Sunday, November 7, 2010 @ 5:09 PM
My Day in Pancakes
Ever have a day when you know everything will go wrong? Today was one of those days.
Before I moved to PA, I was pretty involved in my church. Since coming here, I've been trying to find a new church to call home, but with little success. This morning I decided to try a near-by church. I'll spare you the details and just say that it wasn't at all what I was expecting. To add to my disappointment, I nearly passed out three quarters of the way through service and had to leave.
I walked home knowing that I had to eat something as soon as I got into my apartment. Luckily, I had some pumpkin pancake mix from Trader Joe's in my cupboard. I've made them from scratch before, but they take twice as long as a mix.
Fluffy with a touch of cinnamon and just enough pumpkin flavor. After slathering on the syrup and I was feeling better in no time!
After nearly inhaling my pancakes, I took a bit of a breather before heading out again. I have a Lithuanian friend who introduced me to one of his Lithuanian friends who invited me to a Lithuanian festival this afternoon (still with me?). Now, I've never eaten Lithuanian food before, but I love Eastern European food, so I was excited to try something new. Plus I heard rumors that Lithuanians know how to make a mean potato pancake. Who am I to turn down potato pancakes?
Now if you'll remember, I started this post by talking about how it just wasn't my day. I got in the car to drive to Philly to get my food on, and within 10 minutes, my oil light went on. I know I just need to get it changed (and have an appointment to do so), but I decided to turn around immediately and not risk anything (just in case).
womp womp.
I wasn't about to let that ruin my day. When life gives you car troubles instead of Lithuanian potato pancakes, make your own! So, I did just that :)
2 shredded russet potatoes and half a small onion shredded. Combine with an egg and salt and pepper and prepare to fry.
Snap, crackle, pop!
Crisp, crackly brown exterior and a creamy interior with just a hint of onion flavor. Mmmm...
I bought some apples at the farmer's market this week and decided to whip up a quick improvised apple sauce with some cider I had in the fridge. The cider reduction added a more intense apple flavor and sweetened the sauce without adding sugar!
I like my potato pancakes with apple sauce...
...and sour cream.
My latkes may have lacked the Lithuanian love, but they weren't lacking in effect. I may have been unhappy about having to miss the fair today, but feeding my stomach fried crispy patties of potato is a sure-fire way to make any day better.
Labels: apples, pancakes, potatoes, pumpkin
This weekend happened to be a long weekend as well as my school's fall break. However, the biggest contributing factor to choosing this particular weekend to come home was the Southington Apple Harvest Festival. I wish I could tell you more about the countless craft vendors or the rides and games, but I can't. I'm extremely narrow-minded in my approach to this festival. I go for the apple fritters alone. I'm not sure how to say this, but they're kind of a big deal. People wait in lines up to a half hour for bags of these sugar-dusted fried balls of fall.

the never-ending line, which wound around the block
I'm not sure who orders 5 Dozen, but I would like to be that person's friend.
My mom and I "split" a dozen. I use the word "split" loosely, because I'm pretty sure she had about 3 and then gave me the rest. Bless her heart, she's good to me!
Piping hot and soft with warm bits of apple throughout and dusted with cinnamon and sugar:
A perfect bite of fall.
We were particularly hungry this year and had the brilliant idea of eating before we got fritters so that by the time we moved through the line, we would have digested our food. Tempted by everything from New England clam chowder in a bread bowl to chili to fried dough (a personal favorite), we decided on Polish food. My mom went for sauerkraut pierogies and my sister and I split potato & cheese pierogies and a kielbasa and kraut sandwich. The pierogies could have used a dash of pepper in the filling and a touch of butter on top, but they were still pretty delicious (and far superior to commercial frozen ones). I had no complains about my sandwich. The bread was soft, the meat had just enough spice and the touch of dijon mustard added a welcome kick to balance out the flavors. Eating fair food on a perfect October day with my family? I couldn't ask for a better day!
Let's move on to Sunday...
By the time I went to sleep on Saturday night, I was pretty convinced that I would never eat again. Having gorged on apple fritters and pierogies, I wasn't sure I could fit anything else in my stomach, but I had a breakfast date first thing Sunday morning, so I had to make room somehow. Thankfully, it only took a quick glance at the menu to find room for my next fall foodventure... pumpkin pecan pancakes at Colony Diner in Meriden.

fluffy buttermilk pumpkin pancakes infused with cinnamon and the crunch of pecans
sprinkled with sugar
Then slathered in maple syrup... oh yes. (and just look at those pecans!)
Easily my favorite breakfast. I wait all year for it.
I'm getting full just typing this and smiling at my delicious food memories, but friends, I have one last stop on this taste train. I'd like to tell you about Ted's. It's a tiny place--if you're not careful, you can drive by and almost miss it.
They've been making magic for over fifty years and their delicious steamed cheeseburgers were recently featured on Man vs. Food for good reason! Hamburger meat gets packed into metal trays and placed in a steaming oven. Cheese meets the same fate, though it has its own oven. Each sandwich is made to order and the meat is placed atop a soft, freshly baked kaiser roll. Next, the steamed cheese nearly doubles over itself as it oozes out of the steam tray and slides down over the meat, leaving no bit of hamburger uncovered. Topped with anything you'd like (I went the lettuce, tomato, raw onion, ketchup route), they're quite the mouthful. I was bringing my sister lunch (though a few minutes late... sorry!), so I took mine to go and didn't get to take a picture of my burger while the cheese was still warm, melty and making its slow descent down the bun. Forgive me. I'll get better pictures next time.
Amazing weekend at home--fall flavors, delicious food, quality time with my family and foliage, I'm one lucky gal.
great post, Kelly! i love reading about your food adventures every chance i get. : )
Fall in Philly is the best-- I grew up there so believe me, I know. It's warm for a while and then it starts to cool down. Enjoy the warmth while it's still here because it'll be cold soon enough!
Those apple fritter look delicious. I love going apple picking and eating fresh hot apple donuts.