We're bananas for banana pancakes

Mmm...don't you just want to dig your fork into those?

We had a double dose of pancakes this weekend -- on Saturday, Banana Oatmeal, and today -- Peanut Butter Pancakes.

Last year, I posted about how much we Rayguns love pancakes and included links to both the banana and peanut butter versions. But I now think I've made some key changes to the Banana Oatmeal Pancake recipe and I want to preserve it for posterity. 

And, may I note, this is a wonderful way to use up an overripe banana or two, without the hassle of baking banana bread.

Shan's Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup wheat germ or ground flaxseed meal
• 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk (vanilla soy milk also works great)
• 1 ripe banana, peeled and mashed
• 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (I usually use honey since I only buy real maple syrup and it's expensive!)
• 1 tablespoon canola oil, plus more for the skillet

1. In a large bowl, stir together flour, wheat germ, oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. (To save time in the morning, you can mix this up the night before!)
2. In a bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add milk, mashed banana, honey (or maple syrup) and 1 tablespoon canola oil and whisk thoroughly.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Lightly grease with canola oil. You know the rest!

We had the best banana pancakes EVER during our honeymoon in Kauai. They were great because there were whole slices cooked into the cakes. I have not been able to recreate that at home, because my slices got scorched. Maybe I should try again. Anyway, if you think you could pull such a technique off, I think that would make these pancakes fantastic.

But as the recipe is written, they're pretty fantastic anyway. Take a look at the evidence:

And guess what else -- you don't actually need eggs for this recipe! I think eggs make the pancakes richer, but I forgot to buy more at the store on Friday, so I found a website that offers some good egg substitutes -- quick fixes you probably already have in your pantry.

Happy pancaking!