I honestly didn’t thoroughly read the above announcement when it appeared on the IHCC page. I just immediately jumped into looking through my old Gourmet magazines. I just assumed this cranberry challenge had to be from Ruth Reichl (or her old magazine). Boy, am I glad I stayed with our current IHCC chef. And, I’m glad I found this delicious recipe in an October 2000 Gourmet.

Cornmeal Cream Cheese Pancakes with Dried Cranberries and Apricots in Maple Syrup

From Gourmet, October 2000

“We got the idea for these pancakes from The Compound Restaurant in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where hot polenta-mascarpone pancakes were the perfect finale to a delicious dinner. They also make a terrific breakfast.”

Ingredients

For syrup

1 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup chopped dried apricots

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

For pancakes

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup regular cream cheese spread (in tub; not whipped or block cream cheese)*

2 large eggs

3/4 cup milk**

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

Make syrup:

Simmer maple syrup and dried fruits in a saucepan, uncovered, until fruits are plumped, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in juice.

Make pancakes:

Preheat oven to 250°F.

Whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder and soda, sugar, and salt.

Whisk together cream cheese and eggs in a large bowl and gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined.

Heat a large griddle over moderate heat until hot enough to make drops of water scatter over its surface, then brush with some butter.

Spoon tablespoons of batter onto griddle, without crowding, to form 2 1/2-inch cakes. Cook pancakes 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until golden and puffed. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Make more pancakes in same manner, brushing griddle with butter for each batch.***

Serve pancakes in stacks with syrup.

Yield: Makes 4 (breakfast) or 6 (dessert) servings

Prep Time/Cook Time: 20 mins.

*I forgot to buy cream cheese in a tub so I just used the block kind.
**I used almond milk.
***I made bigger, regular breakfast-sized pancakes.

These are delicious. I will not buy the tub cream cheese to make these in the future. Softened regular cream cheese seemed to work just fine. I will certainly serve these to my upcoming Thanksgiving guests!

I know this is the October edition, but I just had to share the cover. It looks very bountiful and reminds me of Thanksgiving. (I hate to think that the year 2000 is retro, but you be the judge.)