Whole Wheat Pancakes

We have these almost every Sunday morning. The kids love 'em and I do too! A lot of the best pancake recipes call for buttermilk. Well, I NEVER have buttermilk on hand. However, I almost always have lemon juice. I'm not exactly sure what happens when you combine milk and lemon juice other than it becomes a great facsimile of buttermilk. So, give these a try. They're the best whole wheat pancakes I've ever had!

1 1/2 Tbs. lemon juice

2 cups milk

2 cups whole wheat flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour because that's what I have on hand)

2 Tbs. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg

3 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

1. Whisk the lemon juice and milk together in a medium bowl; set aside to thicken -- at least 5 minutes.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in bowl to combine.
3. Whisk the egg and butter into the milk until combined. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; pour the milk mixture and whisk gently until just combined. Don't over mix -- there will be a few lumps.
4. Fry as normal.
5. We top these with a little vanilla yogurt, toasted nuts (put walnuts, pecans or almonds in the oven at 350 degrees when you start making the batter -- they'll be ready when the pancakes are), fruit (if I have any on hand) and maple syrup. Wow. This is making me hungry!

Baked Apple Pancake

This is great for breakfast, but it also makes a yummy dinner on those nights when breakfast-for-dinner seems like the best plan.

This serves 4 of us with normal sized portions. If you have big eaters in the house, I would do 1.5X or even double it.

2-3 Tbs. butter 

2 apples, pealed and thinly sliced (I usually use Granny Smith, but any kind will do)

6 eggs

 1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup whole wheat flour

3 Tbs. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

2-3 Tbs. brown sugar (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Melt butter in baking dish in the oven.
3. Add sliced apples and put back in oven until they sizzle.
4. Combine eggs, milk, flour, sugar, vanilla, salt and cinnamon. Will be lumpy!
   
5. Pour egg mixture over apples. If you choose, sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes until puffed and brown.
6. Serve immediately with syrup.

Egg in a Hole

These always feel kind of old-fashioned to me and definitely remind me of my grandmother. However, they're yummy and a really easy dinner.

Sliced Bread (I use 100% whole wheat)

Eggs

Butter

Grated cheese (optional)

1. Take a slice of bread and cut out a 2" hole or oval in the center.
2. Melt some butter in a frying pan over medium heat.
3. Place the bread in the pan (along with the piece that's the hole) and break an egg into the hole.
4. My kids prefer a scrambled egg, so I break the yolk and swirl the egg around, spreading it over the bread. If you like an easy-over egg, don't break the yolk.
5. Fry until lightly browned on the bottom and then flip over (along with the hole). At this point, I sprinkle a little grated cheddar on top and cover with a lid until melted.
6. Serve immediately... "Mmmm, just like Grammy used to make."

Sweet Potato Pancakes

These are some super yum pancakes. Who says you can't eat them for dinner?  We love them for dinner.  Serve with some applesauce or cottage cheese.  

1 1/2 cups flour sifted (I use gluten free flour, and I don't always sift)

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1-3 teaspoons apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice (or nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves)

1 1/4 Cup mashed cooked sweet potatoes (about 2-3 sweet potatoes pre cooked in the oven)

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cup milk (cow, soy, rice, almond)

1/4 cup butter, melted

Sift dry ingredients into mixing bowl.  In separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients; add to flour mixture, and stir until dry ingredients are just moistened.  Drop onto griddle and cook on both sides until brown.