It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a pancake recipe here because I’m slightly partial to the savory, but in my flour explorations I happened upon a truly winning combination. These pancakes are nuanced, nutty, oaty, but have a slight tang from the yogurt with the brightness of lemon seeping through in each bite. They’re highly customizable, egg free if you choose, and naturally sweetened. My husband said these might be the best pancakes I’ve ever made. I’d have to agree with him.
I think my exploration into new flours and thinking outside of the box is starting to pay off. I’ve stumbled upon a bunch of recipes I can’t wait to share and spring light is making me want to play with my camera a lot more. My desire to pick up the pen and get back to short stories is bubbling too. Is this what spring is? It seems like there is so much to do when the well of creativity starts to trickle in. If each day just had a few more hours I could go to work, then the gym, spend the day reading about photography, experiment with recipes and write. Maybe I can do a little of each. I’m so fearful of writing sometimes because it’s such a powerful tool, but maybe…just maybe a few paragraphs at night and a locked file?
I’ve been traveling around the internets a little bit in search of some next level inspiration towards everything and I’m constantly astounded at how evolved and savvy people become when life pushes them and they push themselves in turn. In the links section below I share a little of what’s been inspiring me lately. Happy Hump Day! Make these pancakes!
LINKS:
- Heritage follows some of the country’s most brilliant chefs. You learn the personal stories behind chefs and what drives them, the flavors that inspire them, and the dreams they continue to work for. It’s basically like “Chef’s Table” but you don’t need Netflix and these aren’t chef’s that have reached deity status, even if they deserve it.
- I thought my NYC kitchen was tiny and crooked, but this show is amazing. It’s silly and fun, yet sort of inspiring. You could really eat anything when scaled down like this.
- I’ve also discovered Laura Miller, who is just so funny, but watching her forage with this team makes me want to know the natural world around me better. I need to learn to forage.
- I’ve been binge listening to these podcasts while on my way to work and each guest is more interesting than the next. I think it’s the honesty in the conversation that’s disarming.
- My husband and I often play tennis together. Sometimes we’ll play doubles with my coworkers or singles by ourselves. On a good day we’ll have dumplings and udon noodles in Flushing afterwards and talk about how fun that was. A dear friend of ours (and amazing chef) once said to her husband who sometimes plays with us “I wish we could play tennis together like they do” he shut that down immediately with an, “Um no. It sounds more fun in theory.” He’d been witness to our ridiculously competitive natures and all out battles on the court. Sometimes it’s in good fun and sometimes it’s not. I’m a notorious sore loser. I’m kind of a sore winner too, but I’m an even worse loser when the winner gloats. These aren’t tennis matches, they’re tennis battles. So when I found this article on how hiring a personal trainer together strengthened their marriage, I wondered if it would have the opposite effect on ours. We took tennis lessons together a few times and it was fun so maybe we need a common enemy, aka the person pushing us. Just kidding, Justyna. We love you. And a beer with scallion pancakes will usually be the end of it. Until next time.
- I’d be remiss not to mention how excited I am that Game of Thrones is back on too. Such great storytelling. (I know that wasn’t a link)
- Finally, maybe all these goals can be achieved by actually doing something, 30 seconds of something each day toward the interests and then they will become more than just intention.
GLUTEN-FREE BLUEBERRY, LEMON, YOGURT, OAT PANCAKES
INGREDIENTS:
- 6 oz yogurt*
- zest of 1 small lemon
- juice of 1 small lemon
- 1 teaspoon real maple syrup (or honey)
- 2 eggs (I used 2 chia eggs here)**
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 cup oat flour***
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup blueberries
DIRECTIONS:
In a small-ish bowl, stir together the yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice and maple syrup. Beat in the (chia) eggs. Add the almond milk.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. With a big spoon, stir just until the dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened. Do not overmix or you’ll run the risk of getting tough pancakes! Fold in the blueberries.
Let the batter sit for 10 minutes. Heat a heavy cast iron skillet (or nonstick griddle) over medium-low heat. If necessary, lightly oil the surface with butter or cooking spray.
Once the surface of the pan is hot enough that a drop of water sizzles on it, add about 4 tablespoons of the batter to the pan for each pancake. Let the pancake cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, until the top edges of the pancakes are more matte than shiny and the underside is golden.
Once the bottom side has cooked sufficiently, flip it with a spatula and cook for another 90 seconds or so, until golden brown on both sides. You may need to adjust the heat up or down at this point.
Serve the pancakes immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven.
NOTES:
*I used non-fat blueberry Siggi’s yogurt, but any fat content, Icelandic or Greek yogurt will do.
** To make a chia egg combine 1 tbsp of chia seed (either whole or ground) with 3 tbs of water and wait 5 minutes. For two chia eggs, double the ratio.
***To make oat flour out of old-fashioned oats, simply pour one cup of oats into a food processor and process until it is ground well. One cup before and after grinding measures just about the same.
I like oat flour, especially in pancakes (my only recipe on the blog for pancakes has oat flour, but it is quite different from yours otherwise)! I remember enjoying pancakes that were both light and satisfying at the same time. And I love using yogurt in batters and doughs (I am hopefully going to be exploring home-made kefir some time soon)! How nice to see you are enjoying your food explorations, and getting more motivated about writing and blogging too. Like you, I wish there were more hours in a day, so I could do more (whether I actually would do more is another question). Can’t wait to see what other recipes you have in store for us!
Thanks, Darya. You’re always so encouraging especially when I really needed it. I’ll have to check out your pancake recipe. I hope your move went well. It looks like you’ve been eating well despite the move from your Instagram. Yum! Experimenting is fun even with no time. That kefir will be so good! Can’t wait to see you!
We’re moving on Sunday! I was in Paris for a few days – got home yesterday, so I wanted to get ahead of schedule on packing, instead of being late after I got back and feeling nervous about it. Almost everything is ready for the move now, even the boring administrative stuff, like changing all our billing addresses and getting electricity and hot water. The food has been weird though; lots of pasta with random leftovers, and crazy stuff from the freezer (the quails were easy to deal with, but I still have a mountain of parboiled CARDOONS I must find a way of preparing… and Pierre hates them).
I enjoyed how you described playing tennis with your husband, Pierre and I never did any kind of sports together, and I don’t think he ever plans on joining me, but we tried playing chess together, and I was horrible both at losing, and winning; so we never really enjoyed it. Maybe finding a common “enemy” could be a solution…
Very smart to get ahead of the packing. Yes, you just named the worst parts about moving. I had to look up what a cardoon was. It looks like these would be great in pasta or a salad, maybe pickled. I find your chess story amusing. I lose almost every time at chess and it’s upsetting. I’ve also been known to fling the monopoly board across the room because Alex drives such a ridiculously hard bargain. I call him a slum lord. I think it’s best to not compete outright like that !
yum yum yum! And especially love the video – fun to see the pancakes disappear 🙂 Your story of playing tennis with your husband cracks me up. My husband and I used to jog together, but it’s all about tag teaming with the kiddos so we’ve lost that. To me, working out is best done at a person’s own pace, which may or may not be the pace of a spouse. Though I suppose if they push you to try harder or vice versa. ??? Such ponderings here 😀
Put up another of Great-aunt Helen’s recipes last week. Finally back in the game. So glad to see you are stiller here as your blog is just plain lovely.
So great to see you here, Liz. Thanks for reading and for your compliments. That’s cool that you used to jog together, but I agree, what I value most about my workout time is that it’s alone time. It’s all about me, which is something very special. You need time apart to grow. I am so excited to see the Aunt Helen recipe! There is something so comforting about your Aunt Helen recipes. I love that you’re making and sharing them. I’ll pop over in a few to see what you’re up to. So glad you’re back. Hope you’re doing well!
Lovely recipe and will be great when my gluten intolerant God daughters come to visit. Big Man and I have discovered that sport is not for us, but we work like a well oiled machine (or two man team!) on our house renovations ?
Thanks, Chica! This would be a great recipe for that. I’ve been looking to try other flours that might lower my husband’s triglycerides and this really is a great alternative. I think house renovations is a great team effort. There’s not a lot to compete with there, just working together for a greater cause. That’s a great idea instead of sport. 🙂 Be well!
Your pancakes look amazing Amanda! I make pancakes sometimes and never bother try to make photos of them, but you’re reminding me I want some soon 🙂 Nice links. Mr H and I often go swimming and jogging together so that is already enough for me. He does more things: gym, surfing, whatnot, but what I do is fine for me. By the way I’m improving my jogging again! Lets hope it continues! I also DO think of what you said, it empowers you. xx
I make so many versions of pancakes, waffles and scones, and even fish that I never take photos of because it’s my “spare time” but this recipe was so good I actually made it again on a weekday just to photograph and share. I’m so glad you’re jogging again. I take this one weights class that I think my husband would love, but he doesn’t like gyms. He’s more of a tennis, biking, hiking, outdoor activity person. Anything we do together we get competitive. I’m glad that you remember that. I think about the empowerment factor all the time and how the root of my strength (inner and actual) is often found in the workouts.I hope you’re still loving your sneakers! Thanks for dropping by! I loved your carrot cake by the way, but had trouble commenting on your post. And i missed the infamous typo though I read your last update too! I’m tempted to go back to see it.
Thank you so much for giving my podcasts a shout (and I agree Laura Miller is the best!!)
Oh my goodness! I’ve been obsessing. I should probably leave a message comments how much I truly enjoy your conversations! I left a note last week in the minimalist baker convo but I’ve listened to so many since then and really fallen for your style.
I am so very hungry now…I watched your video a few times and my stomach started rumbling. Nicely done! I understand about not enough time in the day. When I ideally think of all I’d like to accomplish/enjoy each day I always need to add a few hours. And I do think spring brings inspiration. You do, as well! I will be making a batch of these pancakes immediately (perhaps dinner tonight!).
I love hearing from you, Hannah! Thanks for your thoughts on the video. It is mesmerizing. It’s so great to hear you feel the same way about time. It’s a testament to your interests and desire to grow and live life well. I hope you love these. You inspire me too. Thanks so much for saying that. Be well!! Xo
mmm. . . this looks like a perfect pancake recipe. It sounds like they are both healthy and delicious.
Thanks, Sheryl! That’s the goal here. I’ve been looking for delicious and healthy. Alternate grains seem to be a good start. Be well!
As you know, I’m no lover of sugar, so your pancakes sound pretty good. That mini strawberry cake video had me ROFL!
Omg right?! She makes mini entire meals! I’m looking for alternatives to refined sugar and saturated fat as well as flour. These pancakes are a great start. I hope you’re doing well!
They had us making doll furniture out of balsa wood at school when I was about 7 – I think I had the right sized hands for mini cooking back then!
Sometimes my kitchen feels like that.. No joke.
Now this made me laugh out loud at my computer. How wonderful that you play at Flushing too! Where did you grow up Amanda and did you play as a junior? In college at all? Do you play with others regularly (meaning, once a month or week) or just your husband? How I would love to hit the U.S. Open some day and meet up with you!!! I’ve been to Wimbledon but not the U.S. or French. I never ever play with my husband any more and we actually used to play doubles at the very tony club where I grew up playing but then it all just got crazy. My parents tell the story of playing Yahtzee with me when I was 3 and having to let me win because of that sore loser factor. I so understand. Delightful to have this connection to you! Thank you for the other links too, I always like to know what my friends are reading, rummaging through and thinking about. I love the video speed thing here whatever it is called. cheers friend!
Haha thanks for stopping by. So glad my tennis battles make you laugh. It’s amazing how good you were! We don’t live too far from Flushing so that’s where we play when we can and took our lessons. I grew up in upstate NY and I learned in high school (way too late to be great). Neither my husband or me played juniors, but we did play intramural in college. You were way more advanced than we ever were. But as we get older we become more obsessed. We go to the Open every year (well at least since we’ve been working and not buried under student debt). I’d love to go to the French too!!! I’m watching right now. Lol re “it getting all crazy” which is why you don’t play. I get it. Hilarious about Yatzee! I’ve been known to demolish the Monopoly board (and I was like 29, not 3 when I did it). I knew from your picture that you must have been really good because you weren’t hitting with a racquet. I do this one exercise where I’m sitting on a cone and get up to hit a ball. It’s awful. When I was younger I hated exercises like this. Now I’m a monster, especially if my husband is competing. Very cool connection. Thanks for the compliments on the links and vid too 🙂 Talk soon!
Wait, not sure what you mean weren’t hitting with a racquet, do you mean without a court? I was hitting with a racquet on a backboard. Chris Evert autograph racquet to be exact. The French women’s final was so enjoyable this year. !! Adios . . .
Ahh yes I saw that when I looked more closely. Some ppl hit with smaller racquets on purpose to gain more control. I had the McEnroe classic 😉
Oh dear. How fabulous. Laughed right out loud about your being such a sore loser! So funny Amanda. Love your honesty. I’ll stick to riding my bike and running and yoga and it’s hard to lose at those things – though I’m sure I am losing at them anyway. I’m the youngest so I was always losing. And I come from a whole long line of sore losers. My elderly mother once told my youngest daughter that she had, “purposefully let her win at scrabble.” At which point – I had to tell my mother that if in fact – that were true – she had just ruined it by saying so. My daughter was 8 years old at the time and had obviously won the scrabble game, fair and square.
Love the pancakes and the photos and the video. I have all the ingredients on hand and will give these a whirl this weekend. I love cooking up a little taste of your NYC kitchen in my Kingston kitchen – the ties that bind. Sending love. ♡♡♡
Lmao that is hilarious. Your mom is a character! I saw your new pay and have to get to it this afternoon! Was so happy to see you on the kitchen. Thanks for your kind and loving words. They always mean so much from you. More soon! Be well!