SmarterFitter Daily

This was "brunch". I spent the morning at the gym then going to the fishmongers and the grocery store, so by the time I got back it was after 11am and way past breakfast. 

I was after something like a Polish-style potato pancake with apple sauce and sour cream, but this didn't quite cut it. And it wasn't the lack of potato: it was the execution...

I used Mark Bittman's recipe for vegetable pancakes but the result was more like a "hash" - the pancakes just didn't stay together. I added more egg and flour and this helped, but when the pancakes were finished, the veg was still a bit firm. I also used spring onions which were too "Asian" - next time yellow onion.

So much for the veg pancakes of my dream. Will try again with the other swede lurking in my fridge.

Mind you, I did finish the plate plus ate two extra pancakes afterwards, so I guess they were good enough!

This was soooo incredibly delicious. I soaked the barley the night before, so they only took about 15 minutes to cook in the morning. I cooked them in water with raisins and a pinch of cinnamon and allspice. Meanwhile, I baked some apples and pears - it didn't take long for them to soften enough to be mashed into a nice chunky compote. The creme fraiche and pecans take it all to a new level.

On a completely different note, I dropped my iPhone into the bowl while taking this photo.