Aebleskivers

I love Saturday mornings and I especially love making breakfast. Even before I was married, I would usually make French toast or a couple of pancakes with eggs for just myself on Saturdays. Now, I have a husband who also loves breakfast, so it is fun for me to whip up something warm and delicious for us. This week I decided on aebleskivers, in honor of Applecup and because I happened to have some left over buttermilk.

What are aebleskivers you ask? I was first introduced to these little pancake like balls in college. The best place in Pullman, WA for breakfast is by far Old European. I don't know if the interior has been updated, but when I was in college, walking into Old European was like walking into your or your friend's grandmother's house. There was flowery wallpaper, fake flower centerpieces, and mis-matched chairs. For breakfast they serve fresh squeezed orange juice, Hungarian goulash, potato pancakes, Scandinavian crepes, omelets, hotcakes, and aebleskivers.

 Everything there is good, although I can't say that from my own experience because I always ordered an omelet and aebleskivers. The aebleskivers were sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with applesauce or syrup. I have loved pancakes since I was a little girl, so these were a great new way to enjoy pancakes in my opinion. These Danish pancakes are made in a special pan with indentations to make them the shape of a sphere. Before I left WSU, I made sure to purchase an aebleskiver pan at a local hardware store so that I could continue to make these delicious treats. They are a little time consuming due to whipping of egg whites and then having to flip over the pancakes with a toothpick, but it is definitely worth it. Over the past few years I have been making these for breakfast around Christmas, which is when they were traditionally made.  If you ever come across an aebleskiver pan, don't be afraid to try these out! Enjoy!

Aebleskivers
(actually the recipe that came with the pan says "Great Grandma's Danish Aebleskiver")
Serves 3 or about 20 aebleskivers
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs separated

1. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Add buttermilk and egg yolks.
2. Beat egg whites until light and fluffy and soft peaks begin to form. Fold egg whites into batter
3. Heat pan on medium heat. Spray each cup with non-stick spray
4. Using a mini scoop, fill each cup about 2/3 full and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes or until bottom is golden brown. Flip by using a toothpick and cook for about 1/2 to 1 minute longer. Sprinkle with powered sugar and serve warm.
Serve with side of applesauce, syrup or Aaron's favorite- Nutella

Spiced Applesauce

I love apples in the Fall. The crisp, sweetness and crunchiness of an apple makes for a perfect snack. I especially love apple slices with a smear of peanut butter- delicious! In the grocery store you will find me feeling all of the types of apples looking for the hardest ones I can find because a mushy apple is not acceptable!

This year, I was given three types of apples from friends and neighbors. It is great to have a supply whenever I need a fresh apple! With so many apples though I was concerned about them turning mushy, so what better way to put some to use than applesauce?

I enjoyed cinnamon applesauce in my lunch box as a child. What I particularly remember about applesauce though, was my mom making cookies with applesauce. This was during the low-fat craze and she would replace the butter in cookie dough with applesauce. This made a super moist and chewy cookie. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with my applesauce, but I decided to give it a try and then go from there.

It was actually easy to make applesauce, so easy in fact that I have made two batches so far! It really is much better making it fresh than buying it canned. The flavor is brighter and you can flavor it however you desire. I used apple cider spices and the end product has just the perfect hint of these spices that makes you think of Thanksgiving and is perfect for the fall season.
Some ways that I have used my applesauce that I think you will enjoy too:
Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from David Lebovitz (I used chocolate chips instead of raisins)
Spiced Applesauce Cake from Smitten Kitchen (so yummy!)
Honey Pumpkin Bread from me! (I used 1/2 cup applesauce and only 1/4 cup of the oil)

Spiced Applesauce
~2-4 pounds apples (or however many it takes to fill your pot), a variety of apples with make the flavor of  the applesauce more complex and add sweetness
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
2-4 cinnamon sticks
4 cloves
1 star anise
1 nutmeg, cut into pieces
1 cup water


1. Peel, core and cut apples into slices. Place in large pot and add spices, lemon juice, and water.

2. Bring mixture to a boil, lower heat and allow to simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until apples are soft*.

3. Remove from heat and allow to cool for several minutes. Remove spice pieces.

4. Puree apple mixture in food processor until smooth. Refrigerate and enjoy!

*If your apples are particularly tart, add 1 tbsp sugar to apples while cooking or omit lemon juice