Peanut Butter Pancakes

Conventional chunky peanut butter works best in this recipe; the natural-style peanut butter (ground peanuts and oil) is difficult to stir into a liquid batter. Serve these with the Strawberry-Lemon Syrup, the Raspberry-Honey Coulis, or any kind of jam.

Yield: 5 servings (serving size: 2 pancakes)

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups fat-free milk
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1 tablespoon roasted peanut oil or vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Combine milk and remaining ingredients; add to flour mixture, stirring until smooth.

Spoon about 1/4 cup batter onto a hot nonstick griddle or a large nonstick skillet. Turn pancakes when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.

{recipe and image via myrecipes.com}

Artichoke Frittata

Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: About 30 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients
3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
4 eggs
1 jar (6 ounces) marinated artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped
2 tablespoons snipped fresh basil, divided
2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
Roasted red pepper sauce (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Place cream cheese, garlic and black pepper in small batter bowl; whisk until smooth. Whisk in eggs one at a time. Stir in artichokes and 1 tablespoon of the basil.

Heat (8-inch) sauté pan over medium heat until hot. Lightly spray with vegetable oil. Add egg mixture; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place pan in oven; bake 12-14 minutes until egg mixture is set in center. Remove from oven; sprinkle with cheese and remaining 1 tablespoon basil. Using small nylon turner, cut frittata into wedges. Serve with roasted red pepper sauce, if desired.

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in (1.5-qt) saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add 2 tablespoons chopped onion; cook and stir until softened, about 3 minutes. Add 1 large roasted red bell pepper, chopped, 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar and 2 tablespoons water. Transfer mixture to blender container or food processor. Cover; blend until smooth. Return sauce to saucepan; heat over low heat until hot.

{recipe and image via the nest}

Whole-Wheat Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce

Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup lowfat buttermilk
1/2 cup nonfat milk
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Strawberry sauce, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar, optional

Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour through salt). In another medium bowl, beat together the eggs, nonfat milk, buttermilk, honey and vanilla.

Preheat a large nonstick griddle or skillet over a medium-low flame. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing only enough to combine them. The batter will be somewhat lumpy. Use a 1/3 cup measuring cup pour the batter onto the griddle or skillet. Flip the pancake when the top is bubbling and it is golden brown on the bottom. Then cook until the other side is golden brown. Hold on an oven proof plate in the oven until the entire batch is ready. When all the pancakes are ready, cut them into heart shapes with a heart shaped cookie cutter. Ladle about 1/3 cup of the strawberry sauce onto each plate, place pancakes on top and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if using.

Strawberry Sauce:

16 ounces strawberries, fresh or frozen (unsweetened, thawed)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Puree strawberries in to a chunky puree. Heat them in a small saucepan over a low flame, until they are just warm. Stir in lemon juice and maple syrup.

Yield: 4 servings, serving size about 1/3 cup

{recipe and image via food network}

Breakfast Cookies

Ingredients
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup (1 small jar) strained carrot baby food
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup bran cereal flakes
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup walnut pieces, lightly toasted in a dry skillet for 2 minutes, until fragrant and chopped

Directions
Place rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Whisk together flours, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Combine butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed, scraping down sides if necessary, until sugars have dissolved and mixture is light in color, about 1 minute. Add egg, carrot puree and vanilla and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add flour mixture and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add oats, flakes, raisins and walnuts and mix over low speed just until incorporated. Dough will be slightly sticky and less cohesive than traditional cookie dough. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using between 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter, form a ball and place on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining batter, leaving about 3 inches between cookies. Wet hands and use palm of hand to flatten cookies until about 1/4-inch thick. Bake for 12 minutes, until cookies are fragrant but still soft. Let cookies cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

{recipe and image via food network}