This delightful spread came out of a major culinary fail. A fail so horrible that it made me say a swear word. Yes, it was THAT bad.

You see, the other weekend our friend Ashley treated us to an amazing brunch at a local cafe called Mayfield. She kept on going on and on about how awesome their pancakes were, and I’ll be honest, I was a little skeptical. A pancake is a pancake, right? But oh my sweet goodness, this is not just a pancake. This is something out of another world.

First of all, it’s ridiculously huge and thick. The outside is crisp, but the inside is surprisingly moist with that sweet kiss of lemon that all pancakes need.

Recreating this pancake, though, was incredibly hard. Pat managed to find the recipe and after following it’s very involved steps, the result was a slightly burnt and mushy mess. I was frustrated and angry, as any pregnant woman would be when her food craving was destroyed in front of her.

But, thank goodness for leftover ricotta (the secret to those pancakes) and an idea for a simple spread. Ricotta, honey, and fresh thyme are a match made in heaven. And the recipe really couldn’t be easier. We had this alongside pasta and roasted vegetables, but I think this would make an amazing appetizer to bring along with you to your next party.

Oh, and if you happen to be brave enough to attempt the pancake recipe and find success, please let me know! Pat has already asked multiple times for me to try again, but I’ve refused. I think my mind might be changed if I hear of someone else conquering my failure.

Ricotta, Honey, and Thyme Spread, adapted from Food Network Kitchens

1 cup whole milk ricotta
1.5 tablespoons honey
1.5 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Place the ricotta in a bowl that you’re going to serve it in.

Over medium-low heat, heat the honey and thyme for about 2 minutes. You’ll start to smell the thyme when it’s ready.

Pour the honey and thyme over the ricotta. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Enjoy with crostini.