httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYjlXKt9uoA

Helenka got a request for a recipe for pancakes. Not just any pancakes, of course, but special ones from Hawaii. I, being curious and all that, had to do some research first on what was a Hawaiian pancake? I found the main difference was the sauce poured over the pancakes (a Macadamia nut one). Well, in our typical fashion and not to be outdone by the absence of Macadamia nuts (cause they are expensive), we tried to find a recipe that met most of the requirements. I got the bright idea of “How about we combine two recipes into one!” We had French Toast on the show before and the sauce was just incredible; plus it had bananas in it. Coincidence? I think not. The original used a vanilla bourbon and caramelized banana sauce (but we did the old switcheroo for this recipe by replacing the bourbon with a banana liqueur). I’m posting the macadamia nut sauce recipe, too. Who knows: if we find a good source for this wonderful nut, I may just make it the original way.

For the pancakes, I found a recipe that fit the bill quite nicely. (link) They were so fluffy and delightful; plus, with the sweet banana sauce, we knew that once we finished we would be in a state of sugary bliss (I think we both slept really well that night [Helenka concurs, wazzz verrry sleeepy]).

This was a fun exercise and we’d like to do it again. So, if you have a request, give us some details and we’ll see if we can whip up something special … just for you.

Till next time,
Enjoy!
B&H =:)

Helenka’s Notes:

Yes, we love requests, but this one threw us for a loop because what do we know about Hawaii (except for those amazing Macadamia nuts)? But, hey, I think we ended up with a fabulous result. And … and … we got to have ::adopts that happy, little-girl voice:: “breakfast for dinner again”.

In all honesty, I can’t contribute too much to this blog post because, as I mentioned during filming, pancakes weren’t a part of my upbringing. But I’m willing to learn. So, I asked myself, “Self, what other fruits and goodies would make yummy pancakes? The bananas were perfect for incorporating into the batter, as the fruit is fibrous and doesn’t release excessive moisture. But that shouldn’t mean that you can’t use other fruits. You’ll just have to exercise a little care.

Variations:
If you follow the original directions and mix the ingredients without any fruit, then I could see the following being folded in gently:

• blueberries (I know, so traditional), with slivered almonds and a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of a cooked sauce
• chopped apricots (because they’re dense-fleshed, too), with pecans and rum
• chopped fresh peeled figs (either green or black), with hazelnuts and hazelnut liqueur
• chopped not-quite-ripe nectarines (lightly dusted with flour first to prevent sticking), with cashews and orange liqueur
• plumped raisins and cranberries with nutmeg, cinnamon and brandy

and, to end on a silly note, chocolate chips, with a mint and chocolate liqueur sauce and garnished with sprigs of fresh mint

I just realized that I’ve gone the “Let’s have breakfast for dinner FOR DESSERT route!” Do I feel guilty about that? ::shakes head:: I thought you all knew me better than that by now.

Anyway, this recipe is for Mary. I hope you enjoy making it (uh … them … considering the substitutions and variations). I’m just sorry we couldn’t provide you with matching Hawaiian weather!

Our source for the banana pancakes (with a slight modification of using buttermilk) came from polynesiankitchen.blogspot.com

Banana Pancakes

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk (we substituted buttermilk)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed (place bananas in Ziploc bag, zip and squish!)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• dash of cinnamon, if you like

1. Combine flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil and bananas.
2. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; batter will be slightly lumpy. [Evil editor missed the “in a separate bowl” part and Brian mixed everything in one bowl. It turned out just fine!]
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides; serve hot.

The original recipe for the sauce we used came from the “Cook This Not That” book with a modification from us (using banana liqueur).

Vanilla Banana Liqueur and Caramelized Banana Sauce
(We dare you to say that 3 times fast!)

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons banana liqueur
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup crushed walnuts
• 2 ripe but firm bananas sliced into ¼ inch rounds
• ¼ cup 2% milk

1. Heat the butter in a medium pan (nonstick if you have it) over medium heat. Add the banana liqueur, then stir in the brown sugar till dissolved. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes until you see bubbles.
2. Add in the walnuts and cook for another 2 minutes; gently add in the banana slices and heat through.
3. Stir in milk, then turn heat down to low and keep warm.

Macadamia Nut Sauce (optional to the sauce above and original to the banana pancake recipe)

• 1 cup macadamia nuts
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup cream
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ teaspoon lemon juice

Grind macadamia nuts in a food processor until fine. Place nuts into a medium saucepan and fry over medium high heat for 5 min or until fragrant. Remove from pan, and set aside. Lower heat to medium and add the butter, stirring until melted. Stir in flour and cook 1 min. Slowly pour in milk and cream, constantly whisking the whole time. Add sugar, salt, vanilla to the pan. Cook 5 min or until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in lemon juice. Pour sauce into a serving dish. Serve warm and sprinkle the Macadamia nuts on top of each serving.