Tag: Pancakes

• 20 Hours in Amsterdam

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 10, 2018

  When I originally booked my flight to Scotland, I was scheduled to have a three hour layover in Amsterdam both flying into Scotland, as well as flying home to Seattle. Anything less than this would cause some anxiety for me, because I like to have plenty of time to get from one gate to the next without having to rush. Three hours was literally perfect, but unexpectedly a handful of months after my tickets were purchased I got an email advising me that my flight had changed.

  Oh great, what does that mean?

  My flight to Scotland had remained the same, but my flight home had a longer layover than I was expecting. 17 more hours to be exact. Initially I was peeved, what the hell am I going to do in Amsterdam for 20 hours. After realizing the opportunity this presented I became excited, I now had time to leave the airport and get a brief taste of the Netherlands.

  

  

  In an attempt to prevent overwhelm, something I struggle with, I decided on one activity I knew I needed to do. I needed to visit the Anne Frank House. Growing up the only period of history I had interest in was the Holocaust. I often tuned out when learning about most time periods, but when we talked about the Holocaust in school I was voracious in my studies.

  Tickets for the museum can only be purchased online, so two months prior to our trip I bought the tickets and our reservation was set. Upon arrival in the Netherlands we took a shuttle to our hotel, and then took a bus to the city center of Amsterdam. I was slightly uneasy upon arrival because English is not the native language here, but our bus driver spoke perfect English and was immensely helpful telling us where to go/how to get back after our day.

  We arrived in the Netherlands around 1pm, and our time slot for the museum was at 545pm. 

  

  

  Pictures are not allowed inside the museum, but this was everything I hoped for and more. To be able to walk through the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid was an emotional piece of history I could never fully put into words. Talk about an inspirational human being, I can’t even imagine living through what she lived through.

  After we had our cores shook to the bone, it was time for a pick me up. Right next door to the Anne Frank House is a traditional Dutch pancake house, and ya’ll better believe I needed some caffeine and sugar in my bloodstream. I was enthralled in Scotland when I discovered a churro and gelato shop, and finding a restaurant specific to pancakes (not like IHOP in the states) in Amsterdam was the perfect ending to my Eurotrip.

  

  

  I got the apple crumble pancake with vanilla ice cream and a doppio on the side. The pancakes in the Netherlands are more like crepes, so it’s quite easy to eat your entire pancake…plus the leftovers of your friends. This place was literally called Pancakes Amsterdam and I found this to be very fitting. It was here that I received my only souvenir of the entire trip, a small white wooden clog keychain with the words “Pancakes Amsterdam” on it.

  It was free, and I love free. 

  With a belly full of cakes and veins raging with caffeine it was necessary to walk around the city some more. After all, we had to make best use of our 20 hour layover. By the time we finished with pancakes it was around 8pm and we began to wander with no specific destination in mind. Amsterdam is extremely bike friendly, and even into the dark hours of the night there were so many people out biking. I have never seen so many bikers in my life. If I lived here I’d surely bike along the canals everyday.

  

  Before we arrived in Amsterdam, we would tell people about our layover and the reactions were all very similar. We’d get a laugh, followed by “it’s very different,” followed by an additional laugh. I knew Amsterdam was 420 friendly, but so is my home state so this didn’t phase me (granted it’s still illegal to smoke in public where I live.) One of our Scottish taxi drivers warned us about sex shops as well, but even this was something I could handle.

  What I ended up discovering was far more than I ever expected.

  I like to think I’m a cultured human being. I’ve done my fair share of youth fueled activities that would make my parents cringe (sorry mom and dad), but within the last decade of my life I’ve turned into a quiet homebody. I tell stories of my past and people are shocked, but I like to emphasize that I don’t in fact live under a rock. All this to say I HAD NO IDEA prostitution was actually a thing, and that it was so “out in the open” like it is in Amsterdam. While wandering the streets we decided to follow the crowds, and found ourselves SMACK in the middle of the Red Light District.

  

  Endless windows of women dancing in their underwear, peep shows, sex shows, sex shops, “coffee shops” aka bar like settings where people smoke weed and drink alcohol. I was emotionally dumbfounded and was so beyond the point of overwhelm. Despite being culturally out of place, it was like a car crash that you just couldn’t stop watching. The oddest part was that this is completely normal in their country, and after a short period of time it started to feel less taboo.

  People were everywhere and most everyone seemed unfazed, which was contagious.

  That’s not to say I wasn’t continuously shocked that this was normal, but it was interesting to see how starkly different one culture is to the next. In America this is so unbelievably illegal, yet in the Netherlands it’s not only legal, but almost felt like it was normal. Some people come to Amsterdam for the “coffee shops” and sex shows, but I’ll be going back for the waffle shops and bike canals. I can only handle so much, and my drug of choice will always be sugar.

  

  Around every corner there are shops with waffles covered in whatever your heart desires, and candies and cookies, and pizza. It makes sense with so many “coffee shops” that people get the munchies, but I had eaten myself silly with pancakes, ice cream, and endless samples of Tony’s Chocolonely that I couldn’t stomach anymore food despite my desire to continue binge eating sugar (yes it’s a problem, no I don’t want to talk about it.)

  My one regret is not buying a damn waffle to bring with me on the plane the following morning. 

  The busses run 24/7 in Amsterdam, and we arrived back at our hotel around midnight. Our flight was around 10am giving us plenty of time to digest what we had seen and what we ate on our quick adventure in the city. Although if I’m being honest, I’ve still not fully digested the Red Light District…it’s truly something you have to see for yourself to fully grasp. I’ve seen so many things I cannot unsee. **Disclaimer: I DID NOT see any live shows…I’m simply referring to the (barely) clothed women in the windows.

  

  Such a welcoming bright shop with so much sugar.

  I’ll definitely return to Amsterdam to explore more of the museums and cultural history, but I don’t anticipate needing more than three days here. Let’s be real though, I’m mainly going back to eat as many waffles as I can. What can I say, I’m a glutton for punishment, and I don’t know the meaning of portion control.

  And just like that, my second trip to Europe was complete. 

  

  PC: feedmetasy IG

  Q: Had you heard of the Red Light District? 

  

  | 25 Comments Tagged Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Biking, Europe, Pancakes, Red Light District

• Banana Buckwheat “Hikecakes”

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 17, 2017

  So this happened last week. 

  

  The thing is I used to really dislike when it snowed. Borderline despised it. The snow either put a damper on my plans, or caused me anxiety because I “had to drive in it.” Before my current HR job with Starbucks I’d worked in customer service. When you’re scheduled to work in a job like that, your team relies on you to be there. There were many times I drove to work in the snow when I should have stayed home.

  I had momentary thoughts that there wasn’t quite enough snow for me to call out. How often do we tell ourselves something isn’t enough, when really it has far surpassed any quantifiable amount? Or rather it’s not something that needs a defining amount at all?

  It’s not that my job now doesn’t need me, or that I enjoy abandoning my team, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized it’s OK to put your safety before anything else. My commute to Seattle would have made for a treacherous adventure in this, and despite the twinge of guilt I felt for staying home, I relished in the joy of this white blanket of death.

  

  I slowed down. I savored coffee. I reflected. I found the beauty in the snow. The above photo pointed out the multiple difference species of trees that surround my house. There are five showcased in this photo, but there are more in the surrounding panoramic view. I stared at these trees for many long minutes, thinking about how thankful I am to live in a place like this.

  The snow held strong the following few days, and by day three I was ready for it to go. For me snow is best kept in the mountains, where I have a choice to spend time with it or not. Regardless I enjoyed my extra day away from work, giving me a total of six days off. Oh how I love working part time.

  

  Slowing down and staying inside inspired me to test out a new pancake recipe. I don’t often create new recipes these days for a myriad of reasons, but I was determined to find one that my body would handle. I often have to trade presentation and texture for taste, or vice versa, but I found a combination of ingredients that made my soul sing.

  Living with an autoimmune disease is a constant adventure in determining what foods will work with me, and what foods won’t. I’m at a place now on this journey where I no longer work myself into a tizzy of stress over my new lifestyle, and instead I take each challenge as a test of character. The best part about the pancakes I’ve been making is that they’re vegan, gluten free, and refined sugar free, yet they don’t taste like cardboard.

  

  They’re easy, they hold well, and they’re tasty. What they’re not is low calorie, but the beauty of using real food is that the calorie count doesn’t matter. These are my new go to hiking fuel, and for that I call these “hikecakes.” They won’t taste like pancake house cakes, but they do the job.

  All you’ll need are six ingredients, and a high speed blender (or food processor.) I wanted to find a combination of ingredients that allowed me to avoid adding sugar, and to avoid adding baking soda/powder. The sodium content of both baking soda and baking powder adds up quick and sodium is not something I handle well. A scoop of plant based pea protein provided enough sodium to give a good texture, without the added facial swelling.

  

  Banana Buckwheat Hikecakes

  Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup full fat coconut milk (from a can with NO added ingredients)
  • 1/3 cup + 1.5 tblsp H20
  • 1 medium overripe banana
  • 1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup buckwheat flour
  • 1 scoop pea protein (I use this brand because it’s one ingredient)
  • cinnamon (I don’t measure this, it’s dependent on preference IMO.)
  • coconut oil (for the pan)

  

  Directions

  Combine coconut milk, water, and banana in a high speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add in the remaining ingredients one at a time in the order listed above, blending each before adding the next. Add more water in half tablespoon increments if necessary. Depending on the size of your banana you may need more water. Be careful not to overdo it with the water though, your hikecake texture should be thick, but it should still move.

  

  Heat a non stick pan with a glob of coconut oil and pour batter into pan, batter makes around three circular cakes slightly larger than a sand dollar. Be sure not to overdo it with the oil in the pan, but put enough to ensure the cakes won’t stick.

  Tasting notes: because these are only sweetened with a banana I added some frozen berries to mine with a drizzle of pure maple syrup. The maple syrup is optional, but I find it necessary. If you’d like to sweeten the cake itself you can swap out the tablespoons of water for maple syrup. If you don’t want to use protein powder you can add a couple tablespoons more of flour, but I make no promises on texture.

  

  Optional pairing: A piping hot cup of coffee, preferable a Latin American blend with a full body and strong cocoa and nutty notes. I’ve been pairing my hikecakes with Starbucks Organic Yukon Blend and the balance of flavors work wonderfully together.

  That’s all I’ve got for today! Just helpin ya’ll out for the upcoming pancake Sunday.

  Q: What’s your go to pancake recipe?

  

  | 46 Comments Tagged Gluten Free, Pancakes, Plant Based, Recipe, Snow, Sugar Free, Vegan

• Blueberry/Banana Oatcakes

  Posted at 3:41 AM by Brittany, on April 18, 2014

  Whenever I increase my running distances, my appetite goes up too. Go figure right? I find that I get by fine on shorter runs with a big bowl of fruit, but sometimes I like to add just a little bit more into my tank before jetting out the door.

  

  Pancakes are a classic breakfast for “lazy mornings,” but I had a 5 miler planned which turned these pancakes into power oatcakes. Plus, they are thick and packed with goodness.

  

  Running takes effort, but making these oatcakes was easy. I used one bowl and cleanup was easy. Once my pan was ready to go it took less than 10 minutes to make these. Don’t be fooled, these are not your grandmas light and fluffy pancakes. They are meant for a morning full of adventure and movement. I was full for hours!

  Blueberry/Banana Oatcakes

  
  Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup quick cook oats
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tblsp brown sugar
  • 1 tblsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 flax egg (1 tblsp flax + 3 tblsp warm water)
  • 1 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup frozen blueberries

  

  Directions

  1. Prepare your flax egg and set aside.
  2. Combine your flour, oats, salt, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a medium sized bowl and combine well.
  3. Add in your flax egg, almond milk, and vanilla and stir until combined. Fold in your blueberries.
  4. Use a well sprayed pan or skillet and depending on how large you want your pancakes pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan and cook until brown on each side.
  5. Top with bananas and maple syrup. I also added some almond butter to mine!

  

  These powered me through my run, and a shopping trip to Costco. Booya! It’s officially that time of year where running is once again enjoyable. I love spring running!

  Q: Do you like fluffy pancakes, or dense pancakes? I like both, but for different occasions!

  

  | 30 Comments Tagged Pancakes, Recipe, Run, Running, Spring, Vegan

• Exploring DC

  Posted at 4:07 AM by Brittany, on April 3, 2014

  I had never been to DC before, so being a typical tourist I was more than happy to tromp around in the snow to be able to see the sights of a new town. I was swooning so hard over the buildings and have more than enough photos to show for it, but first – pancakes. Megan and I found a recipe that I happily slaved for hours ten minutes to create.

  

  

  These were too legit to quit. SO bomb. Gluten/dairy/& egg free. Perfect exploration fuel.

  

  

  I don’t know many other people that would gladly walk in the snow just to explore, and for that I adore Megan to pieces. She also happens to be a fantastic action photographer…

  

  

  

  I really had my heart set on riding one of these bikes, I wish my town had the bike share option. Instead, I need to just BUY A BIKE already! We of course found the White House, and the Washington Monument. Obama invited us to brunch, but I was set on Woodlands.

  

  

  Found a few free museums to wander into.

  

  

  

  

  Meet Paul, my new boyfriend.

  

  I hate snow more than anyone, but this gray snowy day sure made for some fun photos. I didn’t dare carry my dSLR though, so the iPhone had to suffice. Such a charming city.

  Q: Have you ever been to DC?

  

  | 39 Comments Tagged Adventure, Bloggers, DC, Exploring, Pancakes, Random, Snow, Vegan

• Brownie Protein Pancakes

  Posted at 8:02 AM by Brittany, on September 10, 2013

  Sometimes when I have a day off from work, I like to make myself a legit breakfast. Yesterday was no exception. Below are some of the best pancakes I have ever created..hands down. I don’t make pancakes often, but when I do I go big. I’ve done classic pancakes, I’ve done pumpkin pancakes (I could eat pumpkin pancakes every day), but this time I wanted something different…something new..something…chocolate.

  Brownie Protein Pancakes

  

  Once I took this first photo, I realized I needed a better presentation plate. The dark pancakes blend in too much with the dark plate.

  Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk (and then some more after everything is combined)
  • 1 tblsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 AND 1/8 cup of whole wheat flour (just go with this, my math skills suck)
  • 1/8 cup vanilla rice protein
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tblsp raw sugar
  • pinch of salt

  

  Then once I grabbed a white plate the bananas got “washed out” by the color contrast.

  Directions

  1. Mix milk, oil, and vanilla in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Mix together the flour, protein, baking powder, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt in a separate bowl until well combined.
  3. Add the liquid mix to the dry mix and stir until well mixed. You will need a bit more milk at this stage because they batter came out a bit thick. Add enough milk to thin the batter a bit.
  4. Scoop mix onto a lightly greased skillet and cook one side until you can easily slide a spatula underneath to flip. Same for the other side.

  

  I was not expecting these pancakes to taste like brownies, but they did. Hence the name brownie pancakes. I thought they would taste like chocolate, but I didn’t realize I would be face planting into a pile of dessert for breakfast. These were amazing.

  

  I’ve always wanted a pouring syrup photo, I clearly need more practice.

  These were gooey, delicious, and perfect for one person. I gobbled up every last bite of these brownie like cakes. I’ll be adding this recipe to my mental cookbook. In the end, the first photo with the dark plate turned out to be my favorite. Go figure.

  Q: What’s your favorite pancake flavor?

  

  | 68 Comments Tagged Chocolate, Pancakes, Recipe, Vegan

• Pancake Tower

  Posted at 6:26 AM by Brittany, on June 8, 2013

  I am a firm believer that a picture can speak a thousand words.

  

  Take these sky high pancakes for example. I don’t need to tell you that these were delicious, moist, decadent, amazing, FILLING, and some of the best pancakes I have ever eaten. The picture does an excellent job describing all of that to you on its own!

  I’ve been craving pancakes like crazy the past couple weeks. I haven’t had pancakes in months, and I consider pancakes to be the epitome of a lazy morning breakfast. In a good way. After discovering I had all the ingredients I needed, I finally made myself a tower.

  Classic Fluffy Vegan Pancakes

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 tbsp raw sugar
  • 2 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 cup vanilla almond milk
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp apple sauce
  • 2.5 tsp vanilla
  • cinnamon

  

  Directions: Combine your dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl combine your wet ingredients and then add them to the dry ingredients. Stir together until there are no visible clumps. I took cinnamon and completely covered the top of the wet mixture. No measurements, just a LOT of cinnamon! Stir the cinnamon in and cook!

  You can choose how big to make these, but once they start to form bubbles flip them over to cook the other side. Serve with bananas and maple syrup, or any other fruit/toppings you would like! All I was missing was some coconut whipped cream!

  

  I am almost ashamed to tell you I ate this entire batch by myself..almost. What can I say I was hungry and these were so good, but you already knew that from the pictures. 😉

  

  I do have a confession though, I like my pancakes a little…mushy. I LOVE pumpkin pancakes because they come out so soft and almost like they are under cooked. I took these pancakes off the griddle just a tad bit early to have some softness on the inside.

  

  That’s the joy of eating the whole batch, you can make them however you want! To really heighten your lazy morning experience, I highly suggest serving these with a cup of coffee.

  

  Q: Pancakes or waffles? WAFFLES for sure, but I don’t have a waffle maker haha. When it comes to waffles I like mine CRISP, no mush with the waffles. 

  

  | 66 Comments Tagged Breakfast, Coffee, Pancakes, Vegan

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