5.28.2008

Brinner: Ina Garten's Banana Sour Cream Pancakes

Anyone else out there feel that Scrubs is the most underrated show out there? Anyone? It was around way before Grey’s Anatomy, has all the angst of Grey’s but with so much humor that you forget you’re partaking in melodrama.

Unfortunately, for all of you (not for me - I still have it Tivo'd), I can’t show you a clip of the recent episode, “My Bad Too.” Long synopsis short, Turk makes a big deal out of his wife, Carla, making him “brinner.” I’m sure you can figure it out: “brinner” is a typical breakfast meal…but eaten at dinner. Hence, “brinner”.

In honor of Scrubs, I made brinner last week: Ina Garten’s Banana Sour Cream Pancakes from Barefoot Contessa Family Style. They’re so easy to make, yet they don’t skimp in the decadence department. In this case, I served it with bison bacon I bought at the Union Square Greenmarket.


Recipe:

1 ½ c all-purpose flour
3 tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp kosher salt
½ c sour cream (I’ve used crème fraîche in a pinch)
¾ c plus 1 tbsp milk (I used goat’s milk from Coach Farm)
2 extra-large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp grated lemon zest
Unsalted butter
2 ripe bananas, diced, plus extra for serving
Pure maple syrup

Ina calls for sifting together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Frankly, I don’t have time – I just dump it all in the bowl. Whisk together the sour cream, milk, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, mixing only until combined. (She’s serious, people – don’t overmix this!)

Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a large skillet over med-low heat until it bubbles (these are Ina’s directions, but I use a countertop electric griddle, which works fabulously. It’s up to you and what you have in your kitchen. Don’t panic, everyone can do pancakes!). Ladle pancake batter into pan. Distribute a rounded tbsp of bananas on each pancake (I scatter them around). Cook for 2-3 minutes, until bubbles appear on top & the underside is nicely browned. Flip the pancakes and then cook for another minute or so, until browned. Here, Ina calls for wiping out your pan, adding more butter, and continuing to cook pancakes 1-2 at a time. If you use a griddle, stovetop or electric, there really isn’t much of a need for this because you can finish it in one go. Serve with sliced bananas, butter (of course!), and maple syrup. Ina also says that you can keep the pancakes warm in a 200-degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Again, this is the beauty of the griddle – no need to keep pancakes warm while you cook them 1 at a time.

In conclusion, let me add that 1) this is the coolest way to get your kiddo to eat fruit for dinner, and 2) I had my friend Anali very much in mind when I made these – she has a total pancake thing and would love these. While I can’t remember exactly what I drank, I had a glass of wine with this meal – truly, pick any meal and there’s a bottle out there, somewhere, that will go with it.

Eat, drink, watch Scrubs and eat brinner.

5 comments:

Gretchen Alice said...

I totally made brinner the other night in honor of Turk. Breakfast is so much better at night.

Unknown said...

I know! One of my favorite Scrubs episodes!

I never get this elaborate with my breakfast, where simplicity and coffee are my two main objectives. When else can I make these amazing dishes other than dinner?

Anali said...

Mmmm...I'll totally have to try these - consider them added to the LIST! And thanks for thinking of me, I feel all warm and fuzzy now. :-)

Anonymous said...

we made blackberry pancakes with whipped cream for breakfast! the recipe i used is from the New Basics and it has melted butter, nutmeg and lemon zest in it. the three year old, in typical defiance, refused to eat her pancake but ate about twelve strips of bacon.

kathy said...

Well, my family sends you yet another message of thanks for a really lovely dinner (first Jamie's macaroni cheese, which we found through your post on another of his recipes, and now this)! Yum!