Inspired By Jack

Jack Johnson is just cool peeps, because let's face it, not very many people can get away with writing a song about banana pancakes.  Perhaps Raffi could, but he's cool peeps too.  Can you imagine Aerosmith singing about any kind of pancakes?  Definitely couldn't pull it off.  Jack has that certain je ne sais quoi.

A couple of weeks ago, when my little friend spent the night...

I set out to prove that munchkins would eat healthy foods if presented properly.  I opted for a twist on Jack's banana pancakes--oat bran and whole wheat banana pancakes.  Kind of the same.

My mom nodded supportingly as I mixed up the batter, but I could tell she was a doubter.  Breaths were held as the pancakes were placed in front of that little two year old....and a big sigh let out as she started eating away.  Yes, it was probably the bit of maple syrup on top that did it, but I just said I could get her to eat them, I didn't specify how.

Another weekend, another experiment.  This time I paired the oat bran pancakes with my favorite pancake flavor...pineapple upside down pancakes.  Jack may just want to write another pancake song.

Oat Bran Pancakes

1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 c. oat bran
2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp vanilla
2 large eggs, mixed first to break up yolks
1 cup plain yogurt, drained in cheesecloth overnight

Whisk together all ingredients.

For banana pancakes stir in one banana finely mashed.

Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

Heat 1 tbsp butter over med high heat. When melted, add 2 tbsp brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Add 2 cups chopped pineapple and cook until pineapple is caramelized. After ladling pancake batter onto griddle or pan, spoon pineapple mixture over. 

They were every bit as flavorful as the buttermilk version of  pineapple upside down pancakes--in fact You would think that with all that effort, and all of the prep photos, I'd remember to take a photo of the final plated product, but not so much.  They look like the above, but on a plate instead of in a pan.  In fact, they do look exactly like the above...the brown sugar in the pineapple means these are sweet enough that syrup is not required.

Peanut says, "The End"