Food and Baconday

I am thrilled to report that our little Ella Mae is as much a fan of *any* cheese as we are. Last night Sean and I revisited our old favorite meal of baguette with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, assorted cheeses, fruit, and wine. The cheeses on the menu were a washed-rind Rougette Landkase, which was lovely, and an English Shropshire Blue, which I would have enjoyed had it not tasted exactly like the whole dairy farm. I'm sure I've had Shropshire that was much creamier and lacking that rather unpleasant flavor, so I'll be looking for a brand other than Pilgrim's Choice next time.

We were excited to see that Ella enjoyed the meal as much as we do. Much like her daddy, she loves washed rind cow's milk cheese, which is about the stinkiest stuff there is. (Sean's favorite is Grayson , a washed-rind cheese with a strong flavor similar to Tallegio, but which tends to travel a bit better and we think tastes better by the time it gets to our table from the farm.) Ella's love of strong flavors is something that never ceases to amaze me. Who would think a toddler would love onions and garlic, pasta with garlic & clams, and stinky cheese?

In other food news, I tried something new for our "Baconday" breakfast this morning. Rather than the usual pancakes, I adapted my trusty Betty Crocker recipe and made Oatmeal Raisin Pancakes. They were delicious! I've posted the recipe below for anyone who'd like to give it a try. This recipe doubles beautifully.

Oatmeal Raisin Pancakes

1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 - 1 cup milk (or buttermilk* - even better!)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
3 tsp baking powder*
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp dark brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins

Grind oats in a food processor until close to a floury consistency. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, and mix until well-combined. Add a bit more milk or buttermilk if necessary to achieve desired consistency. Cook on a 350-degree griddle until golden brown. Serve with maple syrup, cinnamon-sugar, or molasses.

*If using buttermilk, reduce baking powder to 2 tsp.