Carb o' the Week

Pancake Day 2010

Little did I know that there is such a thing as Pancake Day. How have I been missing this all these years? This was brought to my attention by the the folks at IHOP and their TV ads during the Winter Olympics.

A smidgen of online research revealed that Pancake Day is a mosty British variation on Fat Tuesday, which, of course, marks the last day before the start of Lent. This day rates as a Notable Date in England, a step or so below the lofty status of Bank Holiday (one of my favorite concepts). Related festivities include foot races involving running with skillets, and mob football. Tell me - what's not to like here? I think I have a new favorite holiday!

Also revealed were other variations on the Fat Tuesday theme, including Fastnacht Bay (large, Pennsylvanian Dutch donut-like things), Malasada Day in Hawaii (fried dough), and Bursting Day in Iceland (salt meat and peas, from the culinary tradition that brought us the split, singed sheep's head). You can look that last one up yourself, but I can assure you it is very real.

Anyway, all this called for waumping up a fresh batch of Bob's Random Multigrain Pancakes. This effort featured:

- 1 cup white flour, 1/2 cup semolina flour, 1/2 cup blue cornmeal
- molasses
- 1T or so wheat germ
- 1T or so ground flax
- 1T whole flax seeds
- blueberries
- the usual nuts and bolts (salt, baking powder, etc)


BEFORE:

AFTER:

Carb o' the Week

Back to pancakes for this weeks' featured carb.

Double batch of 'cakes, starting with the classic Betty Crocker recipe. Changes:

• Substitute buttermilk for 1/2 the milk (adjust baking powder and soda accordingly)
• Use 1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 plain old white flour
• mix in the big half of an apple, diced up fine (just eat the remaining bits)
• mix in a handful of Craisins.

I think it's time to do something about that backsplash. Maybe when the Great Room is finished! The burn mark on the plain Formica is mostly hidden by that cast iron pan. Pretty grim.

Pancake Tip

When making pancakes, always include one ingredient that you are unsure of the origin of.

For example:

• Use up that little bag of unlabeled flour that’s been hiding in the corner of the fridge.
• “Is this wheat germ, or some kind of ground nuts in this jar?” Throw it in!
• Not sure if it’s yogurt or sour cream? Whatever…

This will help guaranty hearty, one-of-a-kind pancakes.

Beware: Sunflower seeds do go stale.

Carb O' the Week

1) More pancake goodness from Bill's in Green Bay.

Raisins. Nuts. Mmmm...

2) No picture (eaten too fast), but C whipped up a post-Father's Day breakfast on Sunday: Multi-grain waffles, with raisins and shredded carrots. Needless to say, they were awesome!

Fear No Carb: carb o' the week photo

Time to introduce our first regular feature.

What's all this about carbs being the root of all evil? Nonsense! Carbs, and to some extent peanut butter, are what makes life as we know it work. Mentok the Mindtaker consumes carbs. Everyone should.

We traveled over 1000 miles to bring you this fine carb photo. These pancakes come from the fabulous Bill's Restaurant and Pancake House in Green Bay, WI. Yes, they are bigger than your head. Don't even consider ordering a full stack unless you just finished a century bicycle ride, an Ironman triathlon, or the endurance event of your choice.

Watch this spot for future Carb O' the Week photos!