After an embarrassing failed attempt at a low-fat turkey-a-la-king (don't use storebought gravy packets as a binder in casseroles!) it was nice to have a big success at breakfast this morning. I love pancakes. I love to make them, I love to eat them and I love them as leftovers, I love pancakes. Pancakes are not the best thing in the world for your body so I don't get them very often, but that might change. In an attempt to make them good tasting and good for me I constructed a whole grain version. Inspired once again by Cooks Illustrated, I read their article and then did something completely different. Here's the recipe:
Team dry:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
Run half a cup of the oatmeal in your food processor for a few minutes to turn it into a flour, add the walnuts and pulse it a few more times. You can add the rest of the dry except the waiting oatmeal and give it a couple more pulses to mix and aerate. Add the last 1/2 cup oats by hand so you get some nice whole oats in there.
Team wet:
2 eggs
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Melt the butter and whisk it into the eggs to create an emulsion, then add the rest of the team.
Fold the wet and dry teams together, trying to stir as little as possible. Agitation creates gluten and gluten is the enemy of fluffy, delicate pancakes! Let the batter sit around for 5-10 minutes while you heat the skillet. Don't skip this step, the rest is important. Cook the pancakes and eat! The seemed to take a little longer to cook, so be patient. I like some nice dark grade B maple syrup, surprisingly not too expensive from Whole Foods to top them.
It made a deeply flavorful and delicate pancake that fills you up and keeps you satisfied for some time. I can't wait till tomorrow morning when I pop a couple into the toaster oven for breakfast. This is my new favorite pancake, I actually prefer the flavor and texture to my traditionally made pancakes. Try it out yourself!
