Welcome to another exciting adventure into my kitchen, thanks to Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. I was lucky enough to meet up with Celia for Sunday morning breakfast a couple of weeks ago and she brought me not one but two gifts. The first just tickled my fancy because I’ve been admiring these Chinese lanterns on her blog for a while now. Celia makes these by hand and they are gorgeous. [Skip to Sourdough Pancake Recipe]
Celia is also the queen of sourdough bread making and of making the most wonderful food in clay dishes. Imagine my surprise (and glee) when I pulled this baby from the gift bag! I haven’t been in top notch cooking mode for a week or more but I’ve been scouring recipes and my new dish will have lamb braised in beer with some bell pepper/capsicum. Watch this space.
When we were in Sydney, we met up with Charlie from Hotly Spiced and Tania from My Kitchen Stories at Downstairs Restaurant. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. Charlie brought me the nicest salad hardware and honestly, nobody needed a new set more than I do.
Tania works for Lario’s Italian Wine and Produce and she found a beautiful balsamic vinegar there that she wanted to share with us. I’m over the moon trying to come up with ways to use it that don’t involve just swilling from the bottle into my mouth. Tania has written a brilliant article about how to buy balsamic vinegar that you shouldn’t miss.
We also caught up with Lorraine from Not Quite Nigella. Are you surprised that she brought me a vacuum sealed package of what looks like poo? No, me either. She comes across the most amazing food in her travels around the world.
Now I know that’s not poo because there are grapes and walnuts on the package. I’m going to have a glass of wine and crack this gem open soon. The ‘looks like poo’ came in a big bag of goodies that she’s picked up from everywhere.
Finally, in my kitchen were the most wonderful sourdough pancakes I’ve ever made. When you have sourdough starter you have a choice of pouring off all but 1/4 cup and adding new flour and filtered water OR taking a cup of that wonderful starter and making pancakes. That’s what I did today.
I got this recipe from Celia the sourdough queen and the only thing I do differently is to add a bit more flour than she uses. It could be that she’s got a bouncier starter than I do.
I will never ever toss out sourdough starter again. These pancakes were fantastic and I served them with sauteed apples drizzled with maple syrup. I froze the ones we didn’t eat so I’ll let you know how they are once I re-heat them.
- 1 cup sourdough starter
- 1¼ cups plain (all-purpose) flour
- 1 egg
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon baking soda, sifted
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- Whisk together the sourdough starter, milk and egg in a large mixing bowl until well combined.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar and sifted baking soda.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Then stir in the melted butter and leave to rest for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Pour ½ cup of batter into a greased skillet heated to medium-high. When the edges start to dry, flip until brown on the bottom.
If you want to see all the other In My Kitchen posts, head over to Fig Jam and Lime Cordial and see the list on the side of her blog. The list keeps growing every month. Finally, Charlie wants you to know that he really likes sourdough pancakes too. What he doesn’t like is waiting to go to the dog park.
Oh your pancakes look divine, a perfect use for sourdough starter!
Sourdough pancakes…… now that’s something I must try the look amazing. Bet they tasted it too!
Maureen, what a fabulous collection of gifts! I’d say you hit the jackpot. The pancakes, however, are equally as special. Similar to you, I only recently began using my starter pour-off for pancakes. Whether I just wasn’t ready to use the discard, or it was the wrong meal period, it now goes in a batter, tasty as ever.
Maureen, what fun new gifts/items for your kitchen! The pancakes look great. And I am so looking forward to your braised lamb recipe. Hugs.
Maureen what amazing gifts Celia gave you!
well, Ipwe are at the North Shore of Oahu, and at the present time I am having a cappuccino looking at the ocean in what Phil told me would be the direction of Australia, and waving at you….
the weather is a bit disappointing in this visit, but we are dancing to the music, as usual
great In My Kitchen post, I look forwrad to your cooking mojo in full blast!
sorry for typos… iPad hard to tupe and reading glasses forgotten in hotel room. (sigh)
Maureen I am fascinated by these pancakes made with sourdough starter! I’ve never used start to make pancakes before – so intrigued! And – speaking of intrigued that bag of “poo” totally befuddled me ….so thanks for the explanation of what it really is!
I am a big fan of all these ladies you met and laughed and ate with!
That clay cooking vessel is a real score! Great stuff in your kitchen this month. Including the always adorable Charlie. 🙂
Your kitchen is filled with love! I adore that lantern. How special that it’s handmade! I need to check out how to make sourdough starter. The pancakes look delicious! Hope Charlie got an extra long walk!
What lovely goodies from the Sydney girls – including the poo! And wonderful pancakes too Maureen – hope you are on the mend we are missing your humour, wit and stories!
I love your lantern Laureen!! And love all in your kitchen and these pancakes look wonderful!
I love this chinese lantern! look lovely !
And love your pancakes look delicious Maureen!!
Nicest Chinese Lantern I have ever seen. I think it is the Lantern that has caught Charlie’s eye, not the pancakes. LOL
There are so many goodies in your kitchen this month … you have such great blogging friends. 🙂
I’m still not doing any cooking due to a combination of poor work/health/weather issues. I feel like Charlie. Happy to be snuggled down in my bed and wait for someone to bring me pancakes. I’ll give the trip to the dog park a pass though.
Charlie has a gorgeous bed. You have some wonderful new things in your kitchen this month and so many lovely gifts. That ‘poo’ looks very interesting but it’s amazing how different cultures allow things to be packaged. I’m sure here, there would be a marketing team involved that would advise against that kind of a look. Your pancakes look fantastic and I’m glad you’ve found a good use for leftover sourdough starter xx
I love the handmade lantern, so very pretty. I had no idea you could make sour dough pancakes, I bet they’re wonderful. What a fabulous set of gifts from your fellow bloggers and no I’m not surprised Lorraine gave you something that looked like poo, but did it taste good?! GG
How lovely to have had a catch up with some many of our blogger friends… and how about those presents! Noice! Hope you are feeling better. xo
I with you on drinking good balsamic, the stuff is amazing and makes everything it goes on amazing — what a great gift! Well, all the gifts are great and that clay dish will inspire many fabulous meals, no doubt. I haven’t tried making sourdough pancakes, but I am almost ready to jump back into the sourdough game … those look delicious!
You had me at lamb cooked in beer 🙂 Sounds like proper man’s food I know Rich would like that already. I’m pretty sure that ‘poo’ will taste better than it looks!!! Too funny. Charlie has the most expressive eyes ever – I don’t know how you ever say no to him.
So glad you came to visit. You were very rightfully spoilt. What a fabulous idea to make SD pancakes. I hope you are feeling better now Maureen because it looks like Charlie is getting tired of waiting in his very plush bed xx
What a wonderful array of goodies and to catch up with those ladies!! The pancakes look sensational also 🙂
Warm regards, Jan x
Hi Maureen. Sounds like you guys had a great time. That is one of the best things about blogging. Love the Charlie photo.
love that look from charlie. how wonderful to meet up with everyone AND get gifts. the poo looks interesting. i bet those pancakes were fab!
What a marvelous group of friends you have, Maureen. 🙂 How well they know you to give you treasures that make you smile. 🙂
What a gorgeous gifts Maureen ! Love the chinese lanterns made by Celia. It’s amazing ! What a Lucky girl you are 😉
These pancakes are parfait for my breakfast right now !!
What a gorgeous set of gifts, particularly love Celia’s lantern. So pretty! And Nigella’s “poo”!
We have recently welcomed a daughter of Priscilla into our house and are just starting to make some fabulous loaves. Pancakes and crumpets next on the list!
Kavey (first time joining IMK!)
Wow! Your blogging friends have taken gift giving to a whole new level! What incredible gifts I can’t wait to see what you make in that clay pot. Or what that ‘poo’ actually is. I love that salad bowl too. And the recipe with that starter! Wish I lived down under (for so many reasons)..
Who’s a lucky girl then? What amazing generosity and delightful gifts. Sourdough pancakes are always winners and yours look truly delicious. I loved Tania’s article about balsamic vinegar, very helpful. Trying to source some cazuelas myself at the moment, not easy to find. Cheers, Maree.
Well the thought never occurred to me that it looked like poo! I’m not sure whether to be flattered or insulted that you would think I’d give you poo! 😛
Lovely salad bowl and spoons! And nummy pancakes too.
I too would like to find out what the “poo” is. Pancake looks divine, how many did Charlie polish off?
I too would like to find out what the “poo” is. Pancake looks divine, how many did Charlie polish off?
Aren’t those lovely ladies wonderful Maureen! So generous with some very yummy, thoughtful and perhaps slightly bizarre gifts for your kitchen 🙂 xo
Maureen, no wonder Charlie likes sourdough pancakes — they look scrumptious! (Thanks for the “Easy Recipe” recipe — just printed it off.) I look forward to making them soon — just had one of those “duh” moments today, thinking I had “real” maple syrup in the fridge… shucks, that was at the “other” house. (Aarrggh!) I plan to get some more and treat myself to these asap. (Or as soon as my starter gets started!) Loved your array of gifts, too — IMK is such a generous, loving community. xo
1 cup of starter? Seriously? WOW, this is a way to use up my excessive starter stash! It’s not too sour? That’s alot of starter compared to how much is used for bread!!
Would I fib to you? Celia says one cup, it’s one cup. Maybe the milk, flour and baking soda make up for the sourness but they are NOT sour, I promise.
G’day! Thanks for your IMK views also Maureen and love your lantern, Charlie’s face is precious and could go for some of your pancakes right now! YUM!
Cheers! Joanne
Do let us know what Lorraine’s “poop” was like 😉
What an amazing collection of gifts. The Chinese lantern is so intricate I can’t imagine making it, gorgeous. Also, you pancakes look totally amazing, wish I could have been there for a plate of them!!
Breakfast AND gifts? You’re living the life. GREG
The pancakes look delicious, Maureen. What a great idea for using the sourdough starter. Definitely going to put that on my must-try list.
As always Maureen you are a master when it comes to breakfast food! Also I wanted to say I was immediately taken with Celia’s paper lantern, I had no idea she made them!
Oh my goodness – look at that bottle of balsamic. It oozes quality and deliciousness. I’ve made the pancakes too Maureen and really like them (but my waist doesn’t). Do you have a waffle maker. You seem like the kind of Northern Hemisphere gal who might. I’ve seen a few recipes around for sweet and savoury waffles using sourdough starter too. Something to think about? cheers
wow, so many goodies 🙂 What a cute Charlie is, hehe.
I’ve got to get on board with this sourdough starter thing that seems to make pancakes and breads sing deliciousness! Your luscious pancakes and Chinese lantern photos are pinned! …P.s. Looks like you are ready for a divine salad, too with your gifts from foodie friends =)
I’ve made my own sourdough started about 3 years ago, and still feed it weekly. So say I rarely use it as I am always in a hurry. I have to try these pancakes, looks wonderful.
I hated tossing out the starter so I could add more flour and water. I do but it seems wasteful. Now I don’t have to. 🙂
Maureen, wish I’d been there! Good time *and* good haul! Those pancakes look perfect, must make them soon. I never throw any of my starter out. I just keep a small amount and feed it up to 2 cups, which I use in bread, reserving just a tablespoon or two to go back in the fridge for next time. But I can adjust it at any time to have a cup for pancakes. I love pancakes!
I would have loved to join this lunch! I’m sure I would love these pancakes too.
What great gifts from friends and family! That Chinese lantern is gorgeous! Oh how I wish I still had some sourdough starter, but mine died. I’d love a stack of these pancakes. Love the pic of Charlie. 🙂
I love reading IMK posts! Charlie is adorable and I really like your blog!
Finally getting around to all the IMK post this month, just in time to start again in April! LOL!
What a wonderful thing it is to catch up with friends… Food bloggers are a wonderful community. I’m looking forward to doing something like that in Brisbane too… as I keep making friends! 🙂
Thanks for sharing! Liz x
I’m not far from Brisbane! 🙂
Great pancakes! Best sourdough pancake recipe I’ve found – not too sour & fluffy – remind me of grandma’s ‘flannel cakes’.
The 30 minute wait only increases the anticipation factor for the kids!
Only thing I do differently is sub maple syrup for sugar (mix with wet) and a tsp of vanilla (also with wet).
Thank you!!
I love that substitution, Heather. I’m going to try that!