Now, hear me out, waking up and making homemade pancakes isn't everyone's jam nor would I expect it to be. I'm a fool who loves cooking, experimenting, freestyling recipes and bringing them to you. And a lot of folks who are on their own personal journey to cook and feel well may be intimidated by all this cooking I do ... but I don't want you to be. Not for one minute because I've got you.

Instead of looking at this post and thinking, "Shit, that's pretty but it seems like a lotta work - bye, Felicia." Try reframing your words as, "I'm gonna try making 1 new thing this week that makes getting in my kitchen a good time." Cooking is to be done in small steps and growing from there and there's no better place to start than with breakfast, the start of our day people AND WITH PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANAS. What, what?!?!

Here are some newbie kitchen rules I like to stick to:

Building habits begins with starting in 1 place, start with breakfast
If you're anxious to stop bitchin' and get in the kitchen, try making 1 new breakfast recipe if you're ready to go beyond toast
COOKING + FEELING WELL IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN, NOT TORTURE
Play music and dance your ass off
Don't expect that making these pancakes will change your life or waistline on day 1, we gotta get to the bottom of some real talk to move in that direction and getting cooking will help open you up, I know it - I did the work
Be kind to yourself, you're trying and you've got this - and I've got your back, your butt, your side, your everything

These pancakes are a quick to make in one bowl and happen to be dairy and gluten free. They can also be made vegan by using an egg substitute and I've got notes on that below.

Please note that I'm not dairy or gluten free because I love cheese and the proteins found in wheat that stick to my intestines and colon every once in a while. I'm part of a moderation movement, meaning all food is to be eaten so long as your fine ass is enjoying it. I didn't lose 160 lbs and keep it off by limiting my food and life, but by asking myself why I needed more or excess of everything in my life - as in, "Why you gotta stuff down your feelings, Tina, again?" I took the time to think about what made me feel good, what got my motor running so I could head out on the highway. Hi, I'm Tina. I'm corny and I love to cook. And dance my ass off in the kitchen and at a wedding.

Back to pancakes ...

I keep it real with my recipes to accommodate everyone on this great big earth because for those that are vegan, I want them to come here and see food they can make. For those that are DF and GF, I want them to have the same. And for those who want to experiment with alternative recipes that make your body feel like a luxury car, well, I wanna welcome ya'll too.

And I just typed ya'll, a clear indicator that I'm typing this from the South.

Here's to uniting everyone's needs in one place, to cooking, eating well and most of all feeling well. We're all in this world together, trying to be our best and healthiest selves.

Get in the kitchen. Try something new. Sit + plate pretty.

XO

Ingredients

3 bananas, sliced, reserving a few for serving (so only about 2 ½ go in your batter)
1 T coconut oil
4 heaping T of peanut butter
1 egg + 1 yolk
Dash vanilla extract
Dash of salt
½ tsp baking powder
2 T flax meal
1 T coconut flour *sure you can sub the flax meal or coconut flour for one or the other and not mix but I was using what I had in that bottom drawer
Chocolate chips *sprinkle on each individual pancake while on the griddle

Method

Heat oven to 250 degrees, this is gonna be your holding place for some hot pancakes as you're whippin' and flippin'
Place bananas in a food processor and blend until smooth
Add eggs, vanilla, coconut oil + peanut butter - blend until mixed well
Add dash of salt, baking powder, flax meal + coconut flour - blend and spoon into a large bowl
Heat griddle on medium flame, using butter or non-stick spray to coat
Spoon batter on to griddle, spacing with enough room to flip - add chocolate chips at the point *DO NOT crowd the griddle! These delicate delights need space to be flipped without breaking and making a mess
When small bubbles form in the center/when edges look set - gently flip + cook until set - another minute or two
As pancakes are done, I place them in a Pyrex dish + pop ‘em in a 250 degree oven to keep 'em hot for serving
Layer up, plate, top as you please, blow ya mind!

Notes + Swaps

Vegan? Use an egg substitute. Bob's Red Mill makes one as does a brand called Ener-G.
Make these on a WEEKEND MORNING WHEN YOU HAVE TIME! That way you can make batch and freeze (wrapping each pancake individually in plastic wrap) so you can reserve and warm up on weekday mornings. Or eat them for dinner, if you're me

Banana Peanut Butter Pancakes + Notes On Cooking