Since we usually have our big meal at lunch time, dinner is often just a pizza or something lighter. But usually two or three times a week, we have what we like to refer to as dessert for dinner. Most members of the family have a sweet tooth so having dessert for dinner is not a problem for them. One of the recipes I like that is easy, and tasty as well, is a puff pancake. This recipe is versatile since I can use either apples or peaches (both of which we grow) to vary the taste of this recipe. Both the apple and peach version went over well with my taste testers. Despite the name pancake, it isn’t cooked like pancakes but, rather, is baked in the oven. The batter used for the recipe is very similar to a pancake recipe though.  

Puff Pancake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cups milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1 apple or 2 peaches, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp. butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place butter in 9″ pie pan and melt the butter in the oven. When butter is melted arrange fruit in the pan. Mix the remaining ingredients and carefully pour into the hot pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and extra cinnamon if you desire. Bake for 15-20 minutes or till puffed and golden. The pancake does fall after it is removed from the oven. Serve with maple syrup if you like.

My notes:

• This recipe is designed for a 9″ pie plate. I cook in large quantities so I make it in a 13×9 pan. In that case, you simply need to double the recipe.
• We like lots of fruit in our desserts. As you can see, the original puff pancake recipe calls for a small amount of fruit (at least in our opinion). I added a lot more fruit when I made it and it was wonderful.

I apologize for my lack of postings lately but that doesn’t mean that things have been quiet around here. Over the last couple of weeks, we have been able to start planting at the farm. We  even put in some sweet corn, hoping that the warmer than normal weather will provide us with early sweet corn. Here is what has been happening at the farm.

• The orchard got pruned and the brush hauled away.
• The first planting of beets went in.
• Our garlic crop is about six inches tall and looking good.
• All of the broccoli (early, midseason and late) has been planted. Also we have planted most of the cabbage.
• The sugar snap peas have been planted.
• The high tunnel is in use with the first planting of tomatoes.
• Norland, Yukon Gold and Kennebec potatoes are in the ground.
• New strawberry plants were purchased. They are in the ground being grown on plastic.
• Our famous Newaygo Newaygo onions were transplanted in the field. Hopefully they will do well this year.

There is much more to  come and we will keep you posted as things happen around here. Also, I have been working on the blog behind the scenes and hope to start posting regularly next week.