Friday, August 16, 2013

Zucchini Bread Pancakes

Makes 10 to 12 pancakes

  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons light brown, dark brown or granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk or 2 tablespoons each of milk and plain yogurt, whisked until smooth
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups shredded zucchini (from about 9 ounces whole, or 1 1/2 medium zucchini), heaping cups are fine
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (half can seamlessly be swapped with a whole wheat flour)
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg
  • Butter or oil, for coating skillet

In a large bowl, combine eggs, olive oil, sugar, buttermilk and vanilla until smooth. Stir in zucchini shreds. In a smaller bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir dry ingredients into zucchini batter, mixing until just combined.

Preheat oven to 200°F and place a tray — foil-lined if you’re into doing fewer dishes later — on a middle rack.

Heat a large, heavy skillet (my favorite for pancakes is a cast-iron) over medium heat. Once hot, melt a pat of butter in pan and swirl it around until it sizzles. Scoop scant 1/4-cup dollops of batter (mine were about 3 tablespoons each) in pan so the puddles do not touch. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip pancakes and cook another minute or two, until golden underneath.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Zuppa Toscana

  • 1 lb Italian sausage (I like mild sausage) 
  • 2 large russet baking potatoes, sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices 
  • 1 large onion, chopped 
  • 1/4 cup bacon bits (optional) 
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced 
  • 2 cups kale or swiss chard, chopped 
  • 2 (8 ounce) cans chicken broth 
  • 1 quart water 
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream 

Chop or slice uncooked sausage into small pieces.
Brown sausage in your soup pot.
Add chicken broth and water to pot and stir.
Place onions, potatoes, and garlic in a separate pot.
Cook on medium heat until potatoes are done.
Add sausage and bacon.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Simmer for another 10 minutes.
Turn to low heat.
Add kale and cream.
Heat through and serve.