A delicious Good Friday morning. Squash blossoms yawning open with the sunrise. Hot coffee and fat buttermilk gouda pancakes with a side of crackling bacon. The nest thick three chickens deep; a solo clarinet issuing “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” from a radio hitched to the coop (I believe the ladies are urged along in their egg laying when serenaded with Southern gospel). Sandaled feet kicked up on a lattice creeping with vine; I meet the morning without ceremony, hair wild and undone, donning broken grease-smeared sunglasses and a draw-string muumuu. Clouds blink out the sun as they laze their way across a blue sky.
The raised bed in a bath tub is starting to overflow after three weeks of rain and sunshine.
Gosh. A day off never wears out its welcome.
On this holyday, pancakes as thick as English muffins to spurn quiet reflection. May the sunset tonight on the noble accomplishment of nothing.
Gouda Friday Savory Pancakes (such an awful pun)
Adapted from Martha Stewart Living
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk, room temperature
2 tablespoons safflower oil, plus more for skillet
1 cup shredded gouda (2 1/2 ounces)
3 scallions, thinly sliced (1/2 cup), plus more for serving
Crisp-cooked bacon and Greek yogurt, for serving
Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, and oil; whisk until just moistened. (Do not overmix; a few small lumps are fine.) Fold in cheese and scallions.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium. Drizzle skillet with oil; rub with a paper towel to evenly coat. Cooking in batches, ladle 1/4 cup batter per pancake into skillet, spreading in an even circle. Cook until edges begin to set and undersides are golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip; cook until golden and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes more. Top with more scallions, bacon, yogurt, and pepper; serve.
The habit of gardening helps remind the gardener of how much can be accomplished in the world without you, growth and change in places you neglect to watch.
Happy Spring, from just us chickens.
Happy Spring, Gouda Friday (I fully embrace puns like this gem you came up with! 🙂 ), and Easter to you and yours, dearest Rachel! I hope you enjoyed a lovely day of delicious pancakes, hanging out with your chickens, and doing nothing other than relaxing, aahhh 🙂 Many thanks for all the beautiful musings and photos, and of course the recipe in this post! Love to you all 🙂
Happy Easter to you too Susan!
Aww, muchísimas gracias dear Rachel!