Easy Two Ingredient Flourless Pancakes and Waffles

I always called the kitchen at my parent's house the "heart" of the house. That was a place where we typically gathered to have family discussions and shared meals together. Believe me, my mom made it a point for the whole family to eat together for dinner every night!

She cooked meals from scratch as much as possible, even after a long day at work, when I could tell she wanted nothing more but to sit down and be done with any kind of responsibilities that anyone expected from her. I still miss those home cooked meals when I am feeling down or sick in bed.

On Saturdays and Sundays, my mom could once again be found in the kitchen, making a big breakfast for us. The aroma that came from the "heart" of our house filled the air and I knew it was time for us to get out of bed. I remember waking up to the smell of homemade pancakes cooking on the stove. The smell of the pancakes and other breakfast food would seep through my bedroom door, causing my stomach to grumble and push me out of bed.

Now that I think about it, it was not only dinner time when she wanted us to all sit together but on the weekends, too. The weekend mornings moved slower and we usually were not in a rush to leave the house. It was the perfect time to eat, talk and relax at the kitchen table without constantly glancing at the clock.

One of my favorite things to eat for breakfast became waffles and pancakes, not from a box, but from a homemade batter. She usually had that cooking along with bacon, sausage or ham, eggs and grits. The kitchen was the heart of the house, containing all the memorable moments because my mom's love thrived there, as she was the heart of the family.

Now that I cook for my own family, I want to make more recipes from scratch, too. One of the pancake recipes I am now obsessed with, (thanks to my husband who heard about it), is a simple, no effort recipe to make flourless pancakes. It only requires two basic ingredients: bananas and eggs. I first tried it using only those two ingredients but have now made it a few more times using different toppings and ingredients to mix into the batter.

I changed the recipe a bit to also make flourless waffles. Since we have a mini waffle maker, my kids love making mini ice cream sandwiches with the waffles.

To keep the recipe all-natural and on the healthier side, however, I would suggest sticking with the basic eggs and bananas ingredients. If you feel the need to add more, only add in natural, healthy food ... instead of powdered sugar, ice cream and sprinkles, which I admit, I do make for my kids occasionally.

Although, if you are looking for a sweet treat that is a little on the unhealthy side, then go ahead and add in some ice cream, whip cream or chocolate chips!

Waffles are a popular breakfast and brunch food for many people around the world because they are easy to make, require minimal ingredients, and taste delicious! Here are some interesting facts about waffles and their history:

• Waffles date back to the Neolithic Age (ca. 6000 B.C.E. to ca. 2000 B.C.E.).
• 1964: “Belgian waffles” debut at the New York World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens.
• March 25th: International Waffle Day
• August 24th: National Waffle Day
• Second week of September: National Waffle Week

Visit The Nibble for more facts and a historical timeline about waffles. They include more creative recipe ideas for waffles, as well.

Like waffles, pancakes are a popular and favorite breakfast food around the world, as well. They are loved by adults and children alike. Similar to waffles, they have been around for a long time, too.

According to TribToday.com,:

• "The first pancakes can date back to Ancient Greek. Since the 6th century, pancakes have been an important part of any Greek person's breakfast. The first recorded mention of pancakes comes from the poet Cratinus who described warm pancakes in one of his writings. In Greece, pancakes are called taginites."
• The French call their thin pancakes, crepes. They can be filled with anything, such as spinach and fish and often, are commonly served for lunch and dinner.
• "Pancake Day, or, as we know it, Marti Gras. As we all know, Marti Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent."

Bananas have multiple benefits for your health that include:

• Boosting your energy
• Boosts your spirits
• Boosts your brainpower

Bananas also have other benefits aside from just health benefits that you may not know about:

• Banana peels can reduce itching and swelling associated with bug bites, like mosquito bites.
• Banana peels can be good plant fertilizer to some plants like rose bushes
• Banana peels can help get rid of a wart on your body by wrapping the peel around it.

For more details on these benefits, visit Lifescript - Healthy Living for Women.

One egg is packed with various vitamins and health benefits that include:

• Vitamin A
• Biotin
• Protein
• Folic Acid
• Potassium

In the article, "Health Benefits of Eggs," the editors of PureHealthMD state, "Very few foods share the same diverse nutrient makeup available in a single egg. Many of these are specifically needed for the health of the nerves and the brain."

You can find more information on their website, How Stuff Works.

I included this video on how to make Indian style waffles (Credited to Eat East India) for International Waffle Day that is celebrated March 25th.

In this day and age, life seems to move faster, giving us little time to enjoy the small things. Even on the weekends, my family seems to be rushing off somewhere, particularly since my husband now works every Saturday. I think that is why it is even more important to keep up the tradition to stop and take time to come together around the table, either for breakfast or dinner, with your family.

I realize now why my mom made such an effort to have us sit around the kitchen; to be able to talk, reconnect and share a simple meal. Since life for us seems to only be moving faster with more hectic schedules, I am always looking for ways to make things easier, especially with the time it takes to prepare and cook meals.

This simple and quick recipe for flourless waffles and pancakes are almost effortless and is a great idea for breakfast, brunch or dinner that will bring your family together or you can eat it on your own for a quick meal. Enjoy!

©BNadyn 2014