Laurie’s Pancake Extravaganza

I have a stong belief that eating at home and making food from scratch that is filled with love and fresh, organic ingredients is the way to go. I have fond memories of eating at the dinnertable with my family while growing up.  I remember picking fresh green beans from our garden so that my mother could prepare them for dinner, and I think that I absolutely love creating new delicious soups because of my mother… She would prepare new soup recipes on Sunday nights every week, and I couldn’t wait to try them.  I absolutely love and cherish those memories. :0)

As I was getting ready to prepare a green smoothie for breakfast this morning, my honey asked me if I could make him some pancakes. Although it is extremely rare that I eat pancakes for breakfast or at all, he is such an amazing man that loves eating all of my homemade creations, so I figured I would give him one more creation to love; hence, Laurie’s Pancake Extravaganza was born! He really loved them, and I hope you will, too. :0)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 ripe bananas

1 1/2 cups water

1/4 cup raw coconut oil

1 Tbs vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

A pinch of Celtic sea salt

***USE ORGANIC INGREDIENTS WHEN AVAILABLE***

Creating The Batter:

Combine all of the ingredients into a mixer, slowly adding the water last in order to ensure that the batter is smooth and pourable. If you don’t have a mixer, you could use a food processor to make this recipe.

Making the Pancakes:

Make sure that your pan is really hot (that’s the key), and then turn the heat down to medium once it is heated up. Add in some oil (preferable coconut, as it holds up to high temperatures without turning carcinogenic) and cook the pancakes.  I am thinking that pretty much everyone already knows how to cook pancakes.  If you are not sure how, please send me a message, and I’ll be more than happy to help.

To Serve:

Be creative.

Experiment by using agave nectar, maple syrup or brown rice syrup as a sweetener. The syrups that are store-bought are generally laden with chemicals and contain little or no nutrition. If you cannot pronounce an ingredient that is listed on the label with any food product you are buying, chances are it was made in a lab. Pass on that food item.  Opt for healthy alternatives, as listed above.

Add some fresh chopped up fruit on top, such as, strawberries, bananas, raspberries, apples, kiwi, blueberries.  They will give the pancakes a sweet flavor without all of the extra sugar of syrup.

Shave a tiny bit of dark (cacao 70% or higher) chocolate on top of your pancakes and serve with soy yogurt.  Yum!!

Add some chopped almonds, brazil nuts or walnuts to give the pancakes some crunch and added nutrition.

When it comes to using butter, I prefer to use Earth Balance, which is a blend of oils. You can find Earth Balance in the health food section of a regular supermarket or purchase it at any health food store. I have not been into a health food store that did not carry this brand. I cannot tell you how many people that have switched to using Earth Balance after I got them to try it.  It really is delicious!! 

Enjoy!!