Raspberry & Buttermilk Pancakes

Happy New Year!  With January comes resolutions of healthy eating, more exercise etc etc.  I don't generally believe in diets - I think life is all about balance - balancing on your toes on the edge of the scales generally gives you a lower weight reading.  


That of course isn't what I really mean.  I generally watch what I eat in the week, trying to err on the side of healthy, while indulging more at the weekend. However after Christmas I did feel I wanted to kick start myself back into a healthy eating mode so I dug out an old book about GI recipes.  I don't really see GI food as a diet as such but a general way of eating quite healthily.  Since first reading the book several years ago I've probably adopted some GI ways of eating without even realising, such as always buying brown rice and occasionally using wholewheat pasta (it just doesn't taste as good though) among other things. 


So this week I'll be cooking recipes from this book and I thought I'd start it with these delicious  pancakes.  I was surprised to find the recipe on which I've based them in amongst the others but apparently buttermilk is low in fat and the rest of the ingredients are pretty healthily.  I even swapped the sweetener listed in the ingredients for Agave Nectar so it contains even less sugar than listed.  I did use less buttermilk than in the recipe so I didn't have to buy 2 tubs. I made up the difference with normal milk.  I also added some raspberries into the mixture which gave a lovely fruity hit when eating them.  


This is my entry into this month's Breakfast Club Challenge which is being hosted this month by Food, Je t'aimee.  The theme this month is January Detox and in light of the fact these pancakes are a pretty healthy option I thought they would fit nicely.


The Repice (Adapted from Living the GI Diet)


240g wholemeal flour
1 tbpn baking powder
1 tspn agave nectar
300ml buttermilk
150ml milk
2 eggs
2 tbspns rapeseed oil
150g raspberries


1.  Mix together the flour and baking powder. In a separate bowl whisk together all the other ingredients except the raspberries. Then whisk into the dry ingredients. Fold in the raspberries, saving a few to add to the cooked pancakes.
2. Heat a little rapeseed oil in a frying pan. Add dollops of the mixture. Wait until bubbles appear on the surface of the pancakes then turn over and cook for another couple of minutes.
3. Serve with the remaining fresh raspberries and a drizzle of honey.

Healthyish Pancakes for a Poorly Mr CB

Mr CB is a feeling a bit under the weather. When it comes to man flu  Mr CB's being poorly my bedside manner is not quite of Florence Nightingale standards. However this morning I did feel a bit sorry for the poor wee soul so I thought I'd take him breakfast in bed.  He lucked out as we had no bread in the house so I thought I'd make pancakes.  I've adapted this pancake recipe from various ones I've used before - I tried to make them as healthy as possible using wholemeal flour and rapeseed oil rather than butter.   I thought the mixed berries I served them with would definitely give a nice burst of antioxidants!  


This recipe is also my entry to this month's Breakfast Club whose theme for October is 'Stars and Stripes' - for me pancakes are the ultimate breakfast food to be found across the pond. It's the first time I've entered this challenge - I came across it on Susan's lovely blog 'A Little Bit of Heaven on a Plate'.


Thought you might like this little video too.....

The Recipe

135g wholemeal flour
1 tspn baking powder
pinch of salt
2 tbspn caster sugar
150ml milk
1 egg
2 tbspn rapeseed oil


1.  Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl and add the salt and sugar.  Mix well together.
2. Beat together the milk, egg and oil.  Then mix into the dry ingredients.  Beat well together with a fork.
3. Heat a non stick frying pan and add a little butter or oil.  Ladle a spoonful of batter into the pan and cook the pancake until it starts to bubble then turn over.  


I served mine with mixed berries (I use frozen summer fruits heated up) and maple syrup or agave nectar.