“Pancake Tuesday” my kids announce the day before .  Geesh, in being raised Catholic, LIKE I didn’t know that!  Pleeeeease, can we have pancakes for dinner.  “Ok”, I agree.  “Can we have quinoa pancakes”?, I ask.  “Nooooooo” they cry (yes they are teenagers in baby bodies).  “No, quinoa, chickpea, kale NOTHING”!  Just regular ol pancakes”!  SMOKES you’d think it was Christmas or a birthday or something!

With the very thought, I feel a heaviness in my stomach.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I do love pancakes.  I just don’t like how I feel after consuming them. Bagels, pancakes, sandwiches and the like sit like a hockey puck in my gut. And what feels good about that!!!!!  I don’t like the fact that pancakes give me an excuse to add one of my vices, BUTTER.  I love butter.  I’m still trying to decide whether it’s the salt that I crave or the fat (both things which I have to conscientiously add to my daily diet). Regardless, when butter comes in the house it remains in the freezer so access is just a bit more challenging.

As I have said before, at first you make changes in your diet because most likely you HAVE to.  Your clothes don’t fit, a mid winter beach holiday or even a health diagnosis.  Then it becomes you WANT to.  Your wardrobe has doubled, you look good, you feel good, more energy, less illness and perhaps even cholesterol has been lowered/blood sugars stabilized.

Yes, I could as well make two batches, one regular one for them and a quinoa one for me.  Hmmmmm, nah!  Instead, I am going to do an experiment. Digestive enzymes got me to enjoy broccoli again.  We’ll see if they get me through Pancake Tuesday.

MY FAVORITE PANCAKE FACTS (that I didn’t learn in church):

*Kudos to you Andrei Smirnov, who ate 73 pancakes, in 60 minutes in 2008!  Any takers on this record?
*before yeast and baking soda were used, pancake cooks relied on freshly fallen snow as their secret ingredient for tender pancakes. The ammonia contained in the snow caused the pancakes to turn out light and soft.  Considering we’re just recuperating from storm Nemo, this would be an easy task
*It is a French custom to touch the frying pan’s handle, and make a wish while flipping the pancake, while holding a coin in your hand.

I prefer to share recipes that I have tried.  Considering we’re down to the crunch for today, here is one that I found that has the touch of healthy and touch of normalcy.  Enjoy.  I WILL try it and share my experience.

Quinoa Pancakes

Ingredients

1 cup cooked quinoa
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 large egg, plus 1 large egg white
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, plus more for skillet
1/4 cup low fat milk
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, plus more for serving
fresh fruit or fruit preserves (optional) for serving

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together quinoa, flour, baking powder, and salt. In another

1.  medium bowl, whisk together egg, egg white, butter, milk, and syrup until smooth. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and whisk to combine.
2.  Lightly coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with butter and heat over medium-high. Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls into skillet. Cook until bubbles appear on top, 2 minutes. Flip cakes and cook until golden brown on underside, 2 minutes. Wipe skillet clean and repeat with more melted butter and remaining batter (reduce heat to medium if overbrowning). Serve with maple syrup, applesauce and fresh fruit or preserves if desired.

 

As we have all agreed that it will be regular pancakes, the conversation then moves to one daughter claiming that she wants “mom” burgers this week. (yes we talk and plan a lot about food in our house)  Only to be followed by a big groan from another daughter.  “I was giving up meat for Lent”!!!! “Can we start Lent next week”.