I’m afraid I’m killing two birds with one stone – participating (as usual) in Kerri Sackville’s #MyFirst blogging challenge, plus sharing a Weight Watchers recipe which actually lead to a very overdue revelation.
Confused? Never fear. All will become clear!
As many of you know I’m doing Weight Watchers and one of my biggest achievements (even more so than the 7.5kg I’ve lost over the last 2 months) is the fact that I’m trying HEAPS of new recipes. I’m a creature of habit and usually perfectly happy to eat the same things ALL OF THE TIME. However, that’s changed as I now regularly trawl through the WW site looking for something interesting and easy to try.
It’s Shrove Tuesday tomorrow (Oz time) and although I’m not religious (AT ALL!) I’m always aware when it comes around each year, kicking off the start of Lent. While I would remain happily ignorant of such milestones, the fact that my mother is quite religious means I always know when it’s coming. Since I can remember mum has given up ‘sweet things’ (sweet biscuits, chocolates, lollies etc) for Lent. She’s pretty involved in her local Church as well, so usually participates in some pancake-related celebrations.
Weight Watchers offers a range of pancake recipes. Indeed, I salivated looking at the list. I really like plain pancakes but the notion of potato pancakes and the like was almost too much for me (HELLO!?!? Potato!!!). There were (almost) too many tempting choices.
However, one recipe stood out: Sweet corn pancakes with bacon and maple syrup.
And this is where I need to confess something. I KNOW the bacon and maple syrup combo is an American (or is it Canadian?) breakfast staple, but… I’ve actually never had it. Like never ever.
I like bacon. I like maple syrup. But the idea of them together, well…. #blech!
However, this was the perfect opportunity to try, so I invited my mother to an early Shrove Tuesday celebration and we spent Saturday morning cooking up a pancake feast.
And I’m pleased to announce that the recipe was a resounding success – even though we had to use gluten-free flour (as I’m coeliac).
For those not in the know, GF baked goods are often problematic. They fall apart or don’t rise etc. Fortunately mum suggested the small amount of flour in the recipe meant that (for a change) the end result wasn’t impacted by the GF swaps.
It was astoundingly simple (and the recipe is in the link above). We put the tomatoes and bacon in the oven while we whipped up the batter. (Not literally. I don’t have beaters and a whisk was sufficient!)
Then it’s just a matter of putting dollops of the mixture in a hot non-stick pan. The recipe included oil, but my frypan (a cheapie from Target) didn’t need it and we used non-stick spray.
I must confess that mum and I ate the first slightly misshapen and not-very-brown test pancake (on its own) and I was surprised at how much I actually liked the pancake mixture with the sweet corn.
I’m not terribly expert at ‘plating up’ but I think we did a pretty good job.
However… now for the big reveal.
I didn’t like the bacon and maple syrup combo! Not at all. Quite frankly North Americans / Canadians must be insane!
Fortunately I’d only put a little on the side so after deciding (either) the bacon ruined the maple syrup or the syrup ruined the bacon, I happily munched on my pancakes with bacon and roasted tomatoes sans syrup.
As an aside, we spread a bit of ricotta on one of the leftover pancakes and it was very nice on its own.
Bizarrely the recipe was lower in points than my usual breakfast dish. I actually really liked the texture of the pancakes (with the corn and chives). It occurred to me that I could mix the batter up the night before and make the pancakes for brekkie the following morning. In fact, you could possibly keep some of the batter made up for a day or two. And if rushed for time the pancakes were nice with just the ricotta. (And would be a handy lunch!)
So… there you have it. My most recent revelation: North Americans are insane. Combining maple syrup and bacon is a waste of two perfectly good foods.
Are you a fan of the bacon and maple syrup combo?
I keep seeing bacon flavoured stuff and – while I love bacon – I just can’t get my head around it!
Disclaimer: I have been given a free six month online membership to Weight Watchers but my (ingenious) thoughts, opinions and words here are my own. Please check out the program for yourself before making any decisions.
March 3, 2014
I’m not a pancake fan…or a maple syrup fan…but as a bacon fan, not sure I could mix the 2. I make a variation on this as sweet corn fritters with avo, bacon & tomato- which is yummy. Well done on the 7.5kgs- that’s pretty flipping good!
March 3, 2014
Thanks Jo.
March 3, 2014
I’m going to have to disagree with you on the bacon-maple combo, as I love it… think it needs to be crispy bacon though. I love salty-sweet flavours, but realise they’re not for everyone.
Most batter improves from being rested overnight in a fridge. Enjoy!
March 3, 2014
Oh yes, I guess I can’t imagine the salty / sweet thing. A former work colleague used to rave about M&Ms or Maltesers (cannot recall) mixed in with her salted popcorn at the movies!
March 3, 2014
Bacon and maple syrup is just weird. Crispy bacon on the top of cupcakes is also weird. But Americans think vegemite is weird.
March 3, 2014
I think vegemite is weird. I used to like promite though. (OF course now I only use a GF variation when making gravy!)
I keep seeing a lot of bacon flavoured stuff online and can’t work out if it’s a joke or not?!
March 3, 2014
I guess us North Americans ARE insane, as I love a good pancake/bacon/maple syrup combo! 🙂
March 3, 2014
Argh! Perhaps it’s an acquired taste. I remember being at Uni and my brother started eating peanut butter and honey and I thought it was mad… but after having it a couple of times I became addicted (at one point!).
March 3, 2014
Don’t like my sweet/savoury mixed and pancakes with bacon sounds SO WRONG (but each to her/his own) Have vegemite on my toast each morning….is there another breakfast?? (Even my English friend,reared on Marmite, has moved onto vegemite!)
My fav pancake combo is ricotta and blueberries (ricotta and berries inside the pancake mixture), with honey or maple syrup drizzled over the top. We make it for a special brunch treat, using our ‘girls’ eggs so the pancakes are fluoro yellow, oozing ricotta and berries.
Impressed Deb with 7.5 kg and also with the trying of new recipes. I need to do this too – move out of our comfort zone… have been recycling our old stalwarts for far too long 🙂
March 3, 2014
It’s great to try some different things – I just need to find some ‘steak’ recipes as most I’ve earmarked (on my iPad!!!) have been chicken recipes and I do like my steak!
PS. I don’t mind savoury pancakes and the bacon and tomato was yummy with the corn and chives flavour!
March 3, 2014
I love bacon, pancakes and maple syrup…. its huge in New Zealand as well, bacon and maple syrup 🙂
March 3, 2014
Oh…. I’d offer to keep trying it, but like I said – a waste of perfectly perfect bacon and maple syrup! 😉
March 3, 2014
I have never tried the bacon/maple syrup combo either for the same fear. I love both on their own, together sounds horrific.
7.5 kgs in 2 months is amazing! My Mum became really big into trying new recipes when she started weight watchers. She has been a member for close to ever so she has slowed a little in the new recipe enthusiasm, but she still definitely tries out more recipes than before. And amazingly their recipes are mostly really really good. I always expected them to taste more diety if that makes any sense.
March 3, 2014
One of the reasons I like WW is cos it involves ‘normal’ food. I read a lot of recipes on other sites (including fabulous ones shared by bloggers) and they often involve all sorts of replacements for sugar and flour etc. I’m happy to cut costs or corners (calories / points) but I don’t want to buy a heap of ingredients I’ll rarely use again.
Good to hear your mum still tries new stuff out though!
March 3, 2014
I’ve never even HEARD of combining bacon and maple syrup or corn for that matter. I must admit your pancakes look really good though and I haven’t made them for a long time myself…maybe I try something new.
A Finnish Shrove Tuesday delicatess is a simple ((wheat) bun with whipped cream and strawberry jam. http://blogit.hs.fi/kauhaajarakkautta/2012/02/18/mantelimassa-uhka-vai-mahdollisuus/
March 3, 2014
Oh, I’m going to check that out Satu!
March 3, 2014
After a sausage and egg ‘mcmuffin’ that ended up being a pancake at NYC Maccas, I’m off the bacon and maple syrup. I’m going back on WW, which worked for me last year. I tried the ‘5/2 fast diet’ but low blood sugar turned me into a fishwife, made me want to eat my arms, gave me the shakes, and I didn’t lose.
Thanks for the recipe.
March 3, 2014
You’re welcome Susan. I know a few people who’ve tried the 5:2 thing (or intermittent fasting) and the challenge is then NOT to overdo it on the days you eat normally. I’m a bit all / nothing so it doesn’t seem an option for me!
March 4, 2014
Heck yes to bacon and maple syrup! I love salty with sweet. Totally love those sweet corn pancakes and I bet my girls would enjoy them too.
Good on you with the weight loss too. I bet you are feeling awesome!
March 4, 2014
Thanks Bec!