Pumpkin Pancakes and Waffles

Sometimes you have to make a split second decision, and then go with it.  This recipe was like that.  I was mulling over which of the new recipes I should share next and all of a sudden, it popped into my head…make pumpkin pancakes …or waffles.  No.  Wait.  Pancakes AND waffles.  Next thing I knew, I was knee deep in test batches of pumpkin pancakes and waffles.  It was a carbopalooza!

I recently made another split second decision that also landed me knee deep in an interesting situation.

I decided one Saturday morning to go for a walk.  As I was coming up our street, suddenly, a large dog appeared in front of me.  Apparently, he was out for a joyride without his owner.  I managed to grab him by the collar, but had no idea who he belonged to.  I decided to take him home and post his picture on the neighborhood listserve.  Unfortunately, the dog had other ideas.

As hard as I tried to get him up the street to our house, that is how hard he tried to keep running down the street, away from our house.  It was literally an uphill battle. And he was kind of winning.

I did the only thing I could think to do; I called Tim to tell him to bring me one of our dog’s leashes.

Tim: (who was on a call for work) What!?!

Me: Hello to you too.  I need you to drive down the street and bring me Chloe’s leash.  I found a lost dog and I don’t know how much longer I can hold onto him.

Tim:  I’m on a call.  Just bring him home.

Me: Trying, but he kinda outweighs me and is very determined to NOT come home with me.  I think I heard him say, “stranger danger”,

Tim:  where are you ?

Me: down the street

Tim: where down the street?

Me: Seriously? You want an address? Just get in the car and drive. Down The. Street.  I’m pretty sure you’ll recognize me when you see me.  I don’t think anyone else is crouched in the gutter trying to hang onto a gigantic dog who is trying to run and be free.

A few minutes later, Tim arrives and tosses Chloe’s leash out the window.  Still attached to her harness.  And it lands about six inches from the car and about three feet away from me.

Me: Are you kidding me?  How is this helping me?

Tim: making the “Can’t you see I’m on the phone?” gesture.

Me: muttering a variety of curses while looking like I am playing some demented form of twister trying to reach the leash.  Left hand on dog. Right hand on pavement.  Left foot on storm drain, right foot on leash.  Left hip dislocated.

I finally managed to hook the tip of her harness with my toe, unclip the leash, clip it onto the dogs collar and throw the harness back to Tim.  Unfortunately, my aim was no better than his, and it sort of smacked him in the face, earning me the, “ what is wrong with you”look before the dog dragged me down the street and around the corner and Tim drove off.

Ten minutes later, Tim, who was still on the call, came back around the block when I didn’t show up at home.

Tim: What are you doing? I thought you were taking him home?

Me: Yeah, well, he kind of has other ideas.  His bucket  list includes barking and lunging at all other neighborhood dogs, peeing on every leaf he can, and, oh yeah, pulling my arm out of my socket.  He also either does not understand any basic commands or else he knows exactly what I am saying and is just screwing with me.  Hey, this house on the corner has a big dog out in the yard.  Pull your car over to the side and keep it between us and that dog so he can’t see him.  Maybe I can get him up the street and into our garage.

Tim finally decided to be helpful and do as I asked.  Sadly, he did not understand exactly what I needed, because as we lurched forward, he stayed right where he was.

Me: what are you doing?

Tim: I’m between you and the other dog.

Me:  yeah.  If we stand in the same spot all day.  I need you to STAY between us all the way around the corner. By Driving.

Tim: I’m still on the phone

Me: Grrrrr.

I finally wrestled the dog up our driveway to the garage while Tim stopped at the bottom of the drive and watched me trying to punch in the code while holding onto the dog who had not fully committed to a visit.  On the fourth try, I finally got the door open and the dog inside.  Just as the door was closing again, it sprang open.  I looked up in disbelief to see Tim standing there.

Me: Are you kidding me?

Tim: I don’t have a key, so I have to come in this way. And  I’m still on this call.

Me: Seriously???  You sat in the car and watched me try to open the garage while holding onto Wile E Coyote, and then, when I finally convince him to come inside and settle down instead of pulling me around the neighborhood like he’s trying to win the Kentucky Derby, you use the button in the car to open the door so you can come in?  WTH?

Some split second decisions clearly work out better than others.

Ingredients:

• 1  1/2 cups of oat flour ( you can grind up whole rolled oats.  No need to buy special flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 heaping Tablespoons arrowroot
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
•  1/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup almond milk

Directions:

1. Whisk together all dry ingredients in a medium bowl.  Whisk together all wet ingredients in a small bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix with a spoon to combine.
2. Heat the pan if making pancakes or the waffle iron if making waffles while the batter rests.  The batter will get thicker and fluffier as it sits.  Follow directions for your waffle iron.  For pancakes, drop large spoonfuls of the batter into the pan and cook over medium low heat a few minutes on each side till browned.  These pancakes are thick, so you need to cook them at a lower temperature for a bit longer than conventional pancakes.

Enjoy!