Farmer Boy Recipe - The First Baby of 2012!

Here's the way to start off the new year!  This is an old German recipe, handed down in my family for generations.  It is a "German Apple Pancake", but better known by the name of, "Dutch Baby".  As the German immigrants settled in the area's of Pennsylvania and Ohio, (as was the case for most of my ancestors) the folks misunderstood them because of their accent and unlearned English.  As a result of this, they thought the people were saying that they were "Dutch".  What they were really saying was, that they were, "Deutsch", which is their language for "German".  Even today, most people think of "The Pennsylvania Dutch".  Anyway, this is my recipe for that pancake:

Farmer Boy "Dutch Baby"

Ingredients: (Part One)

• 1 Cup sourdough starter (if you need to make this, seek my recipe, here on this blog site)
• 1 1/2 Cups milk
• 2 Cups all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 Cup sour cream, mixed with 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

(Part Two):

• 1/4 Cup butter
• 1/2 Cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 Cup pecan halves (optional)
• 2 large tart apples (Granny Smith work good)

Directions: Place starter in a large bowl.  Combine with 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of flour.  Cover and place in the refrigerator over night.  Next day - remove to raise to room temperature.

Add the rest of the "part one" ingredients to the starter mix and mix well.  Cover and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

On to "part two": Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Pare and core the apples, then slice (as you would for pie).

Place the butter in a 10 inch iron skillet, over medium heat.  As it melts, brush it up the sides of the skillet.

Sprinkle the sugar over the butter.  As it begins to bubble, sprinkle the cinnamon and nutmeg over it.  As it begins to turn color (light brown), pecans may be added, followed by the apple slices (in a double layer), sprinkle a little more sugar over the apples.  Then add the batter.  Cook till bubbles begin to appear.  Then, carefully, place the skillet into the oven.  Bake for 15 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 375 degrees F. and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven.  Now, here's the real tricky part: place a large plate or platter over the skillet, and holding on with both hands (wear oven mitts!), flip it over to turn the pancake out onto the plate.  Drizzle a little lemon juice on top and dust with powdered sugar.  Cut into wedges, (like a pie).  Serve warm.

This serves one hearty appetite - or as many wedge pieces as you can get away with!

If it all worked for you, you'll have a very special dish!  The last time I had one of these at the "Original Pancake House", it cost over $8.00!  And people would stand in lines outside for hours, waiting their turn to get in to order these!  Times being what they are, making this may take a bit of effort, but it is well worth it!  And what a great way to start off a new year!  (My apologies to the Pancake House - don't mean to put you out of business! :)

I hope you'll welcome this new "Baby" into your family on New Year's Day! (Or any other morning!)  If it doesn't come out good the first time, try again - remember to have fun & not take things too seriously this year!  Let's all work together to make each day this year better than the one before!

If you attempt this recipe, let us all know how it goes for you, by leaving a comment here.  And be sure to sign up as a follower of my blog - that's another great way to start off the new year!  Thanks.  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

"I never have been in favor of making good resolutions on New Year's Day just because it was the first day of the year.  Any day may begin a new year for us in that way." Laura Ingalls Wilder