Buckwheat Pancakes with hot, buttered walnuts

In Adelaide I used to love going to The Pancake Kitchen, which was open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is still there and not much has changed, which is wonderful because some of their concoctions are superb. This was always one of my favourites, and is called “It” because it is the ultimate!

(Serves 4)

1 cup buckwheat flour
¼  cup 85% flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp raw /demerara sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup plain yoghurt
½ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla essence
Sunflower oil
Walnuts
Butter
Bananas, sliced (optional)

1. Mix flours and baking powder in a medium bowl and add sugar. Make a well in the centre and pour in combined eggs, yoghurt, milk and vanilla; whisk until smooth.
2. Into a warm pan put the butter and a dash of oil. When frothy add the walnuts and toss around until hot and toasted.
3. Heat a frying pan over medium heat; oil lightly. Pour ½ cup of the mixture into pan; cook a few minutes on the first side, placing the banana slices on the top side before turning and finishing cooking.
4. Repeat with the remaining mixture to make 4 pancakes in total.
5. Top with the walnuts
and serve with organic maple syrup and plain yoghurt.

Walnut and parsley pesto

from Hugh Impossibly-long-name, River Cottage, Sept 2012

Perfect with pasta or as a dip
Serves 4.

100g walnuts
1 fat garlic clove garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
A handful of grated mature cheddar or Parmesan or a combination
A large handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves
About 1/2 cup good olive oil or sunflower oil
Juice of ½ lemon or more
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Blend walnuts, garlic, cheese and parsley together, then begin trickling in the oil, while the processor runs. Stop when you have a nice purée. Taste and season as necessary with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

When serving with pasta you may need to add some hot water from cooking the pasta, to help combine the pesto with the pasta.

Store in the fridge.