Do These Count as Meals?

Lately I've been having some pretty strange meals. Here's today's menu review:

Breakfast Part I at 10am - blueberry pancake (normal)
Breakfast Part II at 12pm - cold, leftover blueberry pancake (semi-normal)
Lunch at 3pm - Ben & Jerry's peanut butter ice cream sundae (protein counts as a meal?)
Dinner at 7pm - sprouted peanuts, guacamole and chips (the night is young, perhaps I'll have more of a meal)

Last week I had turkey bacon and peanuts for dinner. Bachelorette living at its fullest.

Apple Raisin Oatmeal Pancakes

Apple Raisin Oatmeal Pancakes
Comfort food for a cozy day

1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup rice flour
2 eggs
2 tbs cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 apple chopped (or any fruit)

1 tbs vegetable oil
Frying pan

In a large bowl soak oatmeal in water for 20 minutes. Add rice flour (or any flour that you like) and stir. Add egg and vegetable oil and stir. Add Cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract and stir. Add water if too thick. Set aside. Put frying pan on medium heat, add oil. When surface is hot (oil spreads easily) scoop 1/4 cup of the mixture and pour into pan. Add a handful of apple slices and spread around surface. When bubbles start to appear (2-3 minutes) flip the pancake. Cook on second side for another 2-3 minutes.

Remove from heat. Cover while you cook more. Serve with maple syrup, honey or jam.

Spring and Fold

So you've heard that London is grey, foggy, wet? I am witnessing otherwise. Global warming or urban legend we're not sure but why second guess great weather?

As I was taking this photo of the community garden outside our flat I was lucky enough to see a woman on her folding bike. This is huge in London - the folding bike craze. I've been scoping out options which range from 150-600 ($300-$1200). The most popular being the Brompton Folding Bike which springs into fold position as soon as its lifted. What happens when you hit a bump, I keep wondering.

If I get a folding bike it will fit in our flat and I can carry it upstairs to my office at work. Riding to work would be 80% along canals which is beautiful. I tried walking to work - took two hours. Monday I tried a different route from work to home and it again took me two hours. The time isn't of concern because I love walking but arriving at work tired before you start is not an easy way to start the day.

Our Head of Finance at work was telling me that the government allows employers a tax break if they provide breakfast to their employees who ride bikes to work. I can just imagine my eating frenzy - Eggs Benedict, Pancakes, French Toast (all in caps because they are so yummy) resulting in a sugar crash. Now that does sound appealing.

Illustration from Brompton Bikes website.

Etiquette Shmediquette

Etiquette Shmediquette

How do you eat a pancake? Those big fluffy pillows of beige carbohydrate yum should be enjoyed in mouth sized ragged bites perfectly soaked in maple syrup and melted butter. European etiquette says otherwise.

Stephen and I enjoyed brunch in the Notting Hill pub called Harlem on Sunday and I was shocked by patrons’ approach to pancakes. One woman carefully extracted little triangles from her pancake with fork and knife while the man next to us waited a good ten minutes before pouring syrup on his. Injustice to pancakes everywhere.

Proper way to eat a pancake:

1. Immediately spread butter on and between pancakes when they arrive in front of you.
2. Pour syrup on pancake. Make sure it puddles.
3. Cut into pancake with side of fork.
4. Extract segment with tip of fork and carefully place into mouth while turning head to ensure all dripping butter and syrup drip on tongue.

The entire process should take no more than three minutes. Longer and you risk the key melting temperature.

photo credit.