big pancake, bigger taste

Sometimes the most impressive foods are the simplest.  With the right tools, an adventurous palette, and trust in the process, you can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.  This week, I've turned leftover breakfast burritos into both fried rice and quesadillas.  Building upon flavor profiles and incorporating fresh ingredients is the name of the game.

Yesterday's mid-morning snack lead to an updated flavor of one of my favorites: the Dutch Baby Pancake.  I had some fresh figs and a bit of Gorgonzola, so I gave it a shot and made the most delicious fig and Gorgonzola pancake, topped with a fig and balsamic caramel syrup.  Here's the base recipe:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 425F/218C.  Place the cold butter in the cold oven safe pie plate or skillet and into the oven.  For this recipe, I use the 10" All-Clad D5 frying pan.  It's layers of stainless steel and aluminum make for consistent, even heating, plus it's oven and dishwasher safe. 
 

While the butter is melting and the oven is warming, this is where you can get creative with your toppings and fillings.  I've made the traditional way and topped the pancake with fresh lemon juice and powdered sugar, as well as more inventive flavors, like diced rhubarb in the batter and covered with fresh strawberries.  The possibilities are endless - fresh lavender topped with honey, brie with fresh cherries or sauteed apples, pistachio topped with pear...you get the point, anything you love can be mixed into the batter or topped onto the finished cake.   

Today I am trying out a Gorgonzola and fig combination.  I diced the figs into eight wedges and broke up probably an ounce or so of cheese.  Side note: make sure your knife is very sharp, so you don't crush the figs.  I used my Shun santoku - it's a combination chefs knife and cleaver, and perfect for slicing, mincing, and chopping.  Plus, the steel is hand-forged and ice-hardened, so you get incredible strength and durability.  I also really like the plastic Dexas cutting mats as shown below - they're dishwasher safe and help keep your butcher block or counter from getting dirty or contaminated.  

When the butter has melted, remove from the oven.  Meanwhile, mix the eggs, flour, milk, sugar, and salt.  Add whichever flavors you prefer and fold gently.  Pour the ingredients into the hot pan/butter.   Don't worry - it'll look like you've messed up.  I know I always second guess myself the instant I pour the batter into the hot, melty butter.  I think there's no possible way that this is going to turn out right, let alone anything I'll want to eat.  But trust the process. 

 
Return to oven.  Bake 18 - 20 minutes, until puffy and golden brown. And do yourself a favor - remember that the pan is going to be HOT from the oven, so I leave my pot holders right on top of the stove as a gentle reminder. 

 

While the pancake is baking, think about your toppings.  Today I added a few small wedges of fresh fig with a tablespoon of sugar and a quarter cup of Lucero's fig infused balsamic vinegar.  I cooked it in this cutest, tiniest little Staub cocotte - the enamel coated cast iron controls temperature over extended periods of time, and makes for the perfect single serving of syrup.  I stirred the sugar into the vinegar and figs, and warmed over medium-low heat for the duration of the baking time.  Ultimately, the liquid reduced by about 2/3 of the original amount and made a very thick, syrupy style caramel glaze.  I've also made a simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) and added fresh lemon zest and juice.  Any citrus or mint work well, too. The possibilities are endless.

 

After 18-20 minutes, your pancake will look just like this!  I immediately remove it from the pan and place on a large plate.  There will probably be a bit of melted butter left in the pan, which I always dump right on top of the pancake.  Add your toppings or syrups.

I like showcasing singular ingredients in multiple ways - diced fresh fig baked into the pancake, with fig infused balsamic syrup and topped with raw, fresh figs.  You really get to taste the different layers and levels of flavor this way.  Plus, the Gorgonzola adds a tangy bite and is like the exclamation mark to the figgy flavors!

What flavors will you try?  Let your imagination run wild!

condition the goods

I know we're all busy.  It seems like there's no time for anything.  We're working hard and hardly working, all at the same time.  We want to protect our investments and extend their longevity as much as possible.  Here are a few reminders of things to do:

-- if you have any leather furniture, I recommend cleaning and conditioning the hides at least quarterly.  I use Restoration Hardware's Leather CPR that both cleans and conditions the leather.  Cleaning and conditioning the leather removes dirt and stuck-on debris, and prevents cracking and fading.  I massage a generous amount of product and massage it into the leather, allowing it to dry for an hour or so.  I love how soft the leather feels after application, and try to do so every 3-4 months.

-- if you have any wood products in your kitchen, it's so important to condition and clean them at least quarterly with a good wood cleaner / cream.  When wood dries out, it chips, cracks, and stains easily.  I use John Boos' board cream.  It's a mixture of natural bees wax + food grade mineral oil.  I treat my wooden cutting boards, butch block counter tops, spatula handles, and dining table and chairs quarterly.  Make sure your wood products are free of any debris, and then slather the board cream all over, allowing it to soak in for at least an hour or two.  Using the board cream will leave a silky, glossy barrier and lock in the wood's natural moisture and prevent chipping, cracking, and unwanted bleaching.  If you have any surface scratches, chances are the board cream will drastically minimize their appearance, especially when treated quickly after damage.

-- if you have an electric toothbrush, take it apart at least once a month and give the parts a thorough cleaning.  I know I gag every time I dismantle my Sonicare toothbrush for cleaning, and can't imagine how foul and malodorous it would be if I didn't regularly clean it.  Do yourself a favor - and clean the cracks and crevices of your dental appliances regularly.

-- caring for your kitchen cutlery will not only extend their life, but will also optimize their regular use.  Here are a few tips:

• always hand wash and dry your cutlery straight away.  Never put them in the dishwasher - the constant heating and cooling of the dishwasher will cause the metal to constantly expand and contract, cracking the handles and compromising the integrity of the blades.  
• hone your knifes.  If cutting your finger nails is like sharpening your knives, filing your nails is like honing your knives; it creates a smooth edge and makes for effortless cutting.  most knife sets come with a honing steel.  I recommend honing regularly.  If you're not comfortable, or need more information, take a look at Master Bladesmith Bob Kramer giving some tips and tricks: 
• sharpen your knives.  Most better knife manufacturers offer complimentary professional sharpening.  I love Shun's cutlery, and love their complimentary sharpening services.  It's also important to care for other cutting devices - sewing scissors, lawn mowing blades, etc.  Sharp tools make for efficient, longer lasting tools.

When you invest in great things, it's important to care for them.  What're some tips and tricks you have discovered?