Perfect Pancakes

For some crazy, insane reason that I cannot identify, I am almost a stranger to the delicious breakfast food known as pancakes. Perhaps I have never had the time nor patience to make the Sunday-morning staple, and shied away from the sickly sweet prepared dry batter that I see lining the shelves of the grocery store. (Rarely is the taste anything but horrible when a product claims to "Just Add Water").

But after receiving an outstanding cookbook for Christmas, Vegan Brunch by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, I vowed to tackle pancake making. Spending the last few days in Vermont proved to be the perfect opportunity to pull out the griddle when the weather dropped to a whooping 5 degrees.

I was pleasantly surprised with the whole process, as the recipe provided by Vegan Brunch asked for only a few ingredients, little labor more than whisking flour, and a slightly sweet, deliciously fluffy pancake!

Top these with a big drench of maple syrup. Hey, when in Vermont you have to take advantage of the staple product!

Classic Pancakes
By Vegan Brunch

1 1/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/3 cup water

1 to 1 1/4 cups plain rice or soy milk

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cooking spray

Directions
Preheat a skillet over medium heat for at least 2 minutes.
Sift all dry ingredients together. Make a well in the middle and pour in all of the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Lumps are okay.
Spray the pan with a light coat of cooking spray. Pour pancakes one at a time and cook until bubbles form and the top looks somewhat dry (about 3 minutes). Flip over and cook for another minute. Stack on plate and serve.