A great start to a new year

To say that 2008 sucked would be an understatement, however 2009 got off to a great start. How? You ask. Well, let me tell you; with the best pancakes ever. Well, I’m not sure about that, but it is my favourite pancake recipe. When I walked into the kitchen this morning I could see the book was out and someone had already cut the butter into the flour. I couldn’t help but grin. This meant we were almost good to go! This recipe is from an amazing cookbook by Didi Emmons called Vegetarian Planet. It is a whole wheat buttermilk pancake that makes me smile every time I eat them and maybe feel a vague tinge of guilt when I have it with bacon, but it is always worth it. The only thing I add is a touch of vanilla or if I don’t have buttermilk in I use a mix of milk and vanilla yogurt. It isn’t the only good thing about this book either. I’ve tried a few recipes including a ricotta and spinach dumpling recipe with portobello sauce which was delicious and the basis for much of my experimental recipes with ricotta. Also, anytime I want to find out about a type of rice or grain I look here first. She’s got information pages with a short blurb and common cooking methods/times/uses (depending on what’s appropriate). This is the most useful vegetarian book I’ve found, even more so then so many people’s coveted Moosewoods which are good, but I have found Vegetarian Planet to be much friendlier and more informative.

Maybe I shouldn't feel so guilty about the bacon.. after all R. Stevens says bacon is a vegetable and he has the t-shirt to prove it.