Thursday, April 17, 2014

O is for Octopus and Oat and Buckwheat Pancakes With Blueberry Sauce

O
To begin with, I want to wish Happy Easter to all those who celebrate at this time of the year.
First thing I lBlue Ringed Octopusearned was that there are over 300 recognised species of octopus, that did surprise me.  They apparently have no skeleton although some might have remnants of a shell internally. I didn’t know that all of them are venomous either although there is supposed to be only one that can kill a human. A Blue Ringed Octopus of which there are three types. Fairly small and can hang around in tide pools in the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas of the world. They are fairly Octopusdocile but when aroused the brown patches darken dramatically, and iridescent blue rings or clumps of rings appear and pulsate. They can definitely bite. Octopuses have beaks by the way, their mouths at the centre point of the arms. No wonder they make movies about giant octopuses or squids.

No, I am not giving an octopus recipe, apart from anything else, I am not all that smitten with either octopus or squid. What I am giving is a recipe for my vegan friends. This recipe appeared on Food.com
 

Oat and Buckwheat Pancakes With Blueberry Sauce (Vegan)


By PDX Meems 
 Serves: 6, Yield: 12 4-inch pancakes
 

About This Recipe

"If you're like me and dislike fluffy white pancakes, then these are for you. They are very hearty and filling, plus they reheat really well in a toaster oven. I rarely make the blueberry sauce but it is delicious with the pancakes. This recipe came from Oat and buckwheat w blueberryThe Complete Vegan Cookbook."
 

Ingredients

    • 1 1/2 lbs blueberries ( fresh or frozen)
    • 1/4 cup maple syrup
    • 3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
    • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
    • 1/2 cup rolled oats
    • 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
    • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons whole flax seeds
    • 2 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
    • 1 3/4 cups plain soymilk
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the blueberries, 2 tablespoons of the maple syrup, the orange juice concentrate, and the allspice. Cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and allow the pan to stand while you cook the pancakes.
  2. Meanwhile, place the rolled oats in a blender and grind to a coarse meal consistency. Transfer to a large bowl, using a rubber spatula to remove the ground oats from the blender. Add the flours, baking powder, and salt to the ground oats, stirring to combine well. Set aside.
  3. Place the flaxseeds in the blender and grind them to a powder, then add 1/3 cup water and blend for 30 seconds. Add 2 tablespoons of the canola oil, the remaining 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, the soymilk, and vanilla, and puree. Add this wet mixture to the flour mixture and stir well, so that all the flour is saturated with liquid.
Have a great day
Jo (2)

22 comments:

  1. I love an octopus... (http://www.reflectionenroute.com)

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  2. Octopi are not for,me, either in the sea or in a recipe.

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    1. I am not frantically keen on octopuses or octopi - they always make me think of horror films

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  3. Octopi make great monsters - scary as hell! And another reason I don't like the ocean, won't catch me on a boat!

    Pancakes are so filling. My hubby and the kids love them, me not so much - I've always found them too heavy - except for my grandma's. Hers were as light as a crepe! I could eat dozens!

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    1. Don't they just. Saw a guy on TV last night, so scared of sharks he won't go deeper than his ankles!!!

      I'm not keen on pancakes, I love crepes.

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  4. I remember watching a show about a search for the elusive giant octopus. I believe they found it and when they said giant...they weren't kidding. It was bigger than the two person submarine they sent down looking for it.

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    1. Yes, I vaguely remember that show too. In the Marianis Trench I believe. It couldn't come up to our level though. I may have that wrong, but I think it was down there

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  5. Interesting facts about octopi. I'm grateful you did NOT give us recipes to eat them. No, not for me, but oat and buckwheat pancakes - yes!

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    1. Actually octopus is not that bad to eat, but squid, yuk. It's amazing how many people find octopuses distasteful.

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  6. And I just happen to have some buckwheat flour in my cupboard. . . .

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  7. Hi, Jo,

    Happy Easter to you as well. I thought of you today as I baked my Easter breads. I am of Italian descent and this is particular type of bread we make at Easter. It's a yeast bread, slightly sweet, with a colored egg in the middle. I haven't had it in years, and this year I decided it was time to bring out the tradition and bake them... My condo smells so wonderful right now. LOL....

    I didn't know there were THAT MANY species of octopus...yuk!

    This pancakes look AWESOME!

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    1. That sounds great Michael. I have seen/heard of such breads. The only traditional bread I know of for use Brits is Hot Cross Buns. Wish I lived near you, I would pop over to sample your bread.

      Have a great Easter.

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  8. I had no idea there were that many species of octopus either. (Or is it "octupi" plural?) I love calamari, especially with marinara...

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    1. It can be octopi or octopuses. I checked it at least twice. I am glad somebody likes calamari.

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  9. Squid beaks freak me out. lol Octopi are less creepy.

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