Lemon Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Berry Compote

& what a week this has been already...

Hi! Welcome to “good mood food” from Kale Me Maybe’s Carina Wolff. If you’ve made it here and aren’t yet a subscriber, come join! You can expect recipes, musings, and faves in your inbox every Wednesday! Paid subscribers get even more! Learn more about my paid membership here. You can also try a week for free!

CATCH UP!

This week has already been so crazy, and as I’m writing this, it’s only Tuesday. We had a really scary family medical emergency yesterday that left us all pretty shook up. All is okay now (I think)! In the same week, we also received pregnancy announcements, had a good friend go into labor, and we’re getting ready to leave for a wedding this week in Colorado. It has been a lot, but it has all been a reminder that we’re alive!

Do you know what I mean? Do you ever just feel, alive? Sometimes, when I’m in a routine and nothing out of the ordinary happens, there’s no variation in how I feel. And sometimes, I enjoy that. There is great relief in steady contentment. However, there’s something to be said about life shaking you up a little, in good ways and bad. It just reminds you that you are living, feeling, choosing, shaping, absorbing, loving.

I took a walk this morning with Willow, went to an outdoor yoga class, and then walked down the street to get a breakfast burrito, and it all suddenly felt sweeter. I don’t wish for tragedy to happen, but when scary things happen, your emotions get rattled, and your priorities get set straight. And then this time, amongst all this fear, there were also so many beautiful things happening — the creation of life, a new cycle. It just makes you feel… ALIVE.

THINGS I’M LOVING!

OMG, I’m back with another Ground Up Nut Butter obsession: Waffle Cone Almond Cashew Butter. This is one of the best nut butters I have ever had, and I am eating it by the spoonful. I’ve also been spooning it on stop of a square of extra dark chocolate, and it is the best dessert snack. I know this jar is a little on the pricey side, but Ground Up is actually a non-profit provides job training to women overcoming adversity in the Portland area. So it all goes to a good cause, and we love that!!!

If you think I’m going overboard with the haircare products, you are correct, but as I said, I am on a journey. Just think of me as your personal tester and reviewer. My stylist recommended the K18 Repair Hair Mask to me, and I was reluctant to buy because it seemed like such a TikTok product. However, I’ve seen a lot of people recommend it over Olaplex, and I am definitely loving the results.

I’ll admit, the first day I used it, my hair felt overly clean and dry (likely because I used their clarifying shampoo with it), but after a few uses, I 100% have noticed a difference. My hair is so soft and smooth! I’m hoping it will continue to prevent damage, especially as I continue to bleach my hair.

Boob tape is another one of those products I found as a result of my continual journey as a perpetual wedding guest. As someone with larger breasts, I find it really hard to wear the dresses I actually like, not just for looks, but really, for comfort. I’ve tried strapless bras (absolutely hate) and sticky bras (sometimes works, but not for all outfits), and now I have been introduced to boob tape, and I am so, so excited!

I tried two brands recently (Good Lines and VBT from Amazon), and I found the Amazon one to be much more comfortable, and it’s also cheaper, so it’s a win-win. It stuck to my body better, felt much more supportive, and it also came with nipple covers and fashion tape. I recommend practicing a few times to get the hang of it, but wow, I feel like doors have been opened to me fashion-wise! I recommend the 3-inch tape if you are looking for more support.

RECIPE!

Confession: I am neutral on pancakes, with ricotta pancakes being the only exception. I love how fluffy and moist ricotta pancakes are, so of course I decided I had to make a ricotta-inspired pancake using cottage cheese! I’m pleased to say that these cottage cheese pancakes deliver in the same way.

My favorite thing about these pancakes is that they’re high in protein — thanks to the cottage cheese and eggs — and low in sugar! I didn’t add any sweetener to the actual pancake batter, since the berry compote carries all the sweetness, but if you do ever want to make these pancakes again without the compote and would like them to be sweeter, you can add 1 tbsp maple syrup to the batter! However, I really do think they’re flavorful on their own, and you can always add a little drizzle of maple syrup at the end!

Small curd cottage cheese is the best type to use here, as it helps the batter stay smooth and uniform, but if you don’t have that, no big deal. You can either accept a more texture pancake, or, you can whip the cottage cheese beforehand in a blender or food processor.

You can also substitute regular flour with gluten free flour with a 1:1 ratio, but I am not sure about other flours like oat, as I haven’t tested it out myself!

Lemon Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Berry Compote

Ingredients (serves 2 - but if you have two very hungry eaters, maybe double!!)

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

• 1 cup cottage cheese

• 2 eggs

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• ½ tbsp baking powder

• ½ cup flour

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• Olive oil

• Optional: powdered sugar

Berry Compote

• 1 cup berries (I used 1/2 blackberries and 1/2 blueberries)

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

1. Add the cottage cheese, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and flour to a large bowl. Mix together until evenly combined. Mix in the lemon zest and lemon juice.

2. Heat up a small drizzle of olive oil in a nonstick skillet on medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Work in batches and add oil as needed. Keep pancakes warm in the oven/toaster oven at 200 F while you do the other batches.

3. While the pancakes are cooking, prepare the berry compote. Add berries and maple syrup to a small saucepan, and mix to coat the berries in the maple syrup. Turn the heat to medium, and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently, until a thick sauce has formed.

4. When the pancakes are ready, transfer to a plate and top with berry compote. Add a sprinkle of powdered sugar, if desired.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

Last week, paid subscribers received a recipe for a Lamb Smash Burger Bowl! If you like smash burgers, you’ll love this lamb version over greens with roasted sweet potatoes, grilled onions, and the best part: a lemon feta sauce! Become a subscriber to get access to this recipe and all of the archives!

Lamb Smash Burger Bowl