Banana Pancakes

photo by potafeu

Last night Kevin wanted to make pancakes for supper and we were out of the regular pre-made mix stuff. So instead, he whipped up these babies. Not bad for an 11 year old, and I must say, they were really yummy!

Recipe is from Crazy Plates, by Janet and Greta Podleski

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, sour your own milk by adding 1 tsp lemon juice)
2 tbsp butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup mashed bananas

Whisk the flours, baking powder, soda, and salt together in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine the milk, egg, honey, banana, and vanilla. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir, adding the melted butter.
The mixture will be quite thick.

Oil up your griddle and pre-heat it to about 300 F. Spoon the batter onto the griddle to make pancakes approximately 4-5 inch circles. When the batter is bubbling and the edges look browned, flip over and cook the other side. Don't push down on the pancakes with the spatula, that lets out all the air that keeps 'em fluffy! Keep warm in a pre-heated oven set at the lowest possible temperature. (we set them on a oven proof plate, but you could also use a cookie sheet).

Makes about 10-12

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Glazed Apple Pudding Cake

This cake is really low fat and health conscious, and yet looks amazing. I often serve it for company with scoops of ice cream or frozen yogurt and get rave reviews. It doesn't keep that well though, so make it the same day you're going to eat it. You can substitute apples with fresh pears, thinly sliced peaches, or even berries, if you want!

Adapted from Becel

Cake:

1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp soft, non hydrogenated margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/3 cup skim (or I use 1-2%) milk
4 golden delicious apples (peeled, cored, sliced)

Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the margarine, sugar, egg, vanilla, and applesauce. Add 1/2 of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, whisking until just combined. Add 1/2 of the milk, whisking. Repeat, adding the rest of the flour mixture and then the milk.

Butter an 8 inch springform pan and spread the batter in the bottom. Top with sliced apples, arranging in a circular pattern from the center out to the edges.

Topping:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. flour
2 tsp soft, non hydrogenated margarine
2/3 cup water

Combine all ingredients in a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring until it's slightly thickened. Pour evenly over the apples and batter.

Bake cake for about 40-50 minutes, or until the apples are cooked and a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool, and just before serving dust with icing sugar.

Serves 8

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Butter Tart Squares

Don't have the time or patience that's required for butter tarts? Forget all that rolling out pastry, make bars and save yourself some time!  This is a great recipe from Canadian Living that uses a scratch made crust and no corn syrup.  I found that using golden raisins works best, and you can add nuts if you wish, or leave them out.  Either way I think you'll likely need to make two pans, they are so good!

Adapted from Canadian Living

Crust:

1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, cold (cubed)

Mix the flour and sugar together in a bowl with a fork. Cut in the butter in with a pastry cutter until it resembles fine crumbs. Press into a 9x9 inch square cake pan. Bake at 350 F for about 15 minutes, or until light golden brown.

Meanwhile, make the filling.

Filling:

2 Tbsp butter, melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp flour
pinch salt
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup pecans (optional)

Mix the butter, eggs, and brown sugar together. Fold in the baking powder and flour. Stir in the vanilla, salt, raisins, and nuts. Pour over the crust and bake at 350 F for another 20-25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into squares.

Makes 1 9x9 inch pan.

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