Innocent Until Proven Guilty

October 10th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time

This juice sure looks innocent, doesn’t it? Today was the first day I made juice for both Zak and myself with the Breville. Zak likes a lot of ginger and the new juicer handles ginger like a real champ. These two facts are a dangerous combination, as I was a little too eager and generous with the ginger this morning.

Holy Ginger

I’m fairly certain that this juice tunneled new pathways in my sinuses. I think I shook my head and bugged out my eyes after every sip. But I still drank it all! No worries. I think I’m fully protected from any sort of flu that might try to invade my immune system from now until 2011, Swine or otherwise.

The grapes sure look innocent, don’t they?

Grapes

And they were. I ate them off the vine like Cleopatra waiting for my buddy Shawn to arrive so we could for a bike ride.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Bike Ride

Who’s wearing a helmet and who’s not? Who’s wearing long sleeves and long pants on a 50 degree day and who’s not? Actually, never mind. Nothing is wrong with that picture, everything is as it should be. Sensible Women and the Men They Work Out With – I think that’s going to be title of my memoir.

Book titles aside, Shawn and I ran a lot together this summer but have never gone for a ride together. Boy I tell ya there is NOTHING like working out with a friend. The time just flies by, and if you work out with someone who is bigger and stronger than you it really helps up your intensity too. Shawn benefits because he feels like a big tough man so everyone wins.

We had an interesting conversation about being chased by dogs after passing a dog straining on it’s leash in our general direction about 6 miles in to our ride. My approach? I just yell and act like I’m the alpha dog and so far (knock on wood) it has never failed me. Shawn? He claims he a) can out run or ride any dog so he’s not concerned. He also says that b) if he got bit by a dog he would just bite back.

I’m going to get started on my memoir as soon as I hit publish.

We rode 16 miles and were gone about an hour and 15 minutes. It was chilly but still a beautiful day, especially from the comfort of a long sleeved shirt and long pants.

I’ve had potato pancakes on the brain for a few days now and decided they would make the perfect post ride lunch today.

I shredded two large sweet potatoes in the food processor and one medium onion too.

Shredded Potatoes

In a large bowl I scrambled 3 eggs and added 3 tablespoons of whole wheat flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, dashes of salt, pepper and dried parsley. I added the shredded potato and onion and stirred until well combined. I coated the pan with coconut oil and dropped in the potato batter and flattened with the spatula.

They sure look promising, don’t they? They smelled promising too!

They Sure Look Promising

I could NOT get these suckers to stick together for anything. Somewhere along the way I got the hiccups making me even more frustrated and ready to launch the whole thing straight through the kitchen window.

FAIL

I added a little more flour. For the second round I coated the pan with olive oil instead of coconut oil. No dice. Third batch? Swapped out olive oil for canola oil. The canola oil worked best but I think that was most likely due to recklessly pouring oil into the pan like a drunk hostess serving wine at a party. About a half dozen dramatic sighs, 14 hiccups and a gallon of canola oil later I finally had something that resembled pancakes. They probably stuck together so well because they soaked up a lot of the oil, turning a relatively healthy meal into a grease bomb.

This was one non-grease bomb pancake that looked some what presentable. Served with applesauce.

I ate the failed mess pancakes plus the lone pretty one I got. They tasted great, no complaints there! But ascetically pleasing? Not so much. Zak the human compost ate the grease bombs, which also tasted great but then again even a fried piece of paper would taste great.

Barely Passed

I’m not sure what exactly went wrong here, I normally have good luck with potato pancakes. But I also usually use white potatoes, so I’m blaming those deliciously devious sweet potatoes. White potatoes seem to release more water when they’re waiting their turn for the pan, and I think that might help them hold together better?

One thing’s for certain though: I no longer have potato pancakes on the brain.


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11 Responses

  • Libby says:

    It’s frustrating isn’t it when things just don’t turn out the way they should. They do look yummy though – well the one in the photo :-).

    Libby

  • Cindy says:

    Sweet tater pancakes sound DELISH..my Teen has requested a big batch of your stuffing so that’s what we’re having for supper…(not stuffed in acorns though)

    JJ’s been having fun playing with Hissy…so she’ll be well loved!!!

    I never have had luck making potato pancakes stick..I just call them hash browns.

    HA

    you would think I would be taking the day off from knitting but after a good hand massage and a job I cracked out my next project!

    Socks for MOI!!

    yeah!

    xoxoxo
    hopefully it’s movie night…but there’s always Sunday too!

    • Cindy says:

      that was supposed to say “after a hand massage and a JOG….” not a job..I have a job..I needed a JOG!

      guess I need another hand massage! they’re kinda stiff!

      :)

  • Thanks for making your way around my bloggie… I missed you! Glad you’re all entered for the macaroon giveaway action :)

    Ginger and that juicer…OMG I really overdid it a few times and after like 10 bucks worth of organic produce in the pitcher, there was no way I was dumping it but yeah, BTDT too.

    Potato pancakes…not really my scene but maybe less egg mixture? Too wet and nothing you could have done could salvage it is my guess. Canola, eggs, onions and potatoes. Boy, my husband would love you girl! That is music to a jewish boys soul what you had in that pan. I have never cooked like that so the closest thing he gets is a trip to the deli if he has a craving LOL

  • Julie says:

    Back by popular demand…

    Wow, I totally would’ve given up and had an easy breakfast for dinner instead!
    I always get nervous when I see people bike riding without helmets. I was going to give my bike to my sister, but insisted she buy a helmet first. She wouldn’t so I didn’t give her the bike. I gave it to my cousin instead who left it at her moms and it’s been there for months unused. Ho hum.

  • maria says:

    It is so totally aggravating when you can’t get foods to do what you want! I had a problem with pancakes this summer. I would make them and they wouldn’t budge from the skillet. What the hell?

  • My grandpa used to say, “I think even cardboard would taste okay if it was fried in enough oil.” This coming from a man who gave up mashed potatos and dessert one year because he was “getting too thick around the middle”.

  • Lizzy says:

    your always so good with fixing a minor slip up! I admire that about you, because not gonna lie i probably would have given up! They looked amazing nonetheless! :)

  • Sharon says:

    I LOVE Potato Pancakes! I never thought to us sweet potatos. Maybe mixing sweet potatos with the white potato would be ok and i have defantly found, not skimping on the oil helps. Now i have to make some!

  • A says:

    Maybe the starch in the regular potatoes holds them together better. Maybe try a combo- sweet and regular potato pancake. You’ll get the starch and yummy flavor from the regular and the goodness from the sweet potato! Oh, and I think I may try fried paper in the Kubicle Kitchen this week. What do you suggest…. notebook or construction??
    -A

  • A says:

    Ha…. after hitting “submit comment” I realized I had the same suggestion as the person above me. Duh… I should read the other comments before I post! SORRY!
    -A