INSPIRATION STRIKE: Holiday Apple Pancakes

It's probably because everyone said it wouldn't happen that I'm so excited: IT'S SNOWING! Apparently they don't get much snow period in Seattle, but this is a right proper snowfall (approaching 2", by my expert calculations) and it hasn't even snowed in Chicago yet!


Anyway, shortly after leaping out of bed with a gleeful third-grade yell of "SNOW!", I realized that there was only one thing to be done: make pancakes. 

IT'S SNOWING TIME FOR CHRISTMAS TO START Celebratory Apple Pancakes
(I recommend making these with a good Christmas radio station as accompaniment, and a window in the background, so you can occasionally remind yourself about the SNOW.)

• For Apple Filling:
• 
  
• 2 medium sized apples, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp brown sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Put apple pieces on a nonstick baking sheet and cook for 30 minutes, turning once. Remove apple chunks from oven, toss into a bowl and refrigerate for a half hour (or however long it takes to make the batter). When ready to make pancakes, mix apple chunks and oats on a cutting board, chopping coarsely. Put apple/oat mixture back into a bowl and add the spices and sugar. Toss together.

For Pancake Batter:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• Pinch (or more than a pinch) of brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and white sugar, and mix together. Form a well in the dry ingredients and add brown sugar, egg, milk, butter, and vanilla. Mix until combined.

On a slightly oiled griddle over medium heat, drop about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. In the center of each batter scoop, pour about one spoonful of the apple/oat mixture, and press down so that the mixture embeds in the pancake. 

Flip carefully after pancakes begin to brown on one side (my indicator is usually the bubbles that form on the edges of the batter). Remove pancakes from heat after brown on both sides, and repeat until all the batter and apple mixture has been used. 

Enjoy with butter and maple syrup, and a cold snowy day.