How to Make Healthy Pink Pancakes

How do you spell healthy love? B-E-E-T-S. Nothing says "I love you" in the morning like a plateful of beet pancakes. No, you don't think so? Before you jump so quickly to judge, let me throw out a disclaimer that these light and fluffy pancakes taste nothing like beets, just pure, delicious pancakes. The beets make them delightfully pink, and you will be the star of Valentine's Day when you present them to your loved ones (especially kids) this special morning. So be the cool mom your kids talk about at school and surprise them with Valentine's Day pancakes. It will be our little secret that they are super-healthy...

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A stove
• A skillet
• Butter for greasing
• A whisk
• A mixing bowl
• A liquid measuring cup
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup cooked beet puree
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour of your choice (I use spelt or kamut. Using a mixture of all-purpose and whole-grain flour works, too)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• maple syrup or whatever topping you like on your pancakes

1. Combine the first five ingredients (water through cinnamon) in a bowl and mix with a hand blender (or in a real blender or food processor). Set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl (I use a glass 8-cup liquid measuring cup so I can measure the buttermilk right in it), whisk together the buttermilk, flour, eggs, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and melted butter.

3. Whisk the beet mixture into the pancake batter thoroughly (mixing in a glass bowl helps with this).

4. Heat the skillet on medium-high and melt butter in it to prevent sticking. Pour some batter in. Flip the pancake once popped bubbles around the edges don't close in (about two minutes). Repeat until the batter is all used up. Feeds a family of six.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not over-heat the pan. It will cause the outside of the pancake to burn while the inside stays raw. You may need to turn the heat down a little after cooking the first few.
• Pancakes freeze well. You can freeze any extra for a later breakfast or snack in an airtight container or zip-lock bag and reheat them by popping them in the toaster like an Eggo.

[healthymomof5]

on 2/9/2009 Great recipe!5*

[vituccjj]

on 2/8/2009 I've never heard of this before. Thanks for sharing. 5*

[argyle]

on 2/8/2009 Wow, beet pancakes. Sounds great! Thanks for the recipe.