I love this picture. I love the chipped plate that is still beautiful. I love that one of the pancakes is a little burned. I love that I could make pancakes this morning. I love that I still haven’t bought eggs since before Vegan March, and I’ve learned how to make pancakes without them. I love that I’m sharing this recipe with you. I love that you’re reading this. Love, love, love.
But there’s a flip side to all of that. A small part of me (it’s bigger on some days, when I’m tired or discouraged) whispers in my ear. He says things like “oh how ugly, you burned it. That plate is ruined, look how awful it is. Don’t write this up, nobody cares. Don’t you have a headache? Go back to bed. Aren’t you upset that it’s snowing — in April? What a drag.”
I had a sore throat last weekend, and I wasn’t feeling that great. I went to see my college roomie at a farm in Wisconsin (BABY GOATS!), and on the way home I felt like singing. So guess what. I sang. I sang through my sore throat, and it felt great. You know how sometimes, you just need to connect with your soul? It was one of those times, and while I was singing I forgot all about the pain. The words and music were just what I needed. I think too often, we forget that we already know what we need. We ask this person or that person, we turn on the radio, the TV…we Google our brains out trying to figure out what we “should” do to feel better or do better, when all we should be doing is just listening.
What if we all committed to listening more often? Not just to each other, but to ourselves? To that quiet voice within? What if, when we were alone, instead of pulling out a cell phone or an iPad, we just sat? Quietly, pondering, watching, listening. What would we hear? What would we see? What would the voice inside begin to tell us?
But you came here for pancakes. And I won’t disappoint. Thanks to my friend, Ryan, for suggesting that I pick up some of Pamela’s gluten-free pancake mix. Thanks to Robin Asbell for writing a fabulous tome sharing her massive knowledge of vegan baking. And thanks to you, dear reader, for being here. I hope you have a wonderful day, and come back soon.
Chocolate Chip Walnut Pancakes
6 pancakes // Vegan // Gluten-Free
1 cup Pamela’s gluten-free pancake mix (or your favorite)
1 tbsp flax seeds
2 tbsp nondairy milk
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
Maple syrup
Grind flax seed in coffee grinder and mix together with milk in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, mix the pancake mix, oil, ginger, and vanilla extract. Add the flax & milk mixture, and mix well until there are no lumps. Toss in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
Heat griddle or large pan and add a little vegetable or coconut oil. Spread out the oil with a pastry brush or spoon, and get the griddle good n’ hot. Add 1/4 cup of pancake batter, and after just a minute or two, flip the pancake over with a spatula. If you’ve never made pancakes before, it may take awhile to get the timing right. Keep a close eye on them, flipping again if need be.
I like my maple syrup a little warm – I heat it up for about 15 seconds in a mug and then drizzle it over. Yum.
Serve ‘em hot, and if you’re eating alone, you can freeze any leftover pancakes for later. Enjoy!
















































































I spent this past weekend near Viroqua, Wisconsin. It’s a magical part of the world, with creeks, rolling green hills, strong old houses and people who have learned to live with the rhythm of Mother Earth’s seasons.
















































































