Chase away the Blues with Coconut Pancakes

This weekend Georgia's been away in the Big Easy for the big American Planning Association conference (and JazzFest as the case may be) leaving me to fend for myself with the Blues of a different color. It's the first weekend we've been apart since we started dating in 2007. Lonely is an understatement. On another note, she's left me a short "honey-do" list that mainly consists of vacuuming and maybe finishing what's left of the laundry. Yesterday I took Lily (our now 2 yr old black Lab) for a great hike on the AT in Dauphin Co. which means today, I must vacuum. Georgia won't be home until late Tuesday night, but I know I won't have any motivation to clean tomorrow or Tuesday after work.

But before I could embark on my husbandly duties, I needed a pick-me-up to get going and take my mind off missing G. Often on Sunday mornings we'll cook breakfast together and nine times out of ten, it's pancakes.

(As a side bar, I LOVE coconut! I can't get enough of it, so much so that my birthday cake this year was a chocolate-coconut confection whipped up by Georgia that was something like an Almond Joy cake. So, of course, I made coconut pancakes from the leftover coconut extract and flakes.)


We had perfected our pancake recipe about a year or so ago based on the one in G's indispensible fav, The Joy of Cooking. Originally composed for Banana Walnut Pancakes, I switched out the 'nanners and nuts for the Coconut. I used unsweetened, organic coconut flakes and coconut extract and reduced the amount of sugar that our original recipe called for too, as I do battle with my ever-persistent sweet-tooth.


The result was a resounding success! I dined al fresco with French-pressed coffee courtesy our recently purchased Bodum press as Edith Pilaf serenaded me via the iPod. I texted Georgia down in New Orleans sending her pictures of the scene so she could feel like she were there. A poor substitute for the real thing, but it'll have to do until her return with a promise to make more pancakes for her if I've finished all of the ones from today. And I still have to vacuum!


Coconut Pancakes

Dry Ingredients:
1 cup white all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
2 tsps baking powder
2 tsps baking soda
1 cup organic coconut flakes (unsweetened)
pinch of salt

Wet Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups milk
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp coconut extract
2 tbs melted butter

Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients. Pour wet ingredients over the dry, mixing gently until lumpy.

Spoon batter onto griddle on medium heat, cook until top is bubbling then flip. Cook other side until lightly browned. Remove promptly with a spatula into a warm oven until all are prepared. Serve with syrup and butter. Enjoy!