Guitars and Chia Pancakes
There’s nothing like starting the day with a plate of warm, spiced Chai Pancakes. These pancakes are not only delicious but also bring a comforting aroma that fills the kitchen. They are perfect for a cozy breakfast, especially with the sweet sounds of a guitar playing in the background.
A Daily Ritual
He plays his guitar in a small room in the basement, cranking out songs from many genres, but always with precision. When we first met, he would sit on a stool in my kitchen in San Antonio and play on a cheap acoustic guitar that he bought down the road while I cooked for the two of us. I thought it was the most romantic thing ever.
Discovering His Talent
It wasn’t until much later in our relationship that I realized what a fantastic guitarist he was. He was a closet musician who was very shy about his talent. When we moved to Colorado, he began to play with local bands and found a groove that mixed camaraderie with his love of music.
The Impact of The Times
Due to COVID, it’s been a long time since he’s played at a venue where he and his bandmates whipped an audience into a fun dancing frenzy—March 5th of last year, to be exact. I still love hearing him play in our basement while I’m cooking in our kitchen. So, this morning, when he came walking upstairs with his guitar still strapped across his chest and then stood in the kitchen eating a plate of Chai Pancakes, I thought this was a pretty good start to our day.
Chai Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- â…› teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 3 eggs separated
- â…› teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ cup chopped walnuts raw or lightly toasted
- 10-12 dates
- Pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Place the flour, sugar, salt, and spices in a large bowl and give them a quick whisk.
- Add the egg yolks, sour cream, vanilla, and milk in a bowl and mix until combined.
- Mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients.
- In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric beater until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the egg whites into the batter.
- Cook on a medium/high griddle or pan lightly coated with butter.
- Ladle the batter onto the hot griddle or pan (I use approximately ½ cup per pancake).
- Allow to cook long enough for bubbles to appear on the tops of the pancakes before flipping them. Cook until golden brown .
- Top with toasted walnuts, dates, and pure maple syrup.
Enjoy!
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I can almost hear the beautiful music, and I can certainly taste these delicious pancakes. Such an interesting combination of tasty ingredients! 🙂
Thank you Debra. I wasn’t sure if the flavors would work, but they turned out really delicious. Happy 2021!