apple pancakes

Who knew that pancakes could be made with apples? What a brilliant idea - talk about a yum way to get your five plus a day! When I saw them over at Smitten Kitchen, I just knew I had to have them. They have been on my mind ever since (kinda weird and obsessive I know). So when I finally got a night off exam study, I didn't hesitate to whip up a batch. And eat them. Yum!


Apple Pancakes

2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
3 granny smith apples, peeled and grated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg or cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs well, add the milk and vanilla and beat together.

2. Sift in the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add the grated apple, nutmeg or cinnamon to the bowl and stir to combine.

3. Heat a large frying pan over a medium-low heat and spray lightly with oil. Place spoonfuls of the batter into the pan, flattening them out slightly to ensure even cooking. When lightly browned underneath, flip and continue cooking for another few minutes until cooked through.

4. Serve warm with a dusting of icing sugar or drizzle of maple syrup. Or both!

Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen.

white chocolate and orange blondies

I made these delicious blondies for an event I organised at my church - a screening of the movie Black Gold about the coffee trade, and a discussion about Fair Trade and what we action we can take. These blondies, along with the brownies I also made, received lots of positive comments on the night so I decided the recipe was worth sharing. They are really yummy and the orange zest really gives them a lift. Of course, you could also use dark chocolate instead of white.


White Chocolate and Orange Blondies
Serves 20 approx

200g butter
200g white chocolate
zest of 1 orange
145g plain flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
360g caster sugar
4 large eggs

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C. Line a 25cm square tin with baking paper.

2. In a large bowl, melt the butter and the chocolate (either in the microwave, or over a pot of water on the stove) and mix until smooth. Add the orange zest, and stir together.

3. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and sugar, then add this to the chocolate and butter mixture. Stir together well.

4. Beat the eggs and mix in until you have a silky consistency.

5. Pour into the baking tray, and bake in the center of the oven for 25 minutes approx. Cool in tray, then cut into small squares.

Adapted from Jamie Oliver's recipe for "Blooming Brilliant Brownies."