I seem to be going through a bit of a Gluten Free pancake phase at the moment. I don't have any issues with gluten particularly, but avoiding it in certain recipes, like pancakes and pasta, sure does may me feel less bloated afterwards.
For the choc chips in this recipe, I used Cacao Nibs, but you could sub in your favourite choc chips of choice, or some crushed dark chocolate pieces.
I also smothered them in a lot more chocolate sauce after this photo, layed them flat on a bigger plate and added more strawberries. But purely for photographic purposes, I like them this way.
I've also been loving darker backgrounds lately for my photos. Even though we have just moved in to Spring here in Australia. Fortunately, with social media and the inter webs you could be from anywhere in the world, so let's just pretend I'm making them for those of you in the colder climates :) It will never be too hot here for me to have pancakes. That's why they invented air-conditioning right! They hold a special place in my heart, and my stomach.
This is my first blog post, since I hit 100,000 followers on Instagram too. It was quite a moment this week. All though it's never about a number, it's still an honour.
I remember vividly how excited I was just to get 100 followers, since I don't know that many people! And then 1,000 was huge... So 100,000 just feels a bit bizarre, and definitely daunting, as if I suddenly have a lot of expectation on me to deliver something amazing. Like most things, it's all self-inflicted pressure, and nothing to do with anyone else. I imagine all of those people in a room staring at me, and it just seems crazy that so many people are even mildly interested in what I'm doing.
But overall, I'm just so happy to have been introduced to so many people that I just love talking to everyday. Food photography can be a very lonely experience, and moving away from work takes away the social aspects of saying Hi to my team every morning, and chatting in the tea room, or over lunch. I knew that part would be tough for me. All though I am an introvert, and quite comfortable with my own company, I do still like chatting to close friends, and those I feel comfortable with. So once the kids are at school and my husband is at work, it can be eerily quiet sometimes.
So I understand the connection and the joy that comes from speaking to likeminded people. People interested in getting healthy, eating better, exercising more, or discussing the ins and outs of Lightroom or camera lenses, props and Op Shops. None of my real life friends could care less about such things. It's just an amazing world of people, that I just wish all lived nearby.
One by one, I'll make my way around to all the people I want to meet. So that's exciting in itself.
Anyway... On to the pancakes. I hope you give them a go
Jo xx
Choc Chip Gluten Free Vegan Pancakes
(Serves 1)
1/4 cup buckwheat flour
1 Tbsp rice flour
2 Tbsp Arrowroot (Tapioca) flour
1 egg replacer (Orgran brand)
1/2 tsp bicarb soda (baking soda)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp coconut oil (liquid)
Natural sweetener to taste (e.g. Stevia, rice malt syrup, coconut sugar)
1/3 cup almond milk, coconut water or water (to consistency)
Mix well in a bowl.
Cook in a non stick pan over medium low for a couple of minutes each side
Top with fresh fruit and drizzle with your favourite sauce or syrup
Choc Sauce
1 Tbsp Cacao powder
1 tsp coconut oil
Rice malt syrup to your taste
Boiling water to consistency
Mix well