Snow day pancakes

I was surprised to wake up to a very snowy Calgary this morning. Everything is covered in a thick white blanket and it's still coming down hard. Maybe it was the sight of this winter wonderland after a few days of daffodyllic spring, but I was craving something indulgent this morning, something that would go great with a cup of strong black coffee. (I know! See what a few days of jet lag and UK hotel breakfasts will do to me?) I really wanted to make pancakes even though I was lacking a few key ingredients like soy milk and maple syrup. But it's amazing what you can create when you have plain soy yogurt and an internet connection.

The lightest and fluffiest pancakes you'll ever eat
adapted from this recipe

2 c flour
3 tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of sea salt
4 eggs, beaten
1 c plain soy yogurt
1 c water
3 tbsp grapeseed oil

Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. Add the wet to the dry, and stir until the batter is moistened but not smooth (aim for lumpy). Cook as per usual.

This recipe is a real keeper -- the pancakes turned out really thick, but also light and fluffy. As for the syrup, I just simmered a cup of frozen blueberries with some corn syrup, cherry brandy, vanilla, and a cinnamon stick. I used an immersion blender at the end, but left it a bit chunky. I topped the pancakes with some fresh strawberry slices and spooned this syrup on top. The syrup turned out pretty good but I do prefer maple syrup -- must restock. I made a lot of extra pancakes to freeze for future breakfasts. Pop in the toaster and top with fresh fruit and maple syrup -- instant yum.

[Edit: 16 May 2009] I was craving these babies this morning but I didn't have any soy yogurt. Feeling a bit adventurous (or desperate, depending on your point of view) I decided to substitute curdled soy milk, something that I'd never tried before. I added plain soy milk to 1 tbsp white vinegar to make 1 cup, and stirred gently. It curdled slightly but I was skeptical. (I also used a bit less water in the recipe to avoid a too runny batter.) They turned out quite good, light and fluffy and yummy, but not as thick as the ones with yogurt.