Leigh's Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

So I took these photos a month ago, when my friend Leigh came over to cook four batches of Lemon Ricotta Pancakes.

Yes. Four batches!

She knew we had a big kitchen and that, thanks to my husband, we also own all kinds of gadgets that would make her endeavor easier than what she had on hand.

 Namely: the Mixer.


The recipe is simple, and I will post it below - for one batch. If you want to be as crazy as Leigh and make four, by all means - go for it! 

Also, I am posting this bc the photos are just kind of crazy ;)

As you can clearly see, Leigh knows her endeavor is nuts, but she's totally ready for it!

I helped by zesting (and zesting, and zesting) two enormous lemons that had a lot of flesh on em!

(Is that what it's called?)

Meanwhile, Leigh spent about an hour separating egg yolks from egg whites ;)

She then began to whip the egg whites till firm. You think she looks nervous now? Just wait!

(Also - the Kitchen-Aid is Theron's baby so ...we were both nervous! ;)

Whip it good.

Yolks awaiting their time in the sun... 

They in fact look like mini-suns...!

A bowl of sunshine!

Anyway - This picture is amazing.

Gee... I sure hope we have enough butter...

I think we do. 

Why don't we melt it down for about a minute?

And why does Leigh look maniacal?

Meanwhile, look at all that lemon zest!
I told you I worked hard!

Wow those egg whites have REALLY fluffed up!

Trepidation my friends... Trepidation.

But who are we to be logical?

Time to add the egg yolks!

#Can'tStopWon'tStop ;D

Umm... Leigh?

'What's your problem, Valerie?  Don't you realize the solution is to add a crap-ton of sugar?'

Ohhh Goodness.

Oh I hope it all stays in the mixing bowl.

Surely this mixer was meant to make four batches of pancakes at once!

Right?

Look - adding all this butter will surely help!

This is where she finally agreed to half the batch so as not to spin pancake goo all over my kitchen.

As you can perhaps see, the lemon zest has been added.

Now to squeeze the lemon and get some lemon juice as well.

And add that as well.

Oh screw it, let's just add it all back in!

Don't forget to add your ricotta!

And look scared while doing it!

And your flour. 

As you can see, we used wheat flour, though the recipe calls for 'All Purpose.' 

- Just do whatcha whatcha whatcha want :)

Now mix it aaaall up together.

(Yes, I was impressed this all went down and the mixer had no issues with it at all!)

Now may I present to you - 

The Leigh method of making four batches of pancakes before her 5 o'clock class!

As you can see, it was 4:06 PM!

Starting out with a test pancake.

Yup, that worked out rather well.  Let's go!

Three skillets at once people. 

She was a pancake-frying machine!

Luckily I also had ample cooling racks!

You see what I'm sayin'? 

And these were actually delicious! 

Well done Leigh!!

Round of applause from everyone!

She did indeed make four batches of yummy pancakes!

And since she had to rush to class and stuck me with cleaning up the mess, she came over two days later to help me organize all of mine and Theron's clothes, as well as my closet, before we headed off to Europe.

Thanks buddy!

Now, for the Recipe:

Leigh's Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

(one batch;)
 

6 egg whites
9 egg yolks
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1cup whole milk ricotta cheese
4 T freshly grated lemon zest
1 T fresh Lemon Juice
1 t Kosher salt
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Unsalted butter, melted (for the skillet)

Whisk egg whites until firm peaks. Slowly add egg yolks, sugar, and lemon zest. Stop mixer and add ricotta cheese.

Add flour and salt. Mix until incorporated. Add melted butter and mix for two more minutes.

Fry 'em up!

Voila :D

And you know, happy eating!

-Val!