Wednesday, May 21, 2014

When Summer Gets Delayed

Right now it is 50 degrees outside, 67 inside. The weather guys promise it will be up to the high 80s by Memorial Day weekend. That's cold comfort, pardon the pun, when the house temp keeps going down and more quilts keep going on the bed.

  Memorial Weekend. Did you catch that? It is almost the end of  May. My flags are out.





My precious Thumbelina zinnias are in bloom. The size of a thumbnail, they live up to their name.

 It's too cold to eat on the screened porch so I've been trying to think of recipes that help us live through this weird spell of weather. When it is cold, we turn to comfort food. This week I discovered a better-for-you alternative to rice flour. Oat flour. I found it is perfect for pancakes, one of the best comfort foods around. We don't eat pancakes much in the spring and summer but it's cold so we're going there!

First, I played with the winterized version of Bob's Red Mill Pancakes. The recipe makes pancakes with both gluten-free oats and oat flour. Plenty of plant protein and fiber, the texture comes out similar to scones. Heavy but in a good way. Perfect for maple syrup, cinnamon and butter.  

   
 But we needed something lighter. We don't want to go back into hibernation or not fit in our bathing suits! So I ditched the oats and milk, making a version that is the perfect base for strawberries (and whipped cream, just pretend it's there).  Perfect. Except for the way those strawberries are arranged. They look like a face.









 Two way Oat Flour pancakes, adapted from Bob's Red Mill Oat Pancake recipe:

Winter version:

3/4 cup oat flour
3/4 oats
1 cup milk or almond milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
dash sea salt
3 eggs, beaten
water to thin to a pourable batter

-Heat milk in a glass bowl in microwave for two to three minutes.
-Stir in oats. Let stand five minutes.
-In a mixing bowl, combine oat flour, baking powder and salt. Add oat-milk mixture.
-Beat eggs then add to flour/oat mixture, stirring until combined. (Add a bit of water to thin if too stiff.) Do not over stir.
-Heat a lightly greased griddle or skillet.
-Pour 1/4 cup on griddle and cook until bubbly and edges are set. Turn and cook until other side is lightly browned.

Serve with maple sugar or syrup, clotted cream, preserves. 

Summer version:

1 1/2 cup oat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Dash salt
1 cup water
2 eggs, beaten

Mix dry ingredients together.
Whisk eggs and water together. Stir into dry ingredients until just combined.
Let sit five minutes.
Cook in 1/4 c portions until top is bubbly and edges are set. Turn and cook until other side is lightly browned.

Serve with fresh fruit, lemon curd, cream cheese.

What about you? Have you every adapted a winter dish for summer or visa versa? What about this weather? Have you had snow in May or is it hotter than normal where you live?

12 comments:

  1. Oh, good tip about the oat flour. I use spelt flour and for some reason it's been hard to get lately but I've seen oat flour around. I think I'll have to pick some up and make my pancakes with it and save the spelt for cakes and cookies. And banana bread. Yum. Making that today.

    I'm jealous of your flowers, Julie. We are really late with everything here. The apple trees are just starting to blossom.

    I don't know that I really switch recipes up from winter to summer. I think the only difference in my diet is that I tend to eat way more salad because everything is fresh and cheap and actually tastes like well, salad stuff. :-)

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    1. Kav, things have been so late this year the farmer's market still has spring lettuces and usually they have been replaced by summer crops by now.

      The great thing about oat flour is it is high in protein. I am looking forward to trying it in a scone recipe.

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  2. 91 yesterday and the June forecast gets us up to 110. I'm with Kav, it's salad, salad, salad. Can't beat .99 Romaine. I bought celery an fresh pico to snack on.

    Your flowers and your house are lovely!

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  3. 90 here today. I am a big romaine fan. And there is something about pico that screams summer.

    Thanks about the flowers and house. I need to water the flowers today for sure.

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  4. Hi Julie!

    I bought a big bag of oat flour when I was at my favorite store earlier this month (E&S Sales in Shipshewana, Indiana - and no, they don't pay me for the plug!). I've been looking for recipes that use it, and then you give us TWO! Thank you :)

    And I'm not saying anything about the weather. Nothing at all. Only that I'm enjoying our 52° this morning, and am so thankful I won't have to endure the heat you're looking forward to :)

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  5. Yes, I am already missing a steady 72. I didn't even know about oat flour until a couple of weeks ago. So many good recipes! There is a raspberry bar I must try.

    Is E and S sales an Amish store?

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    1. Yes, E&S is an Amish store - bulk groceries. I wrote a post about it a while ago - http://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2012/10/visiting-amish-country.html

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  6. Julie, I love heavy pancakes, so I'm sure I'll love your winter version! Thanks for sharing!!

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    Replies
    1. ManO described them as chewy. Read fiber filled!

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  7. Also meant to say that I love your flowers. beautiful!

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  8. Pancakes sound so good right now! And I love your little zinnias. So cute!!

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