Leftover Quinoa Pancakes

Some mornings, I wake up ravenously hungry.  You would think I had put in a long run the day before but nope, it's just my new lap swimming and walking routine and oh yes, growing twin girls!

Yes unfortunately I'm no longer allowed to run for the duration of my pregnancy, but it has been a surprisingly easy adjustment to slip into swimming laps a few times a week, and maintain gentler yoga and barre-type workouts combined with long dog walks and the occasional easy bike ride.  I'm definitely moving slower these days and at a lower intensity, but I'm pretty much hungry all the time.

heading out to walk and swim...all the while thinking of what to eat for lunch

Often I lay in bed a few minutes after I wake, dreaming up what I'll have for breakfast.  This morning, I couldn't be bothered to cook anything, so I ate a leftover organic veggie patty and spinach from last night's dinner, followed by an umeboshi onigiri an hour later (Japanese snack of sushi rice, seaweed and umeboshi that I could eat everyday).

Yesterday though was a different story.  I wanted pancakes, and as I pondered what kind to make, I remembered the leftover quinoa in the fridge.  I wondered if I could do an easy eggy quinoa pancake, and it turns out--yes!  It's easy, fast, nutritious and pretty filling.  So whether you're toting around a baby or two, or just heading out for your typical active day, you'll appreciate this easy quinoa pancake.

Quinoa Pancake
yields 4

Ingredients:
1-1/4 cup leftover cooked quinoa
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon crystallized honey or date sugar (optional)

Directions:
1.  Mix all ingredients into a bowl.
2.  Heat a pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat and add a spritz of coconut oil or avocado oil or oil of choice.
3.  Spoon batter into the pan, in a circle shape.  I cooked two at once, and ended up with 4 medium pancakes.  Flip once batter is set and golden brown, about 3-4 minutes, and flip for the other side for a remaining 2 minutes.
4.  Serve with honey or syrup or fresh fruit.  Enjoy!

*I drizzled mine with raw honey.  These pancakes soak up moisture fast, so it ended up being a fluffy spongey honey quinoa taste, which I loved.

By late afternoon, it's pretty much reading, resting and cuddle time with Yogi...we're both wishing we had more pancakes