Starting Off the New Year Right

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right. In light of my post on New Year's food traditions, I decided to get a jump on those "luck" foods and make Dutch Apple Pancakes with a side of bacon -- it's never too early to hope for health and good luck.

Years ago, I discovered this recipe in a Williams-Sonoma catalog and have been making it ever since with a few tweaks . I typically use Red Delicious or Granny Smith apples and skip the confectioners sugar (confectioners sugar + a 4 year old = a big mess for me).

Dutch Apple Pancake

Ingredients:

4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1 Golden Delicious apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 Tbs. granulated sugar

2 eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Directions:

1. Preheat an oven to 400ºF. Butter a 10-inch ovenproof braiser or fry pan.
2. In another fry pan over medium heat, melt 2 Tbs. of the butter. Add the apple, cinnamon and granulated sugar and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the apple begins to soften and brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Set aside.
3. In a bowl, using a whisk, beat the eggs. Add the milk and whisk until blended. Sift the flour and salt into the egg mixture and whisk until just blended. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the remaining 2 Tbs. butter. Add the butter to the egg mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and arrange the apple slices evenly on top. Bake until the pancake is browned and puffed up, 25 to 30 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.

Happy New Year from Ally's Kitchen to Yours!