Preheat oven to 500. Peel, core, and thinly slice 2 large (or 3 small) apples (here, Gala). Heat 4 Tbsp unsalted butter in a large (10″) cast iron skillet, then saute the apple slices in it until soft. Separately, mix together ½ cup flour, ½ cup milk, and 3 eggs. Pour the batter over the cooked apple slices, then bake in oven until the pancake puffs up and turns light brown along the edges. Carefully pour 2 Tbsp unsalted butter over the pancake, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (1/6 cup sugar + ½ tsp cinnamon). Continue to bake until sugar melts and pancake browns (about 5 mins). Serve immediately with maple syrup. This recipe is courtesy of Treasured Recipes by Donna Green, who kindly shared her family recipe book with me several years ago. I think this is similar to a Dutch baby (my favorite dish at pancake houses), and it’s nice to recreate a bit of that at home. (Oct. 2013)
Cooking Adventures 