Coconut Pancakes

I couldn't make it up to Scranton for Easter this year. My family doesn't do much for the holiday, but I was still pretty bummed I wouldn't get to see everyone. And on top of it, Ken was working a bunch of doubles in a row, and wouldn't be home at all. Though I love my kitty, the thought of spending any holiday alone with my cat had my grumpy-pants all in a bunch. To cheer myself up, I made some cupcakes. Just look at these things. They're too adorable to not make you smile.

Vegan coconut cupcakes with strawberry 'butter'cream and toasted coconut nests. Jelly bean 'eggs' complete the cuteness.

 Then, late Saturday night, Ken called to say he didn't have to work Sunday morning. He was coming home! Joy of Joys! An Easter miracle. My sour-puss was replaced with a big ol' smile.

Since I anticipated spending the day alone, I hadn't planned much of a menu. Sunday morning I decided to make a nice holiday breakfast for us with whatever we had around the house. I think I did a pretty good job pulling it together.

As a baker, at any given time I probably have the ingredients to make you whatever kind of sweet breakfast you want. Except waffles, because I don't have a waffle iron (hint, hint...). Ken and I are also the kind of people to have things like mangoes, toasted coconut, mango butter, and coconut extract lying around. It makes throwing together a holiday breakfast a little easier.

Sunday's menu: Coconut pancakes with mango butter, fresh mango, and strawberries. Vegan sausage links. Mango Lemonade. Coffee. Boo-Love.

This is a nice basic vegan pancake recipe that works best as thin, almost crepe-like pancakes. Ken loved them. You've probably got all the necessary ingredients right now, and can make them yours with whatever happens to be in your fridge/pantry. Next time you want to make an impromptu breakfast for someone special, this recipe will be your best friend.

Vegan Coconut Pancakes
adapted from Vegan Yum Yum

1 1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp canola oil
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp coconut extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup toasted coconut

Preheat oven to warm, 200 degrees, or the lowest temp your oven will allow. To keep pancakes warm while you make them, you'll stack them on an oven-safe plate inside the oven.

Pour milk into blender. Add all other ingredients except toasted coconut. Pulse a few times. Scrape down sides, and pulse a few more times, but don't over blend. You can place this in the fridge overnight, or use immediately. If using the next day, you may need to thin the batter with a tablespoon or so of water. (*note: I use a blender because I like being able to pour the batter, and also it keeps the dishes at a minimum. A bowl and a whisk would work just as well)

Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat for a few minutes. Pour batter into center of pan. I like to make my pancakes about 4-5 inches across, and swirl the pan slightly to spread the batter and make a thin pancake. Sprinkle coconut on top. After a few minutes, the top will bubble, and the batter will change color from white to a dull yellow. This is when you should flip. If the other side of your pancake is not brown yet, you may need to turn your heat up slightly. If it's over-browned, turn down the heat. Allow to cook for another few minutes, until brown. Place on plate in oven, and continue to stack as you make them.

We served these with mango butter from Trader Joe's and fresh fruit. I'm sure they would have been lovely with a coconut syrup too. Also, making them coconut pancakes was a last minute decision, when I remembered I had the leftover toasted coconut from the cupcakes. Had I planned in advance, I would have probably substituted some or all of the almond milk for coconut milk.

If coconut's not your thing, you can use another extract and add any other filling: bananas, blueberries, chocolate chips, etc. And then come back here and tell me all about it!

Opening Day Easter Weekend-stravaganza!

Dudes and dudettes, I feel like I'm failing you today. I was getting better at posting regularly and was trying to make Mondays a posting day. Cuz, y'know, mondays can be rough. But pretty cakes and sexy food porn can help you get through those tough times. And I do this for you, for the huddled masses who stare at computer screens all day and like to take breaks by staring at delicious pictures.

But I have none of those for you today. Because I'm still in Scranton, and though I was smart enough to bring my computer home, I was not smart enough to bring the power cord for the laptop, or the USB connector for my camera. And so I'm stuck using the family computer. That has no pretty pictures of the pies and cupcakes I made. I'm sorry. Please find it in your heart to forgive me.

However, I am not sorry that I came to Scranton for the holiday and had the best extended weekend EVER. Sunshine. Lots of Sunshine. And peanut butter eggs. And cuddly puppies sleeping in the crook of my arm. And leaning towers of lemon cake. And crazy, loud, adorably loving adopted italian families. And barbequing with real family. And Grandmas complimenting cupcakes (the Casbah cupcakes are officially Grandma-approved!). And karaoke every night (this is not hyperbole. 3 nights in a row of karaoke). And water ice with the kids. And of course, baseball.

BASEBALL.

BAAAAAAAAASEBAAAAAAAAALLLLL.

Opening Day. And an 11-1 Phillies win. And watching the Phillies win on a sunny Opening Day with my awesome Scranton friends. And talking about baseball with my 95-year-old great grandpa. Seriously, a really great weekend. How could it get better?

I'll tell you how. VEGAN FOOD. From Eden, in downtown Scranton. I'm extending my trip to Tuesday just so I can get some yummy yummy food from there before I hit the turnpike and head back to Philly tomorrow. Because their food is that good. I dream about their coleslaw sometimes. NO LIE.

I really hope your holiday weekend was just as wonderful. What was the best part of the weekend for you?

And because I feel terrible not posting any pictures, here's a little something from the most excellent blog, 'I want to go the the Zoo with Roy Halladay', which is probably my favorite new way to waste time.