![IMG_4398 IMG_4398](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4398.jpg)
There are 4 words I never thought I would hear in the same sentence:
‘Thirty Thousand’
and
‘Deck quote’
We had a decking company do a quote on our deck because we wanted a professional’s opinion on whether we should replace the 25 year old deck beams. We were also just curious what kind of quote they would give us to replace the deck!
‘We quoted your deck install at roughly thirty thousand.’
This is the moment where you laugh nervously like a crazy person.
‘Hahah, I think the phone line is cutting out because I thought you said THIRTY thousand!!’
‘It is thirty thousand. THREE. ZERO.’
Awkward.
We want to replace our old deck, but we don’t want to have to sell the house and live under it! Silly people. We had a second quote at 30k too. #fail. We also found out that we have to replace the beams because they are rotting!
It looks like we will be doing it DIY style like we always do. Nothing like a decking company to get your head out of the clouds! lol.
However, I baked something that was so good it made me forget all about the deck stuff. Food is wonderful like that. Sometimes, it’s so good it induces you into a food coma and you are just sitting there at the table in your own blissful trance oblivious to the world around you.
This was one of those moments.
![IMG_4424 IMG_4424](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4424.jpg)
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Giant Upside Down Apple Pancake
Adapted from Diet, Dessert, & Dogs.
Yield: 4 slices
Ingredients:
- 1 large sweet apple, peeled, cored and cut in thin slices
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp Sucanat (or brown sugar)
- 1/3 cup mashed banana (1 medium banana)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp ground flaxseeds OR 1 tsp finely ground chia seeds
- 3/4 cup non-dairy milk
- 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp raw buckwheat flour (I processed raw buckwheat groats into flour) OR oat flour (process rolled oats into flour)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 10 inch springform pan or pie plate with a circle of parchment paper; then grease both the pan and the paper to prevent sticking.
2. In a small bowl, combine the apple, cinnamon and Sucanat (or brown sugar). Toss with a spoon until all the slices are coated. Place the slices in a single layer over the bottom of the pan.
3. In a medium bowl, mash the banana. Now whisk together the mashed banana, applesauce, vanilla, maple syrup, milk, and ground flax/chia until combined. In a large bowl, sift together the remaining ingredients. Add the wet mixture and stir until well combined. Pour batter over the apples and smooth.
4. Bake the pancake at 350F for about 40-45 minutes until the top is golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Once cool, run a knife along the outside edge of the pancake to loosen it. Remove spring form. Place a plate on top of the cake and gently flip over. Remove parchment from the apples. Serve with your desired toppings.
Approx. Nutritional info (makes 4 slices, per slice): 202 kcals, 2 grams fat, 39 grams carbs, 5 grams fibre, 21 grams sugar, 4 grams protein.
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![IMG_4434 IMG_4434](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4434.jpg)
There are also three words I never thought I would hear in reference to food:
‘Upside Down’
and
‘Pancake’
But, am I ever glad I did!
![IMG_4426 IMG_4426](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4426.jpg)
I first saw Ricki’s recipe for an upside down pancake over a YEAR and a half ago and I have been dying to make it ever since. I have no idea why it took me so long!
I made a few changes to Ricki’s original recipe, and I was almost certain it would be a flop, but it was nothing of the sort!
Changes I made to original recipe:
1) I used 1/3 cup of mashed banana instead of the 1/3 cup of cashew butter (I wanted to keep the calories lower while increasing the serving size).
2) I omitted the almond extract.
3) Instead of using brown rice flour, coconut flour, and oat flour, I used 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp raw buckwheat flour made from processed buckwheat groats inspired by Ashley’s Buckwheat bakes! I would imagine that many different flours might work. I would suggest using oat flour (made from processed rolled oats) if you don’t use buckwheat.
4) I cut baking powder down to 2 tsp.
I was going to use my tart pan, but I was worried that it would leak through the bottom, so I used a spring form cakepan instead (I think it was 10 inch).
Here are the beautiful apple slices coated with cinnamon and Sucanat (or you can use brown sugar):
![IMG_4387 IMG_4387](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4387.jpg)
After baking, cooling, and flipping, peel back the parchment layer to reveal the gooey apple layer!
![IMG_4388 IMG_4388](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4388.jpg)
A Gorgeous and Giant pancake!! The pancake is about 10 inches in diametre and 1/2-3/4 inch thick.
![IMG_4410 IMG_4410](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4410.jpg)
It tastes amazing on its own and I loved eating it plain, but this strawberry jam took it over the top.
![IMG_4423 IMG_4423](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4423.jpg)
This morning I had some fresh juice, Japanese Sencha, and 1.5 slices of the giant pancake. I just ate the pancake cold straight from the fridge and I loved every bite.
![IMG_4292-2 IMG_4292-2](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4292-2.jpg)
In the juice: 2-3 carrots, 1/2 grapefruit, 1 lemon, 2 beets, 1/2 cucumber.
The banana and applesauce work wonderfully to replace oil in this pancake. It was not the least bit dry, and I found that I didn’t need any maple syrup on top thanks to the gooey apple topping. :)
![IMG_4431 IMG_4431](/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_4431.jpg)
Two GIANT thumbs up!
30 000$ for a deck! I’d just sit on the grass lol :P.
Upside down pancake sounds much better! Yum! Great idea to use a spring from a cakepan!
30k??? I would cry.
$30K for a deck!!! I bet you could get a set of bloggers to come help you for a tenth of that..haha.
At least you have delicious pancakes!
oooooh, that looks sooooooo good
Good lunchbox idea :)
(and breakfast for me)
I loved your response “I think the phone line is cutting out, hahaha” — I would have said the same thing. Or I would have cried.
The pancake looks amazing — and huge!
I love baked apple pancakes. BUT I never thought I could make them myself. I will definitely be trying this recipe :-)
That pancake looks amazing I have never had upside down anything so I think this is a good place to start. Im off to juice your juice looks delicious seriously grapefruit in juice is the best thing ever I love it!
WOW, that’s CRAZY about the 30,000!!! But the great thing about doing it yourself is that you know you’ll get exactly what you want. And it’s something you can definitely be proud of to say that you made it yourselves!
im sure it will have much more character too… ;)
How much work is that going to put you guys through ?? That’s a big job…but $30k – hah! That’s about 1/3rd (less actually) of my student loan debt…
I wish I could laugh at the loan and bank people and “do it my way” as well ;)
30,000?! Holy cow! That would be a PASS. DIY foreverrr! That really is a shame about the beams though :\
Pancake looks amazing, I’m just really distracted by the deck figure. Man, oh man. I guess I don’t know how much things like that cost…
Refocus to the pancake positivity! :D
That pancake looks divine, its going straight to my must cook list!
$30,000 is crazy – looks like you will be spending a lot of time at Lowes and Home depot!
I am making your lentil loaf tonight, wish me luck it looks as great as yours :)
An upside pancake sounds amazing right now!!
Oh I feel for you. We just got an estimate for replacing the hollow core doors in our house, and it was double what we expected! Good thing you are ready to DIY!
And the pancake looks beautiful! I bet it would be amazing with peaches or pineapple, too.
Yowzers, that is pricey, at least you had this pancake to distract you. It looks killer!
Wow. Good thing you guys are skilled in the DIY department — oy! ;)
Hearing those words, I probably would have collapsed…lol, but the beautiful and delicious looking upside down pancake(genious) makes up for it!
Love oven pancakes! I cook my apples in my fry pan first, then pour my batter on top of the apples. Then put the fry pan in the oven. Yummy!
that sounds fun!
How on earth did you not choke when you heard that quote? Holy COW!!!
That is a ridiculous quote! Are they making it out of gold or some other precious metal? We have a condo now, so don’t have to worry about outside stuff yet. I’m not looking forward to things like that.
Great way to turn your frown upside down with breakfast!
30k! DIY is the way to go for sure, for the price of beer and a BBQ, a bunch of friends or neighbors can gather around and have a deck raising! All the men on our street seem to love to have an excuse to be outside for a day, and when my husband tried to put up a fence half the street joined in to help. Surprising given that we live in Toronto.
Gulp. I can see how DIY would win out.
I grew up loving Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Love the idea of a apple/pancake version!