Applesauce-oatmeal Pancakes (Dairy-free, Gluten-free)

These did not begin life in an attempt to be either gluten-free or dairy-free, it just turned out that way. They were an attempt at oatmeal pancakes that I considered edible, an attempt at an autumnal version of my favorite food.

The problem with oatmeal is it has no gluten. You don't want too much gluten in pancakes, of course, but if you don't have any gluten, nothing will hold them together and nothing will hold the air bubbles. The pancakes will fall apart and will be gluey. You should put them back into the bowl and eat them with a spoon. I tried cooking the oatmeal first, letting it soak overnight, and including wheat flour. Finally I settled on soft-whipped egg whites and applesauce.

I originally intended the applesauce to give the pancakes an apple flavor, but it didn't. Any apple flavor cooks right out of the pancakes. Now, normally applesauce is used in baking as a pectin, often as a substitute for fat. Here I'm using it not to replace fat but to replace liquid and starch. I'm not sure why it works (for an intro to the chemistry of cooking with applesauce, look here), but it does. The pancakes have a great texture and flavor: definitely a keeper. Cat says she prefers them to my regular pancakes. I say don't be ridiculous. But they are good enough for weekday fare.

They take longer to cook than regular pancakes--maybe 4 minutes a side instead of 2. Just something to watch out for. Cat also says she think the cast iron is essential, since you want a good browning on the outside to contrast with the soft interior.

Applesauce-Oatmeal Pancakes

Good enough for weekday fare.

ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 cups applesauce
3 eggs, separated
3 T liquid fat (we usually use coconut oil, but be aware that it has a strong flavor)

instructions
0. Fire up your stove and put on the cast iron to get hot.
1. Throw everything but the egg whites into a blender or food processor. Mix it all up.
2. Whip the egg whites into soft peaks.
3. Fold the whites into the batter.
4. Cook on a griddle.
5. Enjoy! Cat likes powdered sugar and cinnamon; the owl-cats like applesauce; I like apple-buttermilk-cinnamon syrup. (Recipe forthcoming.)

Cool summer breakfast: Soaked raw buckwheat with fresh fruit

This is like raw granola, according to my friend L.N. She eats it with yogurt and fruit.

We tried out raw buckwheat last week when we went on a three-day vegan cleanse (more on that later, including why Owl would ever do such a thing). Thus, we omitted the yogurt. I tried it with rice milk, but it was better without.

Soaked Raw Buckwheat

Buy buckwheat groats at a natural foods store. I paid just over a dollar per pound.

1/3 cup buckwheat groats per serving
Fresh fruit
Tepid water to cover

1. 30-60 minutes before you want to eat breakfast, rinse the buckwheat in a fine strainer. Leave it in the strainer and place in a larger bowl. Cover with water.
2. Let soak for 30-60 minutes. (Just the right amount of time to fit in some exercise!)
3. Lift the strainer out of the water. The water will have turned a bit brownish and goopy. Do not be alarmed. This is supposed to happen.
4. Two options here, depending on your feeling about the matter, because I've read both are true:

• Rinse the goopy buckwheat, believing that this helps digestion.
• Don't rinse the goopy buckwheat, believing that this helps digestion.

5. Your buckwheat is softened and ready to eat.

What we thought: We would definitely eat this again. The buckwheat had a nice nutty flavor. Owl says he could have it every other week. I could eat it more often, especially in the summer. The kids wouldn't touch it, so we don't know if they would like it.

Variation: Another morning we tried the soaked buckwheat blended with dates, rice milk, and cinnamon, then topped with pumpkin seeds. It made for a more oatmeal-like consistency. I thought it was fine, but Owl had the good-willed grimace he sometimes has when something is off. It tasted more autumnal than I was feeling on a June morning, so I'll try it again then.