Recipe for Banana Pancakes

Hearty yet simple, banana pancakes bring out the kid in everyone, and, chances are, you love them as much now as you did as a kid. This banana pancake recipe uses whole-wheat flour and flax, giving this childhood favorite a nutritious, grown-up twist. Of course, they will still be a favorite with the kids, too.

Recipe for Banana Pancakes
Ingredients You Will Need:
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons baking powder
¼ cup flax seed
2 cups buttermilk
3 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 or 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
¾ cup chopped toasted walnuts

In a medium bowl, combine the flours, spices, baking soda, baking powder and flax. Set aside. In a large batter bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, honey, oil and vanilla. Add the flour mixture to the batter bowl, mixing until just combined. Do not over mix the pancake batter. Fold in the mashed banana and ½ cup of the nuts.

Next, coat a non-stick griddle with butter, oil or cooking spray. When the griddle is hot, pour ¼ cup of batter onto the griddle for each cake, taking care not to place them too close together. When the top of the pancake is all bubbly and the edges appear dry, flip it gently, and cook the second side until golden brown. When done, remove to a warm plate, and continue with the rest of the batter. Serve the pancakes topped with additional walnuts, warmed maple syrup and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Variation: If you prefer slices of banana in your pancakes, then omit the mashed banana from the batter. Instead, when you pour the batter onto the griddle, lay slices of banana onto the pancake, and proceed cooking as above.