Feeling Blue

You know the days when you just want to pull up the covers to block out those morning rays...and then the baby cries?

OK, well, maybe the baby isn’t in all your scenarios, but she’s certainly in mine and on those days the only thing that helps is coffee. a good breakfast. coffee. a good breakfast. coffee, then a good breakfast.

And nothing beats a good breakfast like cottage cheese pancakes with fresh blueberry sauce.

This isn’t something I grew up with - it’s something my Mother-in-law told me about. Yes, I really just used the M-word on my blog in a positive sentence. They aren’t all bad, I promise.

I had my first bite a few years back when I was commuting back and forth from the suburbs to the city for work. Soon, I became the vampire of cottage cheese pancakes - unable to resist a batch and searching for new conquests each morning.

Then, I must have tasted a batch with some vervain or something, because I was thrown off the scent for a while...that is until this morning.

As the morning sun crept through our window, shedding light closer and closer to my face, I knew the only thing that would keep me alive satisfy my insatiable desire to stay in bed was some cottage cheese pancakes with blueberry sauce. my daughter. some cottage cheese pancakes with blueberry sauce. my daughter. seeing my daughter’s morning smile and then eating some delicious cottage cheese pancakes with blueberry sauce.

Hopefully these will help motivate you too.

H.I.T. Arsenal Recipe #17: Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

1 large container of blueberries, rinsed (or 2 small)
1 egg
1 4oz cottage cheese container
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1. In a food processor, combine egg, cottage cheese and milk. Blend until smooth. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Continue blending until creamy.
2. Add about 1/2 inch water to a small saucepan. Add blueberries. Cook on medium until blueberries begin to burst, about 4-5 minutes. Continue cooking on medium-low and using fork, mash blueberries to create a syrupy consistency. Keep sauce warm.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add small amount of butter. Using a large spoon, add batter to skillet, creating desired pancake size, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula and continue cooking until browned on the other side.
4. Top pancakes with blueberry sauce and enjoy!

Have a baby that is past purees and want to make her breakfast too*? It’s easy!

Set aside one small handful of blueberries
Cinnamon (or a vanilla bean or whatever spice/flavor your baby would prefer best)
Vitamin-enriched Oatmeal for baby

1. Add a 1/4-1/2 inch of water (depending on how thick your baby likes oatmeal) to a small saucepan, add blueberries (and vanilla bean, if using). Cook on medium until blueberries begin to burst, about 4-5 minutes.
2. In cleaned food processor, add blueberries, cinnamon (or other spice/flavor) and 3 TBS of oatmeal (more or less depending on desired consistency for baby). Blend until almost smooth (or smooth, again, depending on desired consistency).
3. Cover baby appropriately with bib and watch her enjoy!

*Before introducing any new foods, especially berries, to your baby, it is important to first speak with your pediatrician.