Friday, October 23, 2020

Palacsinta and a Book Review #FoodiesRead

Tender pancakes made in the Hungarian fashion of adding carbonated water as the liquid, rolled and topped wtih fresh berries and powdered sugar.

Palacsinta

These Hungarian Crepes called Palacsinta were inspired by the novel The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.

The Dutch House

My daughter, Amy, gave me this novel after she read it.  It is the story of siblings growing up in a rich household with a physically absent mother and an emotionally absent father.  It is the story of the importance of family and how to forgive the unforgiveable.  It is a coming of age book written in the voice of Danny who is 7 years younger than his sister Maeve.

Maeve and Danny's mother left, for the final time, when Danny is only 3 years old.  At 10 years of age, Maeve steps in to fill the void her mother left.  There are servants who do the cooking, cleaning and minding of the children but it is Maeve, who comforts and gives all emotional and parental support to Danny as he grows up. 

Their father remarries as Maeve is heading off to college in New York City and Danny is left alone with his father and his new wife and stepdaughters.  The marriage is not a happy one, which means that Danny and his father get to spend more time together than previously as his father takes him on his rounds to different properties that he owns, collecting rents and making repairs. 

Danny gets to know his father a little better just by watching him and spending time with him, but there are no deep conversations.  Danny develops a love for his father's business and eagerly looks forward to working with him, for him and one day taking his place.

This never happens as his father dies suddenly.  There is no will and all assets go directly to the stepmother who immediately calls Maeve to come and get Danny and all of their belongings out of "her" house.  The stepmother sells the family business and Maeve and Danny find themselves penniless.  Fortunately, Maeve does have a good job, and soon learns from her father's lawyer that her father had provided for an education fund for Danny that the stepmother could not touch nor prevent from being used.

Maeve sets about exacting revenge by making sure that Danny goes to the most expensive and prestigious boarding school followed by medical school.  And so starts a life long journey and the coming of age for Danny.......

While Danny is living in NYC he often visits and meets with people at a Hungarian Pastry Shop in his neighborhood.  I made these Palacsinta (Hungarian Crepes) served with berries as an homage to these meetings, one of which brings his long lost mother back into the family.

I am sharing this post over at Foodies Read.  Stop by and see what others are reading this month. 


breads, pancakes, crepes, breakfast, dessert
Breads, Breakfast, Dessert
Hungarian
Yield: 4 servings (12 crepes)
Author: Wendy Klik
Print
Palacsinta (Hungarian Crepes)

Palacsinta (Hungarian Crepes)

Tender pancakes made in the Hungarian fashion of adding carbonated water as the liquid, rolled and topped wtih fresh berries and powdered sugar.
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 15 Mininactive time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 20 M

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/4 c. flour
  • 1 c. milk
  • 1 t. sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 c. carbonated water
  • butter, as needed
  • Fresh berries of choice
  • powdered sugar, as desired

Instructions

  1. Place eggs, flour, milk, sugar and salt into a blender and puree until smooth.  Pour into a bowl and let rest for 1 hr.
  2. Melt 1/4 teaspoon of butter in a small skillet over med high heat.   Stir the carbonated water into the batter.  Ladle a thin layer of batter into the pan, tilting to cover the bottom. 
  3. When top of batter is bubbly about 30-40 seconds, flip over and cook for about 5 seconds before plating and setting aside.  Continue in this manner until all batter is used.
  4. Roll the crepes and top with fresh fruit.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

Notes:

Adapted from a recipe found at Food Network

Calories

383.83

Fat (grams)

7.57

Sat. Fat (grams)

3.45

Carbs (grams)

67.96

Fiber (grams)

2.44

Net carbs

65.52

Sugar (grams)

35.98

Protein (grams)

11.18

Sodium (milligrams)

140.08

Cholesterol (grams)

150.18
Created using The Recipes Generator

4 comments:

  1. That author's name sounds familiar, but I don't know that I've ever read anything by her. I'll take a look. Those crepes look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, It is in the pile that I'm going to be sending out to you whenever I get my butt to the post office LOL.

      Delete
  2. I loved the book, maybe my favorite by Ann Patchett. I think I’ve read all of her books, and I especially like Bel Canto. I’ve had those Hungarian crepes and your recipe looks like a good idea to do soon.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was my first book by Patchett but I will be looking for more. I am checking my library of Bel Canto. Thanks.

      Delete

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