STRAWBERRY DUTCH BABY PANCAKES

WEEK NINE: RECIPES FOR DAYS WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING QUICK AND EASY THAT FILLS EMPTY STOMACHS BUT STILL LOOKS GOOD ON THE TABLE AND HAS THEM COMING BACK FOR MORE.

One of the really fun things to make is these pancakes because they are different from an ordinary pancake in that you bake them in the oven rather than on a griddle on top of the stove.

They are made with a simple batter, nothing mysterious or ingenious, but when you pour the batter into a hot frying pan that has had butter melted in it and then bake the batter in a hot oven, the pancake comes up and curls over the top making a small bowl which is perfect for fresh fruit or whatever you might want to put in it. Since it's strawberry season right now, they are the best and also the prettiest thing to put in this pancake. So here is how you make them:

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine

3/4 C. all-purpose flour

3/4 C. milk

1 tsp. salt

3 large eggs

2 tsp. sugar

3 Cups sliced strawberries

Powdered sugar

Lemon wedges (if desired)

Whipping cream for topping

1. Place 2 2/3 T. of the butter in each of two 8-10 inch ovenproof frying pans. Set the pans in a 425 degree oven until the butter is melted. This takes 3-4 minutes. Swirl the butter around in the pan to coat the surface.

2. Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, whirl the flour, milk, eggs and sugar until blended.

3. Pour the batter equally into the hot frying pans and bake until deep golden brown, about 18 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the berries and the berry sauce. Wash, hull and slice the strawberries. Set aside.


4. Spoon sliced strawberries into each pancake and drizzle with the sauce. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Offer lemon wedges.

Here is how to make the strawberry sauce:

In a food processor olr blender combine:

1 C. rinsed, hulled strawberries

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Teasp. lemon juice.

Whirl until pureed.

About ten minutes before you plan to sit down to eat, pop the Strawberry Dutch Baby pancakes into the oven. The pancake puffs up dramatically as it bakes and forms an edible bowl for sliced fresh strawberries topped with the strawberry sauce and cream, if desired. A sprinkling of powdered sugar coats the top of the berries. Enjoy!