cake donut pancakes

I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful it is to be feeling well again.  I was starting to think that I was going to be ill the whole pregnancy!  This is the perfect time of summer to be feeling well too.  Everyone else's gardens are producing a plethora of veggies, and we have been the blessed recipients of that sharing.  Now that I'm feeling better I can make great use of what we've been bequeathed.  Yesterday found me in the kitchen whipping up a batch of Red Velvet Brownies.  It used beets as the base.  It was a meh kind of recipe, but if you want to try it out yourself I found it over at vegetarian times' website.  I've also got a huge bowl of refrigerator bread and butter pickles waiting for the taste test.  A zucchini in the fridge, and a couple of cups of cherry tomatoes (can you say sun dried tomatoes?!) waiting for me.

All of this leads me to be thrilled to share a recipe that I actually concocted.  I will tell you that the idea for the recipe came from reading so many different ones over at chocolate covered katie.  The inspiration came from needing so much extra protein.  On one of the first mornings that I felt more human than zombie, I decided to make pancakes.  My children have a strange love of the humble pancake, which I rarely share.  In fact I usually make pancakes once a week.  Since I get bored making the same thing every week, I try and come up with different cakes or syrups, depending on my mood.  Not wanting to make two separate breakfasts and over spend myself too quickly, I decided that I would be eating along with them.  But how to sneak the protein in?  I never thought I'd say this, but I am sick and tired of peanut butter (when it's all you can choke down for weeks on end you probably would be too!), so I knew I didn't want to slather that on top of my pancake.  Eggs and pancakes don't mix in my culinary world, so that was out.  Hmm, but I do have a batch of white beans just sitting and languishing in the fridge.  Casting a glance over my shoulder I notice that the now picky eating Abi isn't paying me any attention.  So I go for it.  Whip out the food processor, and blend some beans with other pancake like ingredients.

I'm sure that if you are anything like my husband, you just cringed hearing that I put beans in our pancakes.  I opted not to tell them while they were eating so there wouldn't be any preconceived notions.  The verdict, total awesomeness!  Lizzi requested chocolate syrup on them since they were chocolate, and since flavored corn syrup is flavored corn syrup, whether maple or chocolate I agreed it would be a great idea.  They loved it.  I practically had to rub my eyes at how quickly they scarfed them down and (literally) licked their plates clean.  When I finally got the chance to sit down and try a bite, I was pleasantly surprised.  They reminded me of cake donuts.  While I'm not a big cake donut fan, I did enjoy these little morsels with some chocolate syrup drizzled on the top.  I'm sure there was a big goofy grin on my face knowing that I just successfully got my kids to eat beans without any negative remarks!

If you are having a moment of reader apprehension, ease your mind in knowing that Phil doesn't like beans unless they are in his chili or burrito.  He has never liked anything that has beans blended into it. He's eaten these babies without a word otherwise, and yes he knew what was in them.  Of course it may be him not wanting to hurt my sensitive pregnant ego, but my bestie has eaten them too and said 'not bad'.

And without further adieu....Cake Donut Pancakes!

Cake Donut Pancakes

in a food processor blend well the following ingredients:

2 c white beans (if canned I would rinse off first)

2 c oatmeal

4 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbsp baking powder

2 Tbsp Cocoa powder

1.5 c milk (or to desired thinness)

preheat griddle to 300 degrees.  Spray with oil or butter generously.  Scoop batter onto hot griddle, silver dollar size works best.  Cook like normal pancakes.  Top with syrup of choice.  Enjoy!

If you get brave enough to try, stop back and comment on your experience!