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Tooty-Fruity Pancakes

Wait! Don't call child services, I swear that feeding these to my children is not cruel and unusual punishment...in fact, they love them!

I have started taking the same approach to making them pancakes as I do muffins and other baked goods: an opportunity to hide extra nutrition in every bite they eat.

I admit that brussel sprouts are not a common pancake ingredient, and truthfully, this would not have been my first choice of veggie to add, but I had extra in the fridge, so I thought I'd give it a try.

If you use a cruciferous veggies like brussel sprouts, broccoli or cauliflower - you know, the gas-producing culprits, these will be extra "tooty", but if you are less adventurous or you have particularly picky/sensitive kids, other options that would work are spinach, pea, corn, carrot, pumpkin or squash.

Big A actually hates chunks of fruit in her pancakes, even whole berries, but pureeing the fruit makes it even easier to hide the veggies.

I like making a big batch so I can freeze them and then have them handy when I need a quick, healthy meal for the girls (they will eat pancakes for breakfast, lunch or dinner!). They take less than 30 seconds to defrost and heat in the microwave.

Cooked veggies (enough to make 1 cup, pureed)
1/2 cup blueberries
2 ripe bananas
2 eggs
2 tbls maple syrup, honey or agave syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tbls baking powder
1 scoop Greens+ for Kids powder (optional)*
2 cups milk or water

Puree enough veggies to make 1 cup. Ad blueberries and bananas to the blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Dump puree into a large mixing bowl and add eggs, sweetener of choice, and vanilla. Whisk together. Stir together flour, baking powder and Greens+ (if using) in a smaller bowl and add to wet ingredients. Slowly pour in milk or water to mixing bowl, whisking everything together until you have a fairly thick batter. Cook in frying pan or griddle until golden on both sides. Makes about 18 pancakes.

Serve with syrup, or to make this an even healthier meal, serve with yogurt and fresh fruit.

*Greens+ for Kids is a great, albeit pricey supplement that can be easily mixed into smoothies, yogurt, water, juice...or pancakes! My kids love the berry flavour it adds. http://www.nationalnutrition.ca/detail.aspx?ID=866

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