Panacakes (Pancakes)

It is a family tradition, perhaps a prediction, that when the kids wake up and realize it’s Saturday, they scream PANCAKES!  Though Sean and I are still sleeping and asking one another what time it is, as I’m trying to read the red numbers on the digital clock with blurred eyes and messed hair in my face. It is not surprising to see that it is 6:15am, because it is tradition.  I used to make the pancakes faithfully for the kids, but when my pregnancy with 3 reached the point of super exhaustion, Sean took over.  I actually think the kids like his pancakes better, because I would often lose track of time or day dream and then burn them.  Not cool, I know.  Today was a special Saturday.  Not a typical one at all, because we celebrated 1′s fifth birthday today.  As 2 says, “I want Panacakes daddy.”  They love them and hopefully others will find them easy, tasty, and quick to make…just no daydreaming!  Our kids love them with frozen strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.  In the summer months we use fresh fruit from the local berry farms.

Panacakes

Inspired by Martha Stewart

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder, aluminum free
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted, plus more for serving
• Butter or vegetable oil, for the griddle
• Pure maple syrup, warmed, for serving

How to Play:

1. Place a heat-proof platter into a warm oven (at 200 degrees).
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add in the egg, milk, and 2 tablespoons of the butter. Whisk from the center, slowly incorporating the flour. Rest the batter for 10 minutes.
3. Heat a large well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or favorite griddle over medium-high heat. Swirl the remaining tablespoon of butter in the skillet (or use oil to coat the griddle) and immediately pour in 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. When bubbles rise to the surface, flip the pancakes, slightly reduce the heat, and cook until the bottoms are golden and the centers are cooked, about 1 minute. (Rarely does the first pancake work because it takes a bit of time to get in the groove with the heat, fat, and batter.)
4. As the pancakes come out of the skillet, place them on the warm platter in the oven until ready to serve. Serve a stack of 3 pancakes, topped with more butter and the maple syrup.

Banana Muffins

Today the kids and I baked banana nut with chocolate chips and chia seed muffins.  It is kind of a mouthful, but they turned out pretty good.  I personally like banana loaf a great deal more, but what matters to me most is that the kids had fun and coconut oil makes everything taste super.  The muffins aren’t very healthy for they have white flour and white sugar, but they make for a nice quick snack on those days when you have no idea what to feed the ever starving children. Chia seeds are high in protein, lipids, fiber, and antioxidants.  It is high in Omega-3, as well as gluten free.  It is kind of superstar.  It was my first time adding it to the banana loaf recipe, and the kids are wolfing it down and don’t seem to notice a taste difference.  Thanks superstar chia seeds!

Banana Bread

(adapted from Rebar)

Ingredients:

2 1/2  cups unbleached flour

2 tsp baking soda, aluminum free

2 tsp baking powder, aluminum free

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup wheat germ, toasted (I used wheat bran)

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

4 free range eggs

3 ripe bananas

1/4 cup sour cream (I add another tablespoon)

3/4  cup walnuts, roasted and chopped

1/4 cup flax-seed

2 tbsp chia seeds (optional)

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

How To Play:

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter and flour a 9×5 loaf pan.  ( I typically use two loaf pans, however in this case, I used one, to make a small loaf, and made a dozen muffins with the extra batter).  Combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars.  Blend in the eggs one at a time until well incorporated.  Mash together the bananas and sour cream.  Add one-third of the flour mix into the creamed sugar/butter mix.  Next, stir in the banana mash and mix thoroughly.  Add the remainder of the flour and mix on low until well combined, taking care not to overmix.  Gently fold in the walnuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, and chocolate chips.

Pour batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top, and sprinkling with white sugar, bake for 30-35 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  For the muffins, put in muffin tray and sprinkle with sugar and bake for roughly 28-30 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  When making solely a loaf, I would give it about an hour to cook all the way through.  I tend to under-bake as opposed to over bake, for I like baked goods to not be too dry in texture.
Let loaf and muffins cool for about 10 minutes before taking them out of the pans and serve with coconut oil…the ultimate best spread with healthy benefits  such as: hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, cancer,  dental care, and bone strength, just to name a few.

Enjoy.

Homemade GraNola

Every morning I must have my favorite cereal. I have had it almost every morning for the last 6 years, which shocks me as I write this. Six years?! That is a long time, and sure there were days when I wasn’t in the comforts of my home, or in my typical routine, due to travelling, holidays, or having babies, but what surprises me most is that I am not tired of it, yet. Will I ever be? Who knows? As for now, I will just continue being content with Nature’s Path Flax Plus Flakes and my homemade granola, inspired by Rebar’s cranberry and hazelnut granola. The super fun thing about granola is you can mix it up with whatever you like and add your must have’s, as well. My must have’s are walnuts. I love walnuts in this and pretty much in everything.

Ingredients:

3 cups large organic flake oats

1.5 cups barley flakes (I sometimes use Kamut flakes)

1/2 cup oat bran

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup grapseed oil

1/4 cup water

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup honey

1.5 tsp pure vanilla

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup dried blueberries

How To Play:

In a large bowl, combine the first 9 ingredients.  In a smaller bowl, combine the oil, water, honey, maple syrup, and vanilla and whisk together, until well combined.  Add the wet and dry mixes together and stir thoroughly.

Spread the mixture out onto two baking sheets (or do it in two batches).  Bake at 250 for 20-30 minutes.  Stir the mixture every 10 minutes to ensure even baking and remove from oven when golden brown.  Cool and stir in the dried fruit.  Seal and store for up to 1 month.  I like to keep mine in the freezer.

Enjoy.