No eggs, no milk, no problem!

Happy Saturday pancake lovers! It is the weekend meaning this is the time when many families in America sit around the breakfast table and switch out their Frosted Cheerios and Toaster Pastry for the home-cookery of the pancake, and why wouldn’t they. Speaking from personal experience I can honestly say there is nothing more gratifying that a heartfelt ‘thank you’ when you place a warm plate of food in front of someone that was mere ingredients on the counter 20 minutes earlier. Making something out of nothing, a good philosophy for pancake making and life… but now were getting a little too “zen” about pancakes (although baking is very calming)
Speaking of calming, the atmosphere in South Florida is finally taking a turn for the better. The storm clouds appear to have taken a vacation for the weekend and the sun looks like it may come out to play for at least a bit. This means A LOT to yours truly because the pale-idity from the slavery of working in a hair salon has yet to leave these pasty legs of mine. Looks like its time for some much needed sun exposure, Vitamin D here I come!
Vitamin D? Well, fun fact, your body doesn’t need the D from dairy because you can actually get it from the sun. Yeah, I read that… in a BOOK! This brings me to my next point of explaining the use of the special ingredients this week. Avid readers may remember the mention of veganism in the past, basically the purging of animal products in ones life (diet and otherwise). This proves a challenge in traditional Pancake-cookery since eggs and milk have been staple ingredients in the batter recipe since its conception. Even the ‘just add water’ mixes are of limits since they contain milk solids acting as a binder (lots of reading this week). But, did that stop yours truly? Nawt Bloody likely (said in a Scottish accent).

Ladies and gentlemen…. The starting lineup for the Very Vanilla Vegan Pancakes! At center we have 100% stone ground wheat flour! A flour that, much like myself, tastes amazing and is completely unrefined. Yeah, I went there. At small forward we have the wonder of Vanilla Silk! Which, like Jennifer Love Hewitt, adds sweetness to anything its added too (just bought Can’t hardly Wait). At power forward we have baking powder and at shooting guard we have Pumpkin Pie Spice. Two staple incredients in my pancake making arsenal, I was going to add some pumpkin puree to compliment the spice but I didn’t want to run before I could crawl. Lastly, at point guard, we have some splenda I found in my man purse left over from when I pilfered a few packets from the local Starbucks. Don’t judge me, times are hard.

I’ll have to admit, I was a bit nervous about the lack of eggs until I saw the Pancake Pay dirt of the bubbles coming up to the top! It must be what pirates feel when someone yells ‘Land ho!’ All bets were then off and I had to make sure I didn’t just dump all the batter I had left in my skillet, but then my mind went back to that scene from Uncle Buck when he makes those tire sized pancakes that he has to flip with a snow shovel. Annnnnnnnnd, even though I would like to try that eventually ihad to focus on the task at hand. Then, wouldn’t you know it, as soon as they were all done and wonderful I started thinking “Man, I would like some banana pancakes at the moment”. Easy fix though, just paired these bad boys with a naner and made a little pancake face that was delectable, not to mention comforting to eat breakfast with someone else for a change.

Pancake Face, however, is not as happy about the situation as I was.

Kidding aside, why the switch to being a vegan? Did I grow up on a farm and started noticing empathy for animals? Did PETA finally reach me with the abundance of literature on the subject? Maybe it was the time I fell asleep in a whole foods? I’m afraid that it was due to a little book called “Skinny Bastard”. Having heard wonderful press about it I decided to flip through it one morning in a Barnes Noble and I must say… the writing style made me laugh a bit and I was already through the first couple chapters in about 20 minutes. Also, I know what your thinking and its not a ‘diet book’, its more of s punch in the face about what animal consumption does to not only the environment but also our health. I know, a book with the word Bastard in the title cant be the most scholarly source in the world, but they quoted numerous credible sources – The China Study in particular. Im telling you right now, anyone who on the fence about switiching to veganism needs to read the china study. I had already spent my book budget for the week so I was unable to purchase it but after flipping through a few selections about meat and dairy I definitely agreed that it will be on my bookshelf soon. Long story short, I made the leap to go hard core on the vegan diet for the month of July and have been finding it extremely nice so far. Im liking all the thinks you can do with tofu and I don’t think im ever going to get tired of burritos (KNOCK ON WOOD!!!). Also, I notice how simple things like fruit and veggies have a whole new taste that I just cant get enough of. Not to mention that the pancakes were a-ma-ZING! Honestly, I think tasty walked by and said: “Damn, those look tasty… and cruelty-free”. So, all in all, vegan-hood is working out well and ill be sure to keep you all updated on the stautus of everything.
On the final front, radio is………….. awesome! I am definitely happy about not dreading my wake up in the morning. Granted, anything done at 4am is a little taxing, but im finding it easier than when had to get up for work at 10! (ß six hours later!) I guess that’s what happens when your spend your work day laughing rather than dealing with people who were willing to pay $80 for a haircut but go ape-shit when it turns out to be $85. Not kidding, that actually happened. Also, we all got the week off for the 4th of July which is definitely code for greatness in my book. I still went in and hung around with OMG (one of the hosts who was making sure the ‘Best of Broadcasts’ were going off without a hitch). And we both got to have some guy time where he would show me the kind of work he does and I would pay him with Egg McMuffins (which are NOT vegan L). But ill tell you what is….. hash browns HOLLA!
Well, true believers, that is all we at Pan-Clay-ke have for you this week but the pancakes and musings will be back with a vengeance. Till then feel free to question away with anything about Veganism, Pancakes, also movies coming out as I feel Bruno and Public Enemies calling me out of the house as well as the sunshine this day. Till then this is Pan-Clay-Ke reminding you that frozen blueberries are just as good in a recipe as fresh.