Eat A Dutch Baby (with bonus: Slightly frighten people when you say it out loud!)

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Or just do what I like to do - tell people that you're going to 'Make a Dutch Baby with my kids'...if they don't know exactly what a Dutch Baby is, you'll have Child Services from your particular state knocking down your door within hours!! Invite them in to taste your new Dutch Baby...

Ok, no...I've never really done that. But in my twisted mind, that would be freakin' hilarious.

I probably need help, huh?

A Dutch Baby is really just a pancake. A super huge, custard-like and thick bad-boy pancake. The texture is completely different than your run-o-the-mill pancake, and it is extremely tasty and easy to make.

You can make it (as instructed) in a 10 inch cast iron skillet, or you can make it in a 9x13 oven proof baking dish. The difference? Round vs. Square. If you have a well used and well seasoned cast iron skillet, there will be subtle taste differences as well. Sadly, my cast iron skillet that I have had for well over a year has been used maybe four times.  I really, really need to work on that. My cast iron dutch oven has been used way more and is my favorite go-to pot to use for almost everything, so why can't I seem to do that with the darned skillet?

My version of a Dutch Baby is a slightly altered version of Alton Brown's recipe. I like my Dutch Babies sweeter. You could also play around with flavors here...add some orange juice concentrate or whatever flavor you prefer (maybe 1/4 cup?) to the batter. Add pre-cooked meat crumbles, like bacon or sausage. There are endless possibilities! Papa Bear tops his with a smidge of brown sugar (instead of powdered) and a drizzle of syrup with interesting results!

Let the butter melt in the skillet in the oven while it's preheating.

Pour the magic mixture in the skillet.

It's a Dutch Baby! Congratulations! Pass the cigars!

Remove to cutting board and slice that baby up! Pizza cutters were made for stuff like this...

Top with whatever you prefer and dig in! I wonder if my American kids taste this good? Hmmm...

 
Dutch Baby

6 tablespoons butter, melted and divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1cup milk, room temperature*
4 eggs, room temperature*
Powdered sugar, syrup, fruit for serving

*The 'room temperature' thing is important. Trust me on this - I am not known for my baking ability and have impatiently skipped this all-important step and paid the price. Your patience will be rewarded...

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Place 4 tablespoons of the melted butter into a 10-inch cast iron skillet and place in the oven. Set the remaining melted butter aside to cool slightly. Wait 10 minutes before assembling the other ingredients.

Place the flour, vanilla, sugar, salt, milk, eggs and remaining melted butter into the blender and process for 30 seconds. Carefully pour the batter into the preheated skillet. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the edges are puffed and brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, drizzle with your favorite syrup or serve with your favorite fruit.

Retro 80's Movies Reviewed by The Drama Queen: Uncle Buck

Hi there! Drama Queen here.  In an effort to better understand my 80's obsessed (and forever quoting!) parents, I thought it might be fun to spend a chunk of my summer watching some of their favorite movies from the 80's. Not only do I get to spend some quality fun time with them (and contrary to popular teenage attitudes, I actually do like to spend time with them, because my parents are...what's the 80's phrase? Oh yeah...Totally Awesome!), but I also get to witness some good and bad 80's movies and see first hand where some of the things Mom and Dad constantly say/quote actually come from...

Let's begin our most excellent adventure!

Papa Bear gave me my very own 'Rating System' to use for the movies I watch in addition to reviewing them:

 

I'll rate and review each movie and Wicked Chef or Papa Bear might make a few comments here and there too...

So, let's begin with the 1989 film, Uncle Buck...

 

Drama Queen Rating:  4    

I loved this charming, hilarious and delightful movie! Uncle Buck is the story of a jobless, irresponsible and single uncle called upon to take care of his two nieces and one nephew.  This movie had me cracking up and laughing out loud from the moment I started watching it! I loved the point of the story, as well as the amount of heart.  This movie sweetly proves that family always comes through in the end - no matter what. John Candy has now become one of the most treasured actors in my book. Sadly, I learned he is no longer with us...and that is a very sad thing.                                                                                                                                                                        

I would have to say that my favorite character in the film was Tia Russell, played by Jean Louisa Kelly. I liked watching her mature through the story. It was easier to connect to her character because I'm going through the same trials and tribulations of adolescence as we speak.

                                                                                                                         

I was particularly fond of this scene because it's great to see someone (and yes, I am aware this was only an actor talking) "bashing" the school system. The system is always trying to control the kids and make them way too serious for their age(s).  My favorite line/quote from the movie was when Tia says to Buck, "Have a bad day today? It hurts when someone screws with your life, doesn't it?" because that is so, so true! I also enjoyed the tone in Miles' voice (Macaulay Culkin) when he sees Buck cooking breakfast and turns to Tia and says, "Holy smokes! He's cooking our garbage!"

Wicked Chef Says:

John Candy is one of my all-time favorite character actors ever.  Uncle Buck is the uncle I wish I had growing up. Wait a sec - I think I married an Uncle Buck!! Lucky me! This is my favorite Candy movie (outside of Planes, Trains & Automobiles, of course) and I picked this one for Drama Queen based on this, as well as the storyline. I was hoping she would identify with the character of Tia and see some of herself in that and come away with the "Family is King" message that she ultimately did. Not that my precious DQ is anything remotely like Tia, mind you...but she does have her 'teen angst' moments!

In keeping with the Uncle Buck spirit of this post, here is a recipe for one of the best pancake breakfasts ever!! Although not quite as large as the pancakes that Buck makes for the kids, these are just as filling!!

Cheesecake Pancake Stack with Cherry Sauce

For the pancakes:

2 eggs

1-1/2 cup milk

4 Tbsp melted butter

2 cups all purpose flour

2 Tbsp sugar

6 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

2 tsp cinnamon

For the cheesecake filling:

(Warning: make this several hours ahead for proper chill time!)

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup heavy whipping cream

For the topping:

Whipped cream

One 21 ounce can of cherry pie filling

Prepare the cheesecake filling first:  With electric mixer, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl down and beat in the vanilla.  In a separate bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Gradually fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.  Cover and chill for several hours.

Prepare pancake batter:  In large bowl, whisk egg until fluffy.  Whisk in milk and melted butter until combined.  Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Let batter rest for 5-10 minutes.  Heat a griddle or frying pan over medium high. Spray with non-stick spray or grease with a little butter.  The griddle or pan is hot enough when water droplets 'dance' around the pan.  Pour about 1/4 cup worth of batter onto surface and let cook. When bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake and begin to break, turn over and cook a minute or so more.

Heat pie filling in a small saucepan over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes. Keep warm on low until ready to serve.

To assemble:  Place one pancake on plate. Top with (about a 1/4 inch high) layer of cream cheese filling. Top with another pancake. Top with another thin layer of cheesecake filling. Add whipped cream and warm cherry pie filling.