1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
2 tablespoons light-brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup whole milk
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan, and room-temperature butter for serving (optional)
1 1/2 cups blueberries
Maple syrup, for serving
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; in another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, milk, eggs, and melted butter. Whisk milk mixture into flour mixture just until combined.
Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium. Grease hot skillet with a paper towel moistened with a small amount of melted butter. Using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake, spoon into skillet and smooth to make a round. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons blueberries onto surface of each pancake.
Cook until surface of pancakes has formed bubbles and some have burst, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip pancakes with a spatula and cook until browned on underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer pancakes to a warm plate or baking sheet and cover loosely with foil. Repeat with more melted butter and remaining batter (makes about 12). Serve pancakes topped with maple syrup and butter, if desired
4-5 pickling cucumbers
½ cup water, at room temperature or cooler
½ cup rice vinegar or white or cider vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup or sugar
1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
20 twists of freshly ground black pepper
2 leafy sprigs of fresh dill, roughly chopped (about ¼ cup)
2 cloves garlic or spring garlic, peeled and smashed or diced
1 bay leaf
INSTRUCTIONS
For pickle rounds (“chips”), slice the cucumber(s) into thin rounds, about ⅛-inch thick. Or, for spears, slice them in half lengthwise, then slice the halves lengthwise into quarters, then slice the quarters lengthwise into eighths. If your spears are long like mine (from one long cucumber), slice them through the middle so they’re not too tall for your jar. Set aside.
In a liquid measuring cup or bowl, combine the water, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, red pepper flakes (if using) and black pepper. Stir until most of the salt has dissolved into the liquid, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Set aside.
Place the cucumbers into a wide-mouth jar about 3 to 4 inches in diameter, tall enough to offer at least 1 inch of extra space on top (for pickle spears, it’s important that all the pickles fit snugly, vertically—a wide-mouth pint-sized mason jar would work well).
Top the cucumbers with the dill and garlic. Tuck the bay leaf into the side of the jar. Pour the all of the liquid over the cucumbers so they’re fully submerged. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (for pickle rounds) or at least 3 hours (for pickle spears). The flavor will continue to develop over the next couple of days. These pickles will keep for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; in another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, milk, eggs, and melted butter. Whisk milk mixture into flour mixture just until combined.
Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium. Grease hot skillet with a paper towel moistened with a small amount of melted butter. Using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake, spoon into skillet and smooth to make a round. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons blueberries onto surface of each pancake.
Cook until surface of pancakes has formed bubbles and some have burst, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip pancakes with a spatula and cook until browned on underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer pancakes to a warm plate or baking sheet and cover loosely with foil. Repeat with more melted butter and remaining batter (makes about 12). Serve pancakes topped with maple syrup and butter, if desired
Quick Pickles
4-5 pickling cucumbers
½ cup water, at room temperature or cooler
½ cup rice vinegar or white or cider vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup or sugar
1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
20 twists of freshly ground black pepper
2 leafy sprigs of fresh dill, roughly chopped (about ¼ cup)
2 cloves garlic or spring garlic, peeled and smashed or diced
1 bay leaf
INSTRUCTIONS
For pickle rounds (“chips”), slice the cucumber(s) into thin rounds, about ⅛-inch thick. Or, for spears, slice them in half lengthwise, then slice the halves lengthwise into quarters, then slice the quarters lengthwise into eighths. If your spears are long like mine (from one long cucumber), slice them through the middle so they’re not too tall for your jar. Set aside.
In a liquid measuring cup or bowl, combine the water, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, red pepper flakes (if using) and black pepper. Stir until most of the salt has dissolved into the liquid, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Set aside.
Place the cucumbers into a wide-mouth jar about 3 to 4 inches in diameter, tall enough to offer at least 1 inch of extra space on top (for pickle spears, it’s important that all the pickles fit snugly, vertically—a wide-mouth pint-sized mason jar would work well).
Top the cucumbers with the dill and garlic. Tuck the bay leaf into the side of the jar. Pour the all of the liquid over the cucumbers so they’re fully submerged. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (for pickle rounds) or at least 3 hours (for pickle spears). The flavor will continue to develop over the next couple of days. These pickles will keep for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Breakfast Skillet with Mushrooms, Peppers, Eggs, Chives