More Than Whole Wheat Pancakes

My sister Lindsey and I have a huge distaste for store bought pancake mixes. We've always made buttermilk pancakes from scratch for our kids. They taste amazing. We know exactly what goes in them, and can pronounce every ingredient in them without a college degree.



Last year I had come across a whole wheat buttermilk pancake that was actually quite good. It was around the time of my Get Fit Challenge, and even though whole wheat is quite healthy, I felt I needed to adapt the recipe to make it fit in with the nutritional direction I was going in.


So I swapped out some ingredients with a few delicious ones I have fallen in love with. Agave Nectar has become my go to sweetener in place of honey for almost everything. It doesn't give a spike to your blood sugar like honey does, making it a great substitute if you are a diabetic.


Greek Yogurt has got to be just about the best thing ever created, and is an amazing swap for buttermilk in these pancakes. If you've never tried it before, you must. Rich and creamy, even the non-fat version will make you do a double take, making you wonder if you accidentally picked up a full fat version.



Now, I've never been one much to drown my pancakes in maple syrup. I prefer a simple dusting of powdered sugar and some orange marmalade...sometimes peanut butter. I just prefer the fresh taste of a fluffy home made pancake with a touch of sweetness- and fluffy these are, which can be difficult to come by in a whole wheat pancake.


It's unusual to find a whole wheat pancake that is not only nutritious, but delicious and kid friendly as well. This recipe may just find your kiddos waiting impatiently for theirs...

More Than Whole Wheat Pancakes

1 c whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 Tbs Agave Nectar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbs olive oil
1/2 c skim milk
1/2 c non fat Greek yogurt
2 eggs

In a small bowl blend together the whole wheat, baking powder, and kosher salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together the agave nectar, vanilla extract, olive oil, skim milk, Greek yogurt, and eggs.

Stir in the whole wheat mixture until just combined. Do not over mix.

Pour approximately 1/4 c batter onto medium hot non stick griddle, slightly buttered. When batter bubbles slightly and looks a little dry around the edges, flip and cook on other side until pancake has risen and is nicely browned.

Makes approximately 7 pancakes (4").

Nation Food Bloggers Great American Bake Sale Success!

I can't think of any other time that I planned an event that wasn't stressful- they usually are. But this one was different. All the "cards" just sorta fell into place, and this past Saturday we had our long awaited National Food Bloggers Great American Bake Sale! We had a great time and a great turn out!


I can't begin to say enough good things about the great folks that hosted us, 5th and Wine, in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. Not only did they let us use all of the tables and chairs we needed, but let us have an entire room in the restaurant with it's own entrance off a main touristy intersection. Restaurant patrons were encouraged by the amazing staff to stop by our display after dining to purchase some goodies to take home. They even went so far to include the details of the event in a mass email to their customers, as well as promoting it on Facebook to their fans. Scott Yanni, the establishments General Manager, continuously made sure we were well taken care of at all times, and even had his own (huge!) family come to the event. Scott, I thank you from the bottom of my heart...


We had a fantastic raffle with donations of One hour Zoom teeth whitening and Sonicare Electric toothbrush from Harris Dental, two $25 Gift certificates from 5th and Wine, a $50 online gift certificate from DeMarco's Italian Specialties, a King Arthur Flour gift basket and a beautiful glass Apothecary jar filled with chocolates.


We met so many happy, joyful people excited to help and splurge on sweets for the cause. We also heard so many comments on not only the variety of the goodies we had, but their uniqueness as well. Lemon Basil Shortbread was one fabulous donation from a friend, Sharon, excited to bake for the cause. She said she lie awake at night trying to come up with something different, and let me tell you, they were fabulous!

For a couple years now I've been a huge fan of Arizona's own Food Hunters Guide to Cuisine, a fab blog for all things Tuscan and tasty. She helped tremendously behind the scenes, promoting and baking delicious Frosted Orange Bars, Lemon Ricotta Muffins (to die for!), amazing Mosaic Biscotti and more. It was a joy to meet her for the very first time at our bake sale!

My friend Kim made her signature Coconut, chocolate chip, and almond drop cookies, which are absolutely fantastic... I considered buying half even before the bake sale!

Through the Share Our Strength website a gal named Meg, here in Arizona, got a hold of me to find out how she could help. After making 125 brownies decorated with cute little bows, she drove them to my house, almost 40 miles one way, a couple days before the event!

Thanks to Andrea of All Caked Up, a local bakery within Dominics Bistro Italiano for providing some fabulous cupcakes and frosted Toll House treats as well. I still havent met Andrea yet, but if she is half as sweet as her mom, who raved about her baked goods, then I can't wait to meet her!

My friend Gail made dozens of Pizelles to my utter joy, and my mother in law, Lynda, made so many wonderful treats I considered keeping them for myself ;)


After reconnecting with a dear friend, Victor, from high school who is now located in Hawaii, I received an email from his wife, Vicki. They had a friend who had recently moved to Arizona who didn't know anyone, "is a prolific baker", and would I mind some help for the bake sale..?! We made a new friend that day in Sara, who has to have made the best Scharfenberger brownies I have ever tasted, and stayed to help all day with the sale.

Some months ago at the signing for the Pioneer Woman's Cookbook (that's me and my kidlet in the second photo down with Ree!), I happened to be Tweeting about the event while I was there, and met a sweet gal named Stephanie, a tweet addict as well, that just warmed my heart and entertained my little one with bubble gum. When she heard me tweet about the bake sale she volunteered to bake immediately. She stayed to help as well on Saturday, bringing Donut Pops, Neopolitan Mini Cupcakes, and the truly coveted French Macaron's in toffee and s'mores flavors....Mmmmmmm!

With the help of my mom, Marian, who handled taking care of the sale of goodies and raffles while us gals grabbed passer's by with some hoots and hollers, our team was able to earn just over $500 for Share Our Strength!


Thanks to all that came out to visit us on Saturday- purchasing, donating, encouraging, and keeping us laughing. We had a blast, and couldn't have had a sale without all of you!

National Food Bloggers Bake Sale

Did you know that even today, in the year 2010, that almost 17 million— almost one in four—children in America go hungry every day? It's hard for me to fully comprehend that number. Even in my worst of times, when things seemed impossibly lean, I can't say that I have ever known hunger. But millions of children do, right here in our own back yards.

I have joined hands with Food Bloggers everywhere who have partnered with Share Our Strength to help end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Together, on April 17th, Food Bloggers across the country will be having a bake sale to benefit Americas hungry children. All the funds raised here in our community stay here to benefit "our" children.

With our location generously donated by the fantastic folks at 5th and Wine, a fabulous restaurant and wine bar, Team LaDue and Crew will be hosting an amazing bake sale on Saturday, April 17th from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. that will tantalize your taste buds! With exceptional Italian desserts provided by Andrea of All Caked Up, Theresa of Food Hunters Guide to Cuisine, Jennifer of Jennifer's Cooking Spot, myself, and many others, we know we have something to satisfy everyone's craving!

If sweets don't catch your fancy, no worries! Come out to visit us anyway for a fantastic dining experience and raffle prizes from the fab folks at 5th and Wine, Harris Dental, a King Arthur Flour gift basket and more! What..? You say you can't make it that day..?! Well how about joining our team behind the scenes! Leave me a comment with your contact info and I'll tell you how you can help!

I can't wait to see all of you on Saturday April 17th from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.- Let's help Americas children!!

5th and Wine
7051 E 5th Avenue
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
(480) 699-8001

(located west of the Horse Fountain at the corner of 5th Avenue and Marshall Way, right in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale)