Hello gentlemen! With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, your fingers are probably close to the panic button, you know the one. It’s the same button you use when it comes to your anniversary. In this case, why don’t you let me, and my friend cupid, lend you a hand!
How about starting this special morning with a breakfast for your sweetheart, prepared by you? A simple and tasty treat for us at home and one of my wife’s favourites, is my German apfel pfannenkuchen (apple pancakes) with thick cut bacon and maple syrup.
So why don’t we get started. All you need is a mixing bowl, cutting board and an 8 inch (20 cm) non-stick frying pan.
Ingredients
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• 3 medium apples – Gala, Ambrosia or Pink Lady
• salt
• sugar
• cinnamon
• unsalted butter
Peel apples, cut in half, core and then slice. You will need approximately half an apple for one pancake and we are making 3 each.
Combine milk, eggs and flour with a pinch of salt and sugar. The batter should not be too thick but rather on the runny side. Over medium heat, add approximately 1/2 tsp. unsalted butter to the frying pan and in a circular shape, place the apple slices. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Cook apples until slightly caramelized. Without disturbing apples, ladle approximately 3 oz. of batter over and around apples. Cook until lightly browned.
Now, the tricky part. Grab the handle of the fry pan and with a flick of your wrist, you will flip the pancake over and perfectly back into the frying pan. Oops, I didn’t say on the stove or worse, on the floor! It will come with practice, in the meantime a spatula will help. Continue making more pancakes, keeping cooked pancakes warm on plates in the oven.
Once finished, place some cooked strips of bacon on plates and serve with maple syrup.
Set the table, place a bouquet of carefully chosen flowers and the Valentine’s card on the table, you know, the other two items you almost forgot.
Now go, wake her up, tell her you love her and have a great day! Serve breakfast with her favourite brewed coffee or herbal tea. A Mimosa, champagne with orange juice, wouldn’t be a bad idea either. You never know where that champagne will lead! ‘Til next time.
Love to all,
~Wolfgang
