Witlof

- Small chicory heads (about 2 per person)
- Thinly sliced ham (one slice for each head of chicory)
- Thinly cut cheese of your preference (I like sweeter cheeses with this)




1. Heat the oven to 200°C/400°F. Bring a pot of salted water to boil and boil chicory heads for about 10 minutes or until slightly tender.

2. Drain the chicory well. Wrap each head with ham slices and place side by side in a baking dish. Drape cheese slices over the top of each head.

3. Bake in oven for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Put it under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the cheese.

Poffertjes

--1 1/8 c warm milk

--3/4 tsp yeast

--2 c flour

--2 eggs

--dash of salt

--olive oil (or frying oil of choice)

--poffertje pan (a mold with small dimples, or possibly use a large frying pan)

1. Combine the yeast and warm milk.

2. Combine flour and salt, then add eggs and milk. Beat until the mixture is smooth.

3. Rise about 45 minutes.

4. Heat the poffertje pan and coat with olive oil. Using a squeeze bottle or frosting bag, fill each well with batter, or if you are using a regular pan, squirt teaspoon amounts. If the batter is too thick, add more milk.

5. Once the top gets bubbly and the bottom side is golden brown, flip each poffertje over and bake the other side.

5. Pile on a plate and top with butter and powdered sugar. I have an electrical poffertje pan so I like to cook them right at the table and serve them when they are hot. If you have a small pan it can take a while to cook them all up so it's more fun to munch as you go!

Basic Dutch Pancakes

--200g flour

--400 mL milk

--2 eggs

--dash of salt

--olive oil (or frying oil of choice)

1. Combine all ingredients with a mixer until smooth.

2. Heat oil in a frying pan over Med/High heat. Pan should be hot enough to solidify batter very quickly.

3. Add just enough batter to coat bottom of frying pan with a thin layer. Tilt pan as needed to cover the bottom evenly.

4. Flip once top is dry, or check that underside is golden.

5. Serve with sweet toppings. (Some Dutch favorites are syrup, chocolate sprinkles, anise powder, apple syrup)

Variations: Add slices of fruit or bacon to the pancakes while frying.