6/3/13

Blueberry Pancakes with Ricotta and Orange Zest

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in the case of the above photo, I would have to agree with them. These pancakes were my everything yesterday late morning when I ate them minutes after having taken them off the hot pan and minutes before dashing to work and leaving Matt with all of the clean-up. (Thanks again, Matt!)
I knew I was pushing it when at 11:17, I was still in my pajamas, flipping pancakes, and in order to be on time to work, I would have to be in my car at 11:35, but I also knew that I really wanted these pancakes and that to eat a few before I left would keep me going well into the afternoon.
Oh, and I haven't even told you the best part. When I came home from the grocery store the other day, I found this container of organic blueberries that I had neither put in my cart nor, upon checking my receipt, paid for. In other words, these blubes were a gift from the universe! So, of course, I pledged right then and there to make good use of them. 
And boy did I! I mean, these probably aren't going to be your new standby pancake recipe that you turn to every Saturday morning, what with the separating of the eggs and beating of the egg whites until stiff, but I would definitely make these on special occasions and/or for dinner alongside some scrambled eggs. They're at once savory and sweet, light and fulfilling, good and evil (Evil because I guess, technically, I should have driven back to Glendale and returned the unpaid-for blubes?) (Was never gonna happen.)
Speaking of pictures being worth a thousand words, can we switch gears and talk about author photos for a few minutes? Thanks. See, during a recent trip to my local bookstore, I spied the exact copy of Amy Hempel's collected short stories as the one I have had on my bookshelf at home for at least seven years now. And what struck me was that the author photo was also exactly the same. In other words, Ms. Hempel hasn't aged a day in seven years! Therefore, what am I waiting for? Though I haven't finished writing the book yet, I need to lock in my author photo asap. I know, I know. Cue Carly Simon's "You're so Vain." (Pretty sure that song is about me though.) Also, who is to say that they will be selling copies of my book seven years from now? (But then again, the universe is sending me free blueberries, so...) 

Point being, if to choose an author photo is to convey a thousand words about myself, what do I want those words to say? Well, I've studied the field and narrowed it down to six specific categories. Thoughts? Favorites?
Blueberry Pancakes with Ricotta and Orange Zest via Nigel Slater's Ripe
8 oz. ricotta (about 1 cup)
4 tablespoons sugar
3 eggs, separated
zest of one orange
2 tablespoons plus a little extra melted butter
7 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3.5 oz. (about 2/3 cup) blueberries

In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, sugar, and egg yolks together. Grate the orange zest into the bowl and stir it in gently with the melted butter. Add the flour and carefully fold in.

Beat the egg whites with a balloon whisk in a large bowl until stiff, then fold them lightly into the ricotta mixture. It is important not to knock the air out. Carefully fold in the blueberries.

Warm a nonstick frying pan over medium heat, brush it with a little butter, then place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture in the pan, followed by another two or three depending on the size of your pan. Let them cook for a minute or two until they have risen somewhat and the underside has colored appetizingly, then, using a thin spatula, flip them over to cook the other side. Nigel says to "do this as if you mean it," and he's right! Otherwise they collapse as you turn them. Cook them for a couple of minutes more, then serve immediately, hot from the pan. (Matt ate them with maple syrup, but they're amazing on their own!)

27 comments:

Emily said...

Considering I am currently finishing my undergrad thesis on Proust, that author photo's got my vote.

And I love how Nigel Slater can take something as humble (and apparently already perfect) as a pancake and turn it into something grand, making you doubt every other pancake that has ever come out of your kitchen. I can't wait to try them.

Matthew said...

FREE BLUBES!! XOXOX

Mary Anne said...

Hey Emily! Congrats on being the FIRST COMMENTER!

Mary Anne said...

DUDE! It's so appropriate that your likely author photo (I assume/hope) is channeling Kenny Shopsin. Could we say that your author photo is a Shopsin ATTEMPT??

Mary Anne said...

Also, I wonder if you can just make these pancakes the normal way? I.e., can I make them with ricotta and blubes and NOT go to all the trouble of separating/stiffening the eggs? What's gonna happen? They'll be a little flatter? Whatevs!

Kelly said...

I can't wait to try this recipe. I love blueberry pancakes. Your blog is fantastic. You make me laugh which is always nice. Thanks!

Grandbabycakes said...

Oh yum yum! These pancakes look so delish! I love the touch of orange zest!

Meaghan said...

A) nice blubes!
B) Robyn leggings didn't make the cut? Bollocks!

Stephanie said...

Sometimes, I think I'm writing a book *just* so that I can get all glammed up for the author photo. Sigh.

We also say blubes at our house. Glad to see the term is slowly taking over the world.

Unknown said...

The pancakes look gorgeous. I think the serious pet lover photo is hilarious!

Dan from Platter Talk said...

Beautiful pancakes and berries! Let me know how the timeless author photo thing pans out. If you have as good of luck as Amy Hempel, maybe I will give it a shot as well. Looking older every day here...

Ileana said...

Blubes! My new favorite word. These pancakes look wonderful, but I don't know how you'll ever pick an author photo. Celebratory? Serious animal lover? How could you choose?

kels said...

It's a toss up between relaxed and happy in the kitchen. Actually, no. Celebratory. I'd like to open a book jacket one day and see someone's face be all "what up, mother f-er, I wrote a stinkin' book, I'm so happy about it I could pee my pants." I think you should start a revolution.

kels said...

stealthy.

sk said...

Blueberry score!
And, haha, I love the Animal Lover, serious version. Perfect :) Although, you look so lovely in the Happy in the Kitchen one that it could seriously be your author photo. Problem solved. Next problem!

Ashley Blom said...

Oh yum! These look like the perfect little brunch. I've never made ricotta pancakes before, but this makes me want to...

Kara said...

Hahaha! Those are all excellent choices. Who is the celebrating author?

Also, I love Matt's film in the Funfetti post! Please please please can someone recreate the Shut Up and Dance T-shirt, including the pink ballet slippers?

XOXO

kaitlynsage said...

Celebratory! You're getting a book published!

I think the difference that whipping the egg whites makes in pancakes is a revelation. However, I am skeptical of ricotta, it's a texture thing mostly but I'm not wild about the taste either. Is it the star of this recipe or do the blubes (love that) take center stage?

Amelia Morris said...

Hi Kaitlyn: I don't think the ricotta is center stage necessarily, but it adds this really nice richness/savoryish element to the dish. Alsooo, I used the freshest most delicious ricotta known to man, so that helped!!

Carol Adams said...

Made these yesterday , Nigel can do no wrong. Are all your pretty dishes from Heath? Xo

zuzazak said...

uh-mazing! clearly it's the season for pancakes! i made coconut ones with roasted rhubarb and strawberry filling:

http://cheesy-mash.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/roast-rhubarb-and-strawberry-pancakes.html

zx

Bee said...

Happy in the kitchen!

Oppositely (a word?), I lost a tomato in the checkout last week and it still haunts me. What happened to it? Was it eaten? Was it put into a sandwich as it was clearly intended to be? Etc.

Allie said...

These look fabulous! I love how they're a pretty simple pancake, but done a little bit better. I can't wait to try this!

Jaime@thegermangranddaughter.com said...

I just made homemade ricotta today. I will try this recipe in the morning. I just found your site today - so it must be fate. Thanks from a very new blogger, thegermangranddaughter.com

Amelia Morris said...

HI there!
And why yes, just about all of my dishes are from Heath... perk of the job!!

Sara said...

Yum! These pancakes look totally incredible...yum. Making me hungry :)

Nora said...

Die sehen fantastisch aus und schmecken vermutlich auch so. Werde ich bei nächster Gelegenheit auch einmal versuchen.