vanilla bean pancakes

When my eldest were little, they were diagnosed with severe milk and egg allergies. We went completely milk and egg free for the better part of two years... until they were retested, and had aged out of the allergies (very common where milk and egg are concerned). But for two years, I cooked and used all types of substitutes, and recipe variations. Most have been abandoned as we introduced milk and egg back in our diets, many were resurrected when my youngest two faced the same issue... and a select few made it into our cooking arsenal for good.

This pancake recipe I developed is one of those I still prefer to use today. And the one requested by my children anytime we are having breakfast for dinner.

Although we cook with actual milk and real eggs these days, I prefer the batter consistency that the recipe gives by using rice milk.  I will use real eggs, but only because it's easier. Weird, I know... but oh so good! If you want, you can use real milk and/or the eggs substitute... It’s definitely a versatile recipe, and super handy on those occasions you don’t have dairy ingredients on hand.

Ingredients:

4 cups flour

6 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

2 1/2 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 cup grapeseed oil

1 box rice dream (or 4 cups of whole milk)

1 1/2 tsp vanilla paste

2 eggs (Substitute:  3 Tbsp veg. oil, 3 Tbsp water, 2 tsp baking powder, whisk before adding)

Directions:

Preheat griddle over medium heat.

Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. In a separate bowl whisk rice milk, vanilla, vanilla bean seeds, oil, and egg. Whisk until blended.

Turn griddle to medium low. Using a 1/8 cup measuring scoop up drop mixture on ungreased griddle. Flip when top is completely bubbly.

* If you use real eggs, increase the amount of baking powder from 2 1/2 to 3 Tbsp. No other changes are necessary.

* We make also make these on the outdoor griddle, in which case, I blend all ingredients together in the vitamix, and pour batter directly from spout. You could also do it this way on an indoor griddle or griddle pan if you wish as well.