Not yo' mama's puffed pancake. This easy recipe takes the basic flour + butter + egg + milk combo, adds in late summer berries. Tops it with crunchy granola and serves it up with sweet maple syrup and sour cream. An absolutely splendid, comforting twist on the classic.
BF and I spent the weekend high in the mountains of Park City. Holed up at the schmancy St. Regis hotel for two nights of escapism and refresh. A few days of getaway as the summer winds to a close.
Just after check-in, and just before a mountain bike ride up up up the hot south side of said mountain, we grabbed cocktails and hunkered in near the pool. Watched as couples in well-pressed clothing sipped sparkling gold glasses of champagne. Pugs and bulldogs walked precisely around the deck by high-heeled women. Waiters with slicked hair bowing while attending to their tables.
Hukee and I sat quietly and watched the scene unfold. It was fascinating. A world apart from our hectic kid-filled life in picket-fenceville.
"Want to do the 36 Love Questions?" I suddenly asked. (Why? Where did this even come from?)
"Sure." Hukee replied.
So we spent the next 2 days peppering quiet moments with increasingly tender questions. On the deck before the ride. On the veranda after. In white robes and hotel slippers, over room service. On the drive home. Late night Sunday, surrounded once again by puppies and childrens.
So anyway.
I tell you all of that to tell you this:
When Question #19 "If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?" came up, it was so easy to answer.
"I'd stop working. Open a bed and breakfast. Play more. Read more. Hang out with the kids more. Wake up daily and let my day decide what I was going to photoshoot."
And Hukee says, "aren't you supposed to live like that is actually going to happen"
And I was like, "yeah."
And then I was like, "wow. It's really weird that I know so clearly what I really want life to be like."
And now that I know, I feel almost compelled in a crazy way to run in that direction.
So you're going to start seeing a few tiny tweaks as I do the brave thing. And try. Try to move my life now toward my Life As I Hope It To Be.
I've spent so long scared.
Ever since my divorce threw a big, scary wrench in my Life Plans, I've been grappling, panicking, making choices for just-in-case and shit-can-go-awry-at-any-moment, rather than making choices that reflect the-inner-truths-of-my-inner-guts.
And so.
I just fired one client. Because they were a drag. And the money just wasn't worth the drag.
And I've been renovating the spacious downstairs of Ratchet Manor into a welcoming Guest Wing, with plans to turn it into a one-person working Bed & Breakfast. A Food Photography mentorship experience.
Tell ya more, as soon as it's ready.
Until then, here's one of the dishes I would serve at my B&B--
No, wait.
Here's one of the dishes I WILL serve at my B&B.
Because it's going to happen. This life that I crave.
What is your heart currently craving, that you can get closer to? I'd love to hear.
Red, White and Blueberry Granola Dutch Baby
Serves 6 | 25 minutes
- 1 stick salted butter
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- pinch cardamom
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 pint blueberries
- 1 cup cherries, pitted
- 3/4 cup granola
- so much raw honey or pure maple syrup
- sour cream
Place butter in a 9x13" pan or large cast iron skillet. Set in a cool oven, then turn oven onto 450°F. Allow skillet to get hot-hot-hot. Just as butter begins to melt, toss cold eggs, milk, flour, vanilla, cardamom and lemon into a blender. Blend until frothy.
As soon as butter is sizzling in pan, pour egg mixture into pan, toss in half of blueberries, cherries and granola, drizzle with honey or maple syrup, then quickly close oven. (The difference between the insanely hot pan/butter and wickedly cold batter will create that lovely lift that makes puffed pancakes so wonderful).
Turn oven to 425°F, baked for 18-20 minutes, or just until the edges of the pancake turn a lovely, light golden color.
Serve topped with more berries and cherries, granola, maple syrup and sour cream.