Cocoa Pancakes

Sometimes you have One Of Those Weeks. When the pantry is a little... light. But it's summer, so who really wants to tote three kids to the grocery store? Nevermind you're going through some Stuff, and only wanna be eating sweets + carbs. Obviously the only recourse to all that is searching Pinterest for sweet pancakes for dinner.

Who doesn't love a good breakfast for dinner? And breakfast can be tweaked and skewed to be just a HAIR away from dessert, which I FULLY ENDORSE. (Although perhaps I should refrain from using the h-word when talking about food. Ick. Sorry guys) So this recipe. I doubled, and subbed some stuff out for things I had on hand. It turned out really well, I may have eaten... too many.

2 c. flour
6 tbl. baking cocoa
2 tbl. baking powder
4 tbl. sugar (or maybe 3 if you're skiddish on the sugar)
1 tea. salt

2 eggs
2 tea. vanilla extract
2 c. milk
4 tbl. coconut oil

Sift together the dry ingredients, then blend in the wet ones. I usually do all except the coconut oil because the cold milk may make the coconut oil solidify and be clumpy. Bleh. Once it's all smoothed in, then do the coconut oil, and it works much better. Scoop onto a skillet in 1/4 c. portions, it's not a thick mix, and wait for it to bubble in the middle before flipping. Top with butter & powdered sugar. Maybe some berry syrup? It could make for some very delicious concoctions! Enjoy!

PB&J Pancakes

I forgot who turned me onto these, but Food Network! Good job on this one! I make these when I am in the mood for dinner-breakfast. It is more of an effort that regular pancakes (probably due to the fact you have to melt peanut butter) but when I am running low on regular syrup, I make these puppies. I don't make the homemade blackberry syrup in the recipe, I just have a bottle of raspberry syrup I bought from Smith's stashed away at all times. Hope you like them as much as I do. With a kid who really only likes pancakes and pretzels, this is a good way to get some protein in him.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk, plus extra if needed to thin
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 4 tablespoons butter

Mix up all the dry ingredients in a bowl and then slowly beat in the egg, milk, and peanut butter. It may be a little thick, add a tablespoon of milk. (or two) Melt some butter onto the griddle and scoop out into 1/4 c. increments. It takes a bit longer to cook, but scorches easily, so you may have to turn them several times. Still, I feel like I have to remind you- STILL WORTH IT. 

Top with a fruity syrup. 

Pumpkin Pancakes

Jen gave me the idea to hunt for a recipe for pumpkin pancakes. I have had these at Mimi's before- and they were heavenly! So season-appropriate!

In large bowl mix:

2 c. flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. cinnamon

In small bowl, mix:

2 eggs
1 1/2 c. skim milk
2 tbsp. oil
1/2 c. canned pumpkin

Add small bowl mixture to large bowl. Stir just until moistened. Heat griddle, brush lightly with oil. Pour batter by 1/4 cup onto hot griddle. Makes 16 pancakes.

Healthy Banana Pancakes

These are more for my kids, I make 'em and freeze 'em in advance. Then toast 'em in the morning. But they taste good to grown ups too! Make sure you mash the banana pretty finely with the tines of a fork- or use a food processor.

2 c. flour - you can do all white, or whole wheat, or half & half
2 tbl. sugar
2 tbl. flaxseed meal
4 tea. baking powder
1/2 tea. salt
2 eggs
2 c. milk
4 tbl. cooking oil
1 1/2 -ish mashed banana

Mix wet and dry ingredients separately then combine in large bowl until moist, beat on low- batter will be lumpy.
Pour in 1/4 c. portions onto a hot griddle, flip when bubbles appear in the middle