"Wildfire at Dawn" - Sourdough Blueberry Pancakes

Recipe (printable PDF)

Firehawks Smokjumpers series #1
EXCERPT: 

A sharp whoosh and buzz overhead had most of the smokies glancing upward. Steve’s drone launched and shot by overhead, then turned sharply south.

Akbar glanced around. No Steve, of course, he’d be at the drone’s controls in his truck’s trailer. Might be a fire, might be a Search-and-Rescue, might be a test.

No Carly at any of the tables either. Was she keeping her fiancé company or was she with him because there might be a fire and she was their best analyst?

No Henderson, Mount Hood Aviation’s boss. A very bad sign.

Akbar rose to his feet, rolled the remains of two pancakes around the ham and eggs like a massive and sloppy burrito. He trapped it between English muffins for a handhold, and headed over to Steve’s control trailer. He did his best to appear casual to not alarm the others in case it was nothing.

Around the backside of the bunkhouse where Steve kept his drone’s service truck and launch trailer parked, they were all clustered together.

Akbar sidled up to the group, “What’s happening?” He took a big bite of his pancake burrito and managed not to wear any of the egg that was dripping out the back end and onto the grass.

Henderson answered him. “We got a badly broken radio report of a fire up on Mount Hood. Southwest we think. Steve’s sending a drone to check it out.”

Akbar felt his blood run a little cold. “Southwest?”

“Maybe she said west. It was hard to tell.”

“She?” That cold chill turned into a deep freeze. Laura was leading a group horseback ride for tourists up there today.

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Active time: 30 minutes / Cook time: 30 minutes / Total time: 30 minutes / Serves: 2-3

Ingredients – Sourdough pancakes The wet: 120 g. spent sourdough starter 1 egg 1/3 c. oil 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 4-6 oz. milk The dry: 120 g. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda Pinch of salt	Ingredients – Regular pancakes The wet: 1 egg 6-8 oz. milk 3 Tbsp. melted butter or vegetable oil 3 Tbsp. brown sugar 1/4 tsp. vanilla  The dry: 120 g. all-purpose flour 3 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt
Ingredients – Bananas Foster(ish) All amounts are per banana. 1 ripe (but not soft yet) banana per person 2 Tbsp. butter 1/4 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. maple syrup 1 Tbsp. dark rum, optional 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 2 Tbsp. broken walnuts pieces	Ingredients – Optional Garnishes 1/4 lb. bacon per person An egg goes well on the side too 1/4 c. blueberries per person tossed into the pancake batter after all mixed is a favorite addition. Add just before cooking and stir the minimum to mix them in or all your batter turns blue.

The Pancake Instructions

1. Mix all the wet ingredients and all the dry ingredients in separate bowls.
2. Add the dry to the wet and mix until fully incorporated.
3. Add extra milk as needed to get a smooth, thick, but not runny batter.
4. This is when you’d mix in the blueberries if you’re using them.
5. Over medium heat in a dry, non-stick pan, make pancakes with about 1/2 c. of batter per pancake.
6. Let them cook until air bubbles that pop through leave an open hole rather than filling back in. Flip and cook another 30-60 seconds. Place on a plate in a warm oven.

The Bananas Foster(ish) Instructions

Note: For a different kind of treat, make this exact recipe but serve it over a high-quality vanilla ice cream instead of pancakes for a great dessert (and proper Bananas Foster).

1. Brown the butter over medium heat (3-5 minutes).
2. Add everything except the bananas, stirring rapidly to mix well.
3. Bring to a boil, but not a violent one (if too uppity, remove from the heat for 30 seconds). If you used the rum, let simmer for 1-2 minutes to burn off the alcohol.
4. Slice the bananas into thirds or fourths the long way (or just cut them into 1/4” slices the short way). Immerse in the liquid for 1-2 minutes until the bananas are softened.
5. Spread over the pancakes and don’t skip the sauce.

Browned bananas over brown pancakes with browned bacon doesn’t make the sexiest photo but the taste is surprisingly elevated and lands deep in comfort food territory.

Recipe (printable PDF)