Well hello there! Sorry it’s been a minute. Have you ever had those times where everything in your life needs your immediate and full attention all at once? I have still been busy in the kitchen, but now I’m making time to photograph the recipes I’ve been playing with. I have some seriously good mains coming your way, but first, these pancakes. I know I’ve had pancakes on the blog before, but these are a favorite around here. They are quick to whip up and they are gluten free, dairy free and oil free. The best part is that they’re light and fluffy and taste phenomenal. I make them most weekends.
When you’re pulled in different directions, both personally and professionally, it’s not always a bad thing. I look at it all as an opportunity to define or redefine what’s important to you. One of my favorite quotes from Hamlet is when he explains to his friends that “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Super zen, Hamlet. Sometimes you just have to go for the ride.
When the world and life calls on you to be stronger and to focus, the greatest things can come of it. My mantra is to have trust, stay in the moment and to hold on dearly to what’s important to you. When I do this, I can feel the subtle difference between being out in the storm and watching the storm from inside my window. Even if the window is a crack open.
I also just finished running my second Ragnar race. If you recall, I ran the first one completely ignorant to what the race entailed, with my brother in the Adirondack mountains in September. Despite the race being a 28 hour endurance deal, we did it again with our team of 8 this time and made it from Boston to Provincetown–the entire length of Cape Cod. My legs of the race were 10.5 miles, 5.4 miles and 2.3 miles. I did well and was pretty happy to finish. In the morning after the overnight run, I could only dream of these pancakes.
These are loaded up with frozen berries and chocolate chips, but you can put whatever you want in them. Sometimes I’ll do a granola banana combo, or coconut flakes and superseeds. The batter is versatile and resilient. So are we. Have a wonderful week.
BERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES (GF+V)
- 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed (flax meal)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or sugar or honey)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 handful mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 handful dairy free chocolate chips
Grease a griddle, and preheat over medium heat. (Or you can use a pan on your stovetop.)
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, flax meal, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
In a separate bowl, combine the maple syrup, vanilla, applesauce, and milk. Slowly mix half of the liquid into the dry ingredients, stirring continuously, and the rest ¼ cup at a time to avoid a runny batter. Mix until you get the lumps out of the batter.
On your griddle, begin to cook the pancakes, using about ¼ cup of the batter for each one.
Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, then drop the toppings on them. Cook until they start to bubble around the edges and flip. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the griddle, and serve.
Pancakes look delicious.
I am in awe that you can run that race and finish. Great job.
Thank you so much, Jovina. I’m kind of in awe too. I never considered myself a runner and now I run! I like redefining my idea of myself. So nice to see you.
Xo
Lovely pancakes! I’ve never tried using apple sauce in pancake batter, but I like that as an alternative to oil! Congratulations on the race! Sounds like you are becoming a seasoned runner! 🙂 I just started running after taking a couple of years off from it….my whole body aches right now, but I hope to get back to the point where it’s fun again! Also, I love the Hamlet quote. Such a good one to keep in mind, for someone like me who overthinks everything!!
Thank you, Jenny. I never really believed that apple sauce could be used in place of oil without changing the taste and it actually works! I now use it in my cookies, pancakes and waffles. It’s great for non-finicky baked goods. So glad you’ve started running. It hurts so good! You’ll see that after you get into it you get used to it. I go on and off with it too. That Hamlet quote is like a mantra to me! Be well. xoxo
That race sounds SO intense. I’d be treating myself to stacks on stacks of these pancakes if I ever finished something like that (or probably something much less wholesome). They look just perfect, so full of goodness! I hope the storm calms soon and you get some much-deserved time to relax, Amanda.
Thanks so much, Cynthia. So sweet to see you here. I love reading all about your adventures in working-mom land and east v. west in all senses. The race was absolutely insane, but I definitely ate my share of pancakes to make up for it (and tacos and pizza). I think when summer arrives everything always gets easier. xoxo
Congratulations on completing the second Ragnar race – that’s quiet an achievement. I haven’t eaten American style pancakes for 20 years – your recipe is a good excuse to rectify that 🙂
Thanks, MD. It’s so good to be back here and to see you here too. Pancakes traditionally aren’t that great for you, but these…feel free to eat the pile. It’s a nice way to make the weekend feel special. 😉
You did another one of those races? Well done! You only dreamt of the pancakes AFTER the race? I’d be dreaming of them DURING! (which is why I’d probably fail miserably lol). I haven’t made pancakes for ages and was rethinking them recently, I love your addition of the berries and might do that next time. xx
Thanks you, Sofia! Yes, I’m nuts, I did another race and it was really fun. But I’m going to give it a little rest. LOL i thought of pancakes as I was running too because one of our stops had some in the previous race! My first leg was good, but I was so sore that my next two times were not ideal. It was fun. These pancakes are loaded with chocolate chips too, which makes them dessert, but breakfast and dessert really are the same. 😉
I would be so sore too! I really admire that you do it. Oh I completely agree, breakfast and dessert are the same! Most of my desserts are usually eaten more during breakfast time…
yay, you survived the ragnor, great job.
i’m slowly, but surely, collecting quick recipes that don’t call for fast perishables because we’re headed to the woods next month with our nephews and i need to feed them growing boys! i like that is recipe does not call for eggs, which can then be used for other recipes… thx for sharing.
Oh that sounds so fun! These pancakes could work for the woods. I want to go into the woods too!! Enjoy! As for Ragnar I’m taking a break for the summer. Xo
first- those pancakes look delicious and i am SO craving them!! second- i totally get you about being pulled in all directions. experiencing that myself lately and i’m having so much stress. wish i had these pancakes to cure that!!
xox
chaya
Thank you, Chaya! I hope you’re a little less stressed and are enjoying all the summer produce! Xo
What stunning photos.
Thank you so much, Mimi. Xo