Crusted Banana Pancakes- An epic kitchen encounter.

Chocolate goes with pancakes right? And coconut, well that's a no-brainer. That's what I thought this morning when this epic kitchen encounter took place.

Here's the recipe along with a couple photos :

1 1/4 cups sifted wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
Dash of salt
1 beaten egg
1 cup milk - you can sub in 50% half and half if you feel like it
3 (or 4) tablespoons butter- real unsalted butter. Never sub in margarine or other fake spreads.
1 1/2 fresh, but ripe bananas cut into slices (or chunks if your 4 yr old is helping)



Now for the interesting stuff:
Raw organic unsweetened coconut flakes - fine, not big flakes (Notice the recycled Adam's PB jar. You can buy this stuff in bulk at the Co-op)
Green and Black's dark baking cocoa- or whatever brand you prefer.

Here's what you do:
1)Mix equal parts of the cocoa and coconut in a small dish and set off to the side.
2)Mix all dry ingredients in a medium to largish bowl (to prevent over-splash)
3) Combine all wet ingredients in a Pyrex pitcher, (you know, the glass thing you measure milk and other stuff in) and whisk the egg til it's mixed in.
4)Melt the butter and pour into the wet container.
5) Mix the wet ingredients into bowl with dry stuff. Whisk until pretty smooth

The best thing to use for pancakes is a stainless steel electric skillet. (I may post a review on our Carico skillet that we got when we first got married, it's great.) Just make sure it's nice and hot.

Drop a couple big spoonfuls of batter in the hot pan, then place pieces of banana on top of the batter and let them sink in as it cooks.

Now for the fun part! Grab a couple finger fulls of the cocoa-coconut mixture and sprinkle over the top of the bananas and batter, then flip the pancake and push down slightly with the spatula. It should only need to cook another 20 or 30 seconds and then serve!

Be sure to flip it back over to display the wonderful golden bananas and brown crust from the cocoanut mixture.

Top with almond butter and agave syrup.

This makes for a delightful flavor encounter that kids and adults will love.

Please post your comments.