A whole lot of random...

My apologies in advance for my random post...but I've been extremely busy the past couple of weeks with school, so I haven't been making exciting meals and haven't been taking many pictures.  Any quick, easy, filling meals are what I've been after.  Fortunately I am a huge fan of quinoa! I've been making large batches of quinoa salad to have as an easy lunch/dinner.  It takes about 30 minutes to throw together, 20 of which are for the quinoa to cook.

This one includes red peppers, cucumber, grape tomatoes, red onion, fresh mint (please include this), roasted corn (roasted in the oven), olives, black beans and feta cheese.  Topped off with a simple vinaigrette of balsamic vinegar, honey and lemon juice.  It's especially good when it has been sitting over night!

Delicious breakfast of oat bran, topped with fresh organic strawberries and cinnamon honey peanut butter (mix of PB2, water, cinnamon and honey - SO GOOD).

This past Saturday, Francis and I enjoyed a sushi lunch at one of our favourite spots in Victoria. It was a bit windy, but beautiful nonetheless.  I had a brown rice, vegetarian roll and it was awesome!

Seriously beautiful.

I decided to get up early (surprise surprise) and get a head start on a nice breakfast for Francis and I.  Since we both had a longggg day of homework ahead of us, a nice big breakfast was the perfect start to our day.

In comes Chai Spiced Pancakes...yes, you heard that right!

Chai Spiced Pancakes:

adapted from joythebaker.com

2 eggs

2 cups flour (I used all purpose, just for Francis...I will use spelt next time)

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

healthy pinch of ground cloves

scant 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon crushed black peppercorns (or a dash of freshly ground black pepper)

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup brewed black chai tea

4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled (I used olive oil margarine - was out of earth balance)

½ teaspoons vanilla extract

oil or cooking spray (for cooking)

Step 1: In a large bowl beat eggs. Add buttermilk, chai tea, butter and vanilla and mix well. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Mix well until mostly smooth. 

Step 2: Heat pan over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of oil to the pan or spray with cooking spray. 

Step 3: Pour roughly 2 Tablespoons of batter onto the griddle. Cook on the first side until bubbles that form start to pop. Flip the pancake over with a spatula and cook until golden brown. 

To be super indulgent, because of course it is the weekend top with earth balance or butter of choice pure maple syrup. Next time I am going to try making a greek yogurt sauce and add fresh fruit. I just wasn't very patient, obviously...

**Note: Put cooked pancakes on a heat proof plate in a 200 degree F oven until ready to serve. My Oma has done this since I was a little girl and I always love to do it because it reminds me of my childhood and having sleepovers at my Oma and Opa's house!**  

Oh, and this makes a LOT of pancakes, which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering they are just as tasty cold, topped with a little nut butter ;)

Well, that's it for the night. Now go on, and make this pancakes :)