Gourmet Blueberry Walnut Pancakes!

 

Wow these are good!  Better than IHOP or anything out of a box.  These pancakes are also good for you--they pack a healthy punch:

• Made with whole grains -- wheat and oats
• Wheat (dietary fiber, manganese, magnesium etc.)
• Oats (prevents heart disease and diabetes, lowers cholesterol etc.
•  Bursting with blueberries
• More antioxidants than any other fruit (boosts your immune system to avoid illness)
• Slows aging by neutralizing free radicals
• Aid in reducing belly fat, cholesterol, and heart disease
• Full of walnuts
• Phenol and flavonoids and particularly accesible vitamin E for cardiovascular health in men
• Phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories help protect against metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes

They were pretty easy to make as well.  Here's the recipe:

• 1 cup of whole wheat flour
• 1 cup of flour from rolled oats (grind up in a blender or food processor)
• 1/2 Tbsp of salt
• 1 Tbsp of baking powder
• 2 Tbsp of dried okara (optional-see the bottom of my post on soy milk)
• 1/4 cup powdered milk
• 2 cups water
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 2 Tbsp of vinegar (I used white vinegar but apple vinegar might be even better)
• 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Mix all the dry ingredients together.  Whip together the liquid ingredients and pour into the dry.  Stir until it's all just moistened (it's OK to have some lumps).  Stir in the walnuts and blueberries and let sit for a few minutes while you heat up the grill (sitting for a bit helps the wet and dry ingredients integrate without fully developing the gluten that a thorough mixing would create).  Cook on a griddle (I set mine to 350 degrees Fahrenheit) until golden brown on each side.

MMMM!