Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

I am LOVING Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook The 'Can't Cook Book"

This is the third recipe I have made from it. I look forward to making many more! 

This one is a GREAT recipe. It sounds rather fancy but in actually it just as easy as regular pancakes. 

And, it gives ordinary pancakes bit of Lemon Zing!  They are light, flavorful and even The Tot likes them.

The dry ingredients:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour 

(the book calls for whole wheat flour but I always substitute whole wheat pastry flour- it's fluffier!)

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Add two eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup of part-skim Ricotta cheese

1/2 tsp pure Vanilla extract

Whisk everything together. (Don't over mix)

Grate fresh lemon Zest (about 1/2 tsp)

Make as you would normally make pancakes. Pour batter into hot skillet. When you see bubbles, flip!

Add butter, syrup and enjoy!

Skirt Steak Tacos (with fresh Guacamole a la Jessica Seinfeld)

My stepson spends 1/2 of his summer with his Mom in Arkansas. He got home today and so I wanted to make an awesome dinner for his return. I think this was a winner!

I chose to make Skirt Steak Tacos with fresh Guacamole from my new ""The Can't Cook Book" (Oh Yes You Can!)

First up-make the Guacamole

Here are the ingredients:

2 avocados 

small red onion (I used less than 1/2 of this onion)

Cilantro 

Garlic Powder

Sea Salt

and 

Limes

Chop, mix, mash and then add the juice of 1 to 2 limes (Depending on your taste I used one)

 It's that simple!

I enlisted The Tot to help with this recipe. She did the MASHING!  She also added salt and with help- added lime juice.

GUACAMOLE! Fresher than Chipotle. How can you go wrong? You could even add chopped up tomatoes if you prefer.

The fixin's  Salsa, homemade Guac and tomatoes.

For the skirt steak, rub with salt on both sides and then place in a lidded cooking sheet and use the broiler. (The cookbook also suggests rubbing the meat with Chili powder but we didn't have any. I will have some on had for the next time I make this!)

The cookbook calls for 4 minutes each side but I discovered that was not long enough. 

I actually did about 6 minutes each side. (I think even longer is needed unless you cut the meat into the strips beforehand. Keep an eye on the meat/broiler and cut a slice for your desired temperature.)

Pull out, place on a cutting board and allow it to rest for five minutes.

(I also put some of the strips back in for a few minutes for myself as I like my meat cooked well done.)

Tortillas!

You can serve as is but I like to brush a little Olive Oil on each side and warm then in the oven. 

If you leave them for about 10 minutes they puff up like a "puffy taco"

Taco Party!!

I chopped up more red onion, cut up black olives, and also put out sour cream. I had some leftover "Chipotle" rice that I pulled out and it was perfect on the tacos!!  

Dinner! We ate everything up! This all made enough for the 4 of us. It was delicious and I can't wait to try it again after I buy some Chili Powder!!

And in case you are curious, here is a little interview I found with Jessica Seinfeld regarding her new cookbook.

https://www.onekingslane.com/live-love-home/jessica-seinfeld-cookbook/

Stir Fried Rice and Eggs a la Jessica Seinfeld

I really like Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook "The Can't Cook Book"

Buy book here

She has many delicious recipes that are SIMPLE to make. She walks you through so you feel like a pro and in the end you realize-"Hey, that was easy I totally rocked that!!"  This recipe uses a similar technique to her Huevos Rancheros that I made on August 2nd. (BEST BREAKFAST EVER!) 

Start by making bacon. I always look for Uncured Bacon as Nitrates aren't good for you and it tastes the same as regular bacon.  When done, remove bacon but leave the drippings and the stuff on the bottom of the pan. 

The recipe calls for "leftover" brown rice. I had leftover rice from the Chipotle Rice That I made on August 12th. I hadn't added the Lime Juice to the left over rice so it is just white rice with Cilantro. 

Add rice into the skillet. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and mix. 

Scrape off the bacon bits on the bottom of the pan. (This is not a diet breakfast!) 

Next, add some cleaned, dried Spinach leaves. 

Cover until they wilt (1 to 3 minutes) then fold the spinach into the rice.

Next, make "wells" for your eggs. I made one for me and one for the Tot.  

Cover and cook till the whites are set and the yolks are soft to the touch. (3 to 5 minutes)

Add salt and pepper, crumbled bacon, and enjoy!!

Here is The Tot's plate. She doesn't like "seaweed" (spinach) but she liked the rice and bacon and egg.

While she didn't eat it all, she ate enough that I think she would enjoy it again. (But I'll keep making it with the "seaweed" as I want her to learn to like leafy greens!

COMMENT-I have to say I liked this but not as much as the Huevos Ranchers. Not by a long shot. I think this would benefit from some Salsa or fresh chopped Cilantro (I think everything is better with Cilantro….) It's a good way to use left over rice and I ALWAYS love eggs so I think I will make it again. I don't know why but "Mango Chutney" sounds like it would be a good addition.  (I guess I better learn how to make that…..)