...Makin' Banana Pancakes...

When Zane was a baby, he loved Jack Johnson.  I spent many nights walking the living room listening to Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes."  Little did I know that the lyrics to that song would inspire a recipe I now make 2-3 times a week.

One of the most popular foods in this house is pancakes.  I make pancakes about 2-3 mornings a week, every week.  For many years I used the Bisquick baking mix to make pancakes, but with the quantity that was being consumed in my house, I made it my mission to come up with a recipe that was both easy and healthy.

Back to pancakes.  Pancakes often are full of eggs, oil, & sugar.  It makes them yummy, but it also makes them full of empty carbs and fat.  About a year ago, I came up with a simple, yummy, healthy, and...by the way...whole wheat pancake recipe.  When I was thinking about what to replace the eggs, oil and sugar with, I was reminded of the "Banana Pancake" song.  I replaced applesauce for oil, ground flax seed for eggs, and bananas for the sugar/oil.  I save the leftover pancakes in the fridge and the boys toast them and enjoy them pretty much every morning of the week.  I've shared the recipe with lots of friends and was asked for it again today.  It got me thinking that it might be something that everyone would enjoy.

Hannah's Banana Pancakes
1 Banana, mashed
1/3 c unsweetened applesauce
2 T ground flax seed
2 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 c milk
2 c whole wheat flour
1 c oatmeal
*Note: I often add 1t cinnamon or frozen or fresh berries.


1. Combine mashed banana, applesauce, ground flax seed, baking soda, and salt.  Add milk.  Mix in the flour and oatmeal.
2. Heat griddle to 250-300 degrees.  Melt butter.  Pour batter on griddle.  Cook each side 2-3 minutes.

Enjoy!

Cures for the Cookie Monster

Healthy cooking is one of my passions.  I love taking foods that we love to eat and figuring out how I can make them healthy and still taste good.  These are a yummy alternative to cookies. We all enjoy them at our house!

Banana Cookies

Getting Ready to go into the oven.

Adapted from Allrecipes.com "Healthy Banana Cookies"

Ingredients:
3 ripe Bananas
2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon & nutmeg
1/2 c raisins
1/2 c chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mash banans. Stir in oats, applesauce, vanilla, raisins, and chocolate chips.  Mix well and allow to sit for 15 minutes.  Drop by teaspoonsfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Flatten a little as the cookies come out exactly how you put them in.
3. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven or until lightly brown.

* You can substitute the raisins and chocolate chips for whatever sounds good to you: apples, craisins, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, etc...you get the idea.

Ready to Eat!