 Walnuts and banana are a favorite raw snack of mine. Cooking them together takes it to sweet, nutty heaven. No wonder I've always loved the banana and walnut Pancake Parlour sweet stack. But I've missed it so much since having to eat a strict gluten free diet. It seemed the perfect thing to replicate for breakfast, when I needed something to sweeten my morning before tackling the paperwork that goes with Sam and I moving in together.
I went to the pantry and pulled out the ingredients that I hoped would do the trick. It has to be said that not all of my creations are a success, but I'm happy to say we were both surprised with how enjoyable the end result was. So nice, in fact, that I felt I really should share the recipe that I concocted, with you. Because you never know when only pancakes will do. Pancake Parlour style GF Banana and Walnut Syrup Pancakes Serves 2 Ingredients Pancake mix. 1 cup gluten free plain flour (I used the Free From brand) ½ cup buckwheat flour 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon GF baking powder ½ cup low fat milk ½ cup water 1 egg 1 tablespoon melted margarine ( you can use butter if you prefer) Extra margarine for greasing frying pan Banana Walnut Syrup 1 ripe banana sliced ½ cup walnut peices 2 tablespoons margarine 2 tablespoons brown sugar ¼ cup maple syrup. (Add extra if needed ) Method. Mix all the pancake ingredients together in a medium sized bowl until well combined. It should be a thick batter that doesn’t readily pour and needs to be spooned out. Set aside to rest. Place two frying pans over medium heat, one larger one and a smaller one. In the smaller one combine all the ingredients for the syrup and bring to a simmer. Cook until the banana is cooked through and melting into the syrup. In the larger one, grease with margarine and, using a large serving spoon, dollop one spoonful of pancake batter. Using the back of the spoon spread to 12cm (or 5”). Leave to cook for a minute or two. When golden underneath, lift the pancake with a serving slide. Re-grease the pan and flip to other side to cook through. Remove when other side is golden. The mix should make 4 pancakes. My frying pan only fit 2 pancakes so I needed to cook them in two batches but they kept hot on a plate. Stack two pancakes on each plate. Pour the thick and bubbling syrup, direct from the frying pan, evenly over each stack. If you have a go at making these, let me know how you get on or post a pic on my Facebook page. It would be great to hear what you think of them.
I've had good reason to ponder these questions over several years. Major life upheavals have resulted in me having to move away from the home I'd created and built precious memories in.
After my divorce there was a devastation that left me rootless. I drifted like a floating log in a stream of events that pushed me forward. It's true that once you've lost something you're acutely aware of what it meant to you. I longed for my home and believe it or not, doing the dishes while the vibrant pink blooms of the Crepe Myrtle, I'd planted, nodded to me through the window. Living in a one bedroom flat, I keenly missed my family, running in and grabbing a banana from the two tier fruit bowl that once lived on my kitchen table. The emotional pain was intense but I needed to start again. When I found this cottage (pictured above) I sensed a place I could begin to recreate the home I'd lost. I wanted to get back a family home that would be my sanctuary, safe, sure and filled with love. This little cottage with it's faded charm felt like the perfect place. In doing her up and bringing her back to new I might also patch up myself and begin to feel new again. My instincts were correct. I've had family birthdays and Christmas dinners here, the house has been painted and the kitchen and bathrooms updated. New floors and curtains. She's so very pretty. She's my sanctuary and is filled with love. My new partner comes to stay and is loved by my parents and children. But now we have decided to make a life together and I need to say goodbye to my home once more. This time it's a happier reason, to begin living with the man I love. I know I'll be sad about leaving my little cottage but I'm so grateful to her that she's helped me heal. She's also taught me that I can do it again. When Sam and I find a house to share, I'll plant a Crepe Myrtle in the back yard and hang some pretty new curtains. Then we'll have a house warming and make it feel like home with new memories of happy times with family and friends. I'll have a new sanctuary to retreat to, but I won't be alone, I'll have Sam there with me. |
Romance author and lifestyle bloggerMy whole life is inspired by romance. I write romance novels of course but also love creating DIY's and decorating in a romantic style. I'm rejuvenating an old garden, including rescuing a couple of old rose bushes and planting new ones. Archives
March 2021
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