Raspberry Pancakes for Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day in North America on Sunday.  Mothering Sunday as it's called here in the UK was in March and once again I forgot to buy a card to send my mother in May (sorry Ma!).  Instead, I've made her a virtual breakfast.  Maybe my brothers can make this a reality? (hint hint)  Possibly something a little more diabetic friendly?  In a quick search to see if she could even have pancakes with maple syrup (it's a must for me) I came across these two articles (from the interwebs of course so who knows how accurate they are); the first claims research has shown maple may help treat diabetes, the other is an email from a woman with first hand experience who has found her blood sugar levels are at their worst when she has consumed maple syrup.  So I'm not sure - maybe eggs and bacon for the Ma on Sunday?  I'm not a dietitian.


I've been making these pancakes for ages now and have memorised the recipe.  I've found this recipe to be the best at adapting from throwing in berries to mashed banana without having to adjust any of the other ingredients.

I was the only one to taste test these babies (much to the pups disappointment) and would make them again.  I loved the bursts of red as I cut into them and the tang of the raspberries with the sweet of the maple syrup.

We don't want any...really.

What? We can have some?

You're just teasing me aren't you?  (Yes, yes I am - have a gravy bone instead)

Raspberry Pancakes - adapted from BBC Food
makes about 8

135g flour
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
130ml milk
1 egg, whisked
2 tbsp melted butter
1 cup raspberries

Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside ( I don't sift).  Combine milk, egg and butter together in a separate jug and pour into dry mixture to thoroughly blend.  Stir in raspberries (don't worry too much if they break up).

With a frying pan on medium, melt a little butter.  Pour enough batter for small disks ( I use a about a quarter cup) and once bubbles start to form in the batter, and flip it over, cooking both sides until golden brown.

Serve with maple syrup and butter if desired or simply eat them on their own (as the other half does - because he HATES maple syrup.  Ugh!)

Burns Night in Somerset

Two weeks ago I was brave enough to battle the few centimetres of snow we received and head down to Somerset to visit some friends.  I stayed a few nights with Aimee and her sweet family.  I actually went to high school with her back in Canada but she too was swept off her feet by the charms of an Englishman and has lived here for years.  We hadn't seen each other in about 15 years - my husband even saw her before I did when he dropped off their puppy Poppy back in December.  We pretty much spent the entire time talking non-stop - the only quiet time had when sleeping and eating.  It was great!  As for what we ate - I brought a few Canadian treats and we baked some Reese's peanut butter chip cookies and Aimee helped solve my pierogi problem by revealing that Asda sell them!  All this time, pierogies (which I mentioned I'm hoping to make from scratch here) were right under my nose and I was travelling to Canada to eat them (and visit family).

Poppy the puppy

I was then off down the road to visit my friends, Beccy, Darek and their gorgeous girl Ruby.  Darek is originally from Scotland and as January 25th was Burns Night, the whole family had gathered together to celebrate poet Robert Burns and feast on a wonderful meal.  Food plays such an important role at so many of our celebrations. The star of this meal was most definitely the haggis.  A first for me but I really liked it.

There is quite a ritual to this meal.  First, the haggis was piped in - I say piped, more liked hummed as we lacked bagpipes and anyone who could play them (sidebar: my neighbour at university used to play the bagpipes nice and early on the weekends - we were not friends).  Next, we said The Selkirk Grace, together in our best Scottish accents.  Then came the Address to a Haggis.  We went around the table, taking turns to each read a verse and I was given the high honour of slicing into the haggis when reading the third verse.

Then we feasted.  I love trying new foods and I especially love when someone else has done the cooking.  The surprise and wonder of how everything will taste gets me really hyped up.  I tried to help in the kitchen and managed to peel a few potatoes but I think we were all most helpful outside of the kitchen to let Darek the chef work his magic.  The starter was absolutely brilliant - a traditional Scottish soup, Cullen Skink, which is a smoked haddock chowder and soooooo good.

 

The main event was the haggis, served with neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and mashed potatoes) with a little kale (gotta have those green leafy veggies).  I didn't take a picture because I was too busy stuffing my face!  And though the description of haggis (and even the name) can be off putting, give it a try before you knock it.  The texture was very interesting and the flavour was so rich.

This meal was traditional through and through topped off with Cranachan for dessert, which is made from raspberries, cream, oatmeal and honey.

We ended the evening with some Scottish whisky and a few readings of Robbie Burns' works.  Beccy had chosen each one to suit each guest, which was a lovely touch.

I tried my best with the whisky but it took me back to a rough night at university where one too many shots took me over the edge and I pretty much went blind.  I haven't touched the stuff since so on Burns Night I toasted the poet with my third (fourth? ok fifth) glass of wine.

I really enjoyed this celebration and hope to someday be a part of it again.  Although it won't be with the other half - he doesn't like fish, haggis or raspberries - so glad I was on my own for this one!  

So, what are you celebrating these days?  Which foods are the stars?