Dessert: Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes with Caramelized Apples

Recipe by Justin Chapple For the ultimate pancakes, use fresh ricotta cheese and finely grated lemon zest. For a topping that is special and seasonal, try this quick sauté of apples with butter, sugar and cinnamon.

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Lemon, Honey, Apples

Health and fertility benefits of Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes with Caramelized Apples

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. One tbsp of honey has a glycemic index (GI) of 55. Apples will improve your body's sensitivity to insulin (Reference: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/1/281.full)

Ingredients

2 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 crisp red or pink apples, preferably Honeycrisp
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. sugar
1 1/4 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
kosher salt
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. whole milk
3 large eggs
1/2 c. fresh ricotta cheese
Warm pure maple syrup

Instructions

In a large skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the apples, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of the lemon zest, and a pinch of salt and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are just tender and golden, about 5 minutes; keep warm.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. In a medium bowl, whisk the milk with the egg yolks, ricotta, and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon of lemon zest. Whisk the mix into the dry ingredients until just incorporated.
In a clean, large stainless steel bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold them into the batter.
Preheat a griddle and grease it with butter. Scoop 1/4-cup mounds of batter onto the griddle. Cook the pancakes over moderately high heat until bubbles appear on the surface, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until the pancakes are risen and golden brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to plates, spoon the warm apples on top, and serve with warm maple syrup. Looking for more breakfast recipes? Start the day with one of our French toast recipes, easy quiche recipes, or breakfast casserole recipes that feed the whole family.

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