hopefully the rest of the year makes up for it.
Thank you Julie for being you, for this wonderful blog, for nourishing your fans in so many ways. We’ve never met but when I listen to you on the radio your enthusiasm, expertise and sunny outlook never fail to cheer me up (more so even than puffed apple pancake — a long time favourite in our house.)
Be well and here’s to a better 2012!
Happy New Year, Julie! I hope 2012 is spectacular!
Our Eve was quiet but good- friends came for the night with two boys the ages of our girls. They played beautifully while the adults got all caught up and had a simple but yummy meal. Then, out to a bonfire to do the countdown. The kids all slept on the living room floor until 9am. Woohoo!
365 days of…I have no idea what to suggest…Congrats on four years. I have been a fan every since we met. Don’t stop!
No one can write like you, Julie! You make being sick sound almost desirable and certainly delicious. Maybe you were ahead of your time, as your site has a great look, great colours and is simple – which is best. But, I guess is all depends upon your goals.
Happy 2012!
valerie
Julie, I so agree with all these posts: 52 things sounds do-able and 2011 wasn’t so hot. Thanks for 4 years of my fave blog and yes, just breathe!
Thanks everyone, so far you’ve made my year! 🙂
Julie, you are such an inspiration!!! You’re amazingly talented, juggle tons of balls successfully, AND you’re a real person. I love your blog, your food, and hearing you on the radio. You’re one of the most beloved Calgary personalities out there, and I hope 2012 is everything you hope it to be.
Keep on with it – four years is not too long 🙂 Keep on being you too – you’re the best 🙂 Happy New Year
Four years! I feel like we are old friends, though I have missed all the parties at your house. 🙁 Congratulations! Julie, your recipes are great (and I have used many of them) but I especially love your writing style, your insight and appreciate your honesty and transparency. You say so well what we all feel and experience. Thank you.
Just made tthis for my family on our ski trip. Easy to put together, easy clean up and most of all, absolutely superb! This will add to our memories at Fernie. Thanks Julie!
P.S I love to read your blog and the recipes are fantastic.
Happy New Year! NYE is always really overrated anyway. Here’s to a smooth going 2012.
I just found this blog and really like the recipes. I have a similar apple pancake recipe and I’ve found that once it cools it has a very unpleasant overwhelming eggie taste. Do you ever get that with this recipe? I’ve found that it helps to add a little bit of vanilla to the batter.
I’m dying to try this recipe. Someone just sent me a similar one with pears in it but I prefer apple. This will be a nice alternative to plain old pancakes. Thanks!
I have used pretty much the same recipe for years, and my family loves it. The big difference though is that the recipe I use has sugar in the batter, and lots of it. 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup flour and 2 eggs. It’s a much sweeter version of the version posted above.
Whoops that was supposed to say 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup SUGAR and 2 eggs.