Yesterday morning, I was longing for some Americana in my adoptive homeland. I wanted my mom, and family, I wanted to compare my long hair with my nieces, I wanted to be home in Willows.
Anniversaries are for sharing. Yesterday I was home alone with a rain storm causing havoc to the roses longing to bloom.
I could feel the hand of "you-are-going-to-have-a-bad-day" tapping on my shoulder. I refused to tango with that creep.
Food, yes comfort food was in order. I had already painted two rooms and wall papered a wall just to stay a float, and talked with my mom who was preparing an ice cream party for the grandchildren that evening.
Popover Pancake to the rescue (or puff pancake). A recipe my mother makes for me whenever I came home for a visit.
Pop over to Willows was exactly what I wanted to do. Pop over in my mind with my taste-buds to take me there.
Recipe:
In a cast iron skillet or a pyrex baking dish add four tablespoons of butter. Put the baking dish in the oven on high 400.
My mother uses a cast iron skillet. Which I don't have. I know I should bring one when I come back from the States, but those puppies are heavy, and other things take preference in my suitcase.
A pyrex works equally as well.
While the butter is melting in the oven,
in a bowl whip:
two eggs,
1/2 of a cup of flour,
1/2 of a cup of milk,
a fourth of a teaspoon of nutmeg.
Then take the sizzling butter in the hot dish out of the oven,
Add the egg mixture to it.
Put the dish back into the oven.
Let it pop up, usually about ten minutes.
Keep a close eye on it. With the pyrex it POPPED UP sooner than I expected!
I don't use a timer instead I sense when things are done. Another reason why I could never write a cookbook, unless it was called, "Spontaneous Cooking: On a Whim Without a Timer."
As I expected it to take longer I was surprised when I "sensed" it was burning. I peeked into the oven and saw Mt Everest rising to kiss the grill. Gleefully, I jumped up and down like a crazy cat seeing a fat mouse. I ran upstairs to grab my camera, all the while praying, "Please-please-please, don't let Mt Everest poop out and pop down before I get a photo of it!"
Isn't that the cutest little tin shaker!? I covered it with bits and pieces of old French paper. I love the top of it, doesn't it look like a big old shower head? I love using pretty thing for everyday purposes.
Anyway, my prayer was answered, the Popover Pancake did not fall.
My mother has tried many sweet toppings over the years, but the best by far is lemon and sugar. Just like the classic French crepe, Citron et Sucre (sugar and lemon).
Squeeze half of a lemon onto the hot popover pancake, then sprinkle powered sugar over it.
I think it is plenty for two. But my mother always says, "No."
And yesterday when I saw the Mt. Everest popover pancake I said, "This is plenty of two!" And then I heard my mom behind me say, "No. You have to eat all of it." And right then and there I burst out laughing.
Warm, tender sweetness, with a lemon peck on the cheek.
Happiness revisited.
Anniversary salut.
A smile to the heavens.
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