A La Cuisine is hosting this month's IMBB and the theme is tasteTea. I am quite a fan of using tea in cooking and was very pleased to see this theme.
Due to the events of late, I was expecting to have to miss this IMBB and was quite disappointed. However, my lovely friend Aviva has lent me her camera for the day so I am back in the game. (Thank you Aviva!).
I became a bit over-zealous when I expected to be unable to participate and therefore have made two items. I hope this does not annoy my fellow IMBB participants.
First, I decided to make matcha pancakes with matcha yogurt sauce. I based my recipe largely on Kate Habershon's Simple Pancake Stack recipe from her cookbook Pancakes and Waffles. I tried a crumpet recipe from this book a while back with mediocre results. The results of this pancake recipe were fantastic, however.
I added matcha powder, ground ginger, and a pinch of cinnamon to Habeshon's recipe. I then cooked the pancakes in a well buttered skillet on low heat and employed crumpet rings to produce the desired height and shape.
Meanwhile I combined a dash of vanilla extract and a bit of matcha powder with plain yogurt to create the sauce. These pancakes were a welcome departure from the Saturday morning pancake routine while still being full-fledged comfort food.
For my second item I made Irish soda biscuits with matcha powder based on a Martha Stewart recipe. In addition I also made matcha and ginger butter (by simply bringing unsalted butter to room temperature, incorporating the ginger and matcha to taste and chilling in waxed paper) and used this in the place of the butter called for in the recipe.
The butter was nice. I think I will experiment more with flavored butters. However, I could take or leave this soda biscuit recipe.
I would like to thank Molly, a fabulous woman from the LTH Forums, for sending me this high quality matcha powder. It was a generous and well-timed gift!
Gemma, those pancakes look STUNNING!
Posted by: Zarah Maria | July 31, 2005 at 01:43
I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of tea--blaspemy, I know!--but I can't resist echoing Zarah Maria. Those pancakes are drop-dead gorgeous!
Posted by: Molly | July 31, 2005 at 19:54
scrumptious looking pancakes!
Posted by: Antonietta | August 01, 2005 at 03:43
Gemma, I'm glad you could participate and that you went for a matcha extravaganza too ;) I'll definitely try the pancakes with yoghurt sauce, the combination sounds really intersesting. I love all of the pictures, they are lovingly captured.
Posted by: keiko | August 01, 2005 at 06:34
Yummy pancakes! The yoghurt sauce sounds great too.
Posted by: boo_licious | August 02, 2005 at 05:06
I love the color - so beautiful! I was so sorry to read about your mugging... I can imagine how scary it was and how frustrating it is to be without a camera so soon before your trip. I would probably search the 'new and used' sellers at amazon, perhaps looking for a camera that's a little out of date but a good price. My backup camera is a Canon Powershot A80 with 4mp, and it does a fantastic job. Anyhow, glad you're safe and good luck!
Posted by: melissa | August 02, 2005 at 11:44
Thanks Zarah, I hope your vacation is going well!
Molly, while I like cooking with tea I can certainly understand why others might find it blasphemous. Thanks for the nice comments!
Thank you Antonietta!
Hi Keiko, I was worried that without a sweeter base the matcha would be overwhelming, but the flavor went superbly with the butter. Let me know how they work out for you if you try them. (And I suggest using crumpet rings. They took well to a little coaxing upwards).
Thanks boo_licous (What a fabulous name!)
Hi Melissa, thanks for the kind thoughts. Yes, I think second hand will definitely be the way to go. I have been sifting my way through Froogle and looking up certain cameras, I will do the same with the A80. Thanks for the suggestion!
Posted by: gemma | August 02, 2005 at 12:01
What fluffy perfection those pancakes are! I love using the molds, and making pillowy little cakes rather than thin silver-dollar sized ones. They look perfect with the sauce, but I'm sure they'd be equally delicious with a drizzle of honey.
Posted by: tara | August 03, 2005 at 10:15
hi gemma, what a gorgeous gorgeous spread! the pictures are stunning, and the flavour combinations utterly unique, especially the pancakes and yogurt...cheers,j
Posted by: J | August 03, 2005 at 21:49
Ooh honey, great idea Tara! I too love the molds. They can make great things look even better.
thank you J! (though I think the term spread can only apply to your entry, amazing!)
Posted by: gemma | August 05, 2005 at 14:47