Vegan Gingerbread Pancakes with Pear Apple Cranberry Compote

12/20/2018

The holidays are almost here. Another year has come and gone, and 'tis the time of reflecting on the year in hopes that the following year will be one of growth, change and progression.

No matter where you are in your life's journey, just know that life has good things in store for you....just like these pancakes. A combination of sweetness and gingerly spice, these holiday pancakes are perfect as is, or with a nice fruity compote on top.

“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing, but of reflection.” ―Winston Churchill

For me pancakes are nostalgic. I remember my mother cooking my sister and I pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears or a bunny's head. After visiting Chicago the last couple days, I reflected on my last visit to Chicago during graduate school in February 2009. I visited on my 24th birthday. Now 33, my life has changed a lot over the last nine years.

It's been nice and sweet (just like these pancakes) to come home and visit the Midwest with a new set of eyes. I compared and contrast pictures of myself on the bridges of Chicago from 2009 versus 2018, and realized how important bridges are in our life, just like Christmas.

“Christmas is a bridge. We need bridges as the river of time flows past. Today’s Christmas should mean creating happy hours for tomorrow and reliving those of yesterday.” ―Gladys Taber

For some Christmas is just another day. For other's it's the most important day of the year. Like the day of love, everyday should be Valentine's Day, just like the spirit of Christmas should stay with us yearlong. Though not always possible, it is possible to have awareness to remember whenever we need a bridge in life, we can tap into our inner world to discover the future while reflecting on the past.

I wish you + your family and loved ones a very
Merry Christmas!

Vegan Gingerbread Pancakes with Pear Apple Cranberry Compote
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Makes: 11 Pancakes

Pancake Ingredients:
1 cup pastry flour
2 tbsp brown sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp all spice
pinch of salt
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1 flax egg (mix 2 tbsp flax meal w/ 1/3 cup water)
1 cup + 2 tbsp nondairy milk
1.5 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp canola oil
1/8 tsp fresh ginger, grated

Compote Ingredients:
3 cups fresh cranberries
2 pears, chopped
1 apple, chopped
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 large navel orange squeezed.

Pancakes:
In a bowl, make the flax egg and set aside. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix the remaining wet ingredients in with the flax egg and pour into the dry ingredients. Mix until combined. If too lumpy, add more milk. If too runny add more flour.

Heat a skillet and spray with cooking spray or use vegan butter. Once hot, ladle the batter onto the tap in a circle. Once bubbling, flip and cook until the pancake slides, or is easily lifted with the spatula. Spray the skillet again and continue until the batter is gone.

Compote:
Heat a skillet on medium heat and mix the ingredients in the pan. Once the cranberries pop, start mashing the compote with a fork. Lower the heat slightly and cook until thick and jelly-like.

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