In the Kitchen #1 : How to make the perfect pancake and a Simple Vegan "Buttermilk" Pancakes to test your new skills

Now, who doesn't love a good plate of pancakes? I know its hard for me to resist those warm, comforting disks of cakey goodness. Pancakes are versatile and enjoyed but everyone young and old. They are easy to carry and simple to make. You can top them with fruit, fill them will chocolate chips, enjoy them with a bit of maple syrup or even make them savory with herbs and scallions. No matter how you like to have your pancakes, one thing for sure, it's going to be hard to find someone who doesn't enjoy this classic dish.

Though pancakes are simple, when you make them, you have to keep in mind a few rules to make sure you get just the right reaction. There is actually a science to making the perfect pancakes, so I want to leave you with a few tips:

• Always mix the dry ingredients together and the wet ingredients together separately
• When you mix them together but don't overmix the batter otherwise the pancakes will be tough
• Make sure the pan is hot but not too hot
• Only turn the pancakes once (wait for bubbles to form on top and then flip)

As a vegan, I don't use eggs or dairy in my pancakes but I still want to produce the same chemical reaction. I've created a few recipes but the one I came up with this morning has to be the simplest.

Simple Vegan "Buttermilk" Pancakes

Dry
1 cup of flour ( I used whole wheat pastry flour but all purpose works too)
1 3/4 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 tablespoon cream of tartar (if you don't have cream of tartar, 2 tablespoons of baking powder will work instead)
1 tablespoon maple sugar ( or regular cane sugar)
dash of salt

Wet
3/4 cup of plant-based yogurt
1/4 cup water

Directions

1. Combine dry ingredients
2. Combine wet ingredients
3. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients
4. Mix until just combined. Don't over mix.
5. Let batter settle while the pan heats up.
6. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter on to the pan. ( I used nonstick pans but if you don't feel free to smear a small amount of fat on the pan. I recommend a little canola oil on a napkin.)
7. Flip the pancake once a few bubbles form on top.*
8. Remove from pan and put on a plate. Top with maple syrup, fruit, nuts or whatever you'd like.
9. Enjoy!

*If you want to add something in ( i.e. raisins, cholate chips, nuts, etc.) do it right before you flip the pancake over.