"Perfect" Plum Pudding Pancakes

*Note* I decided not to edit my photos today...I'm working on just letting things "be" and not worrying about perfection as much here.

This morning I woke up with the blissful feeling of having nothing planned for the day.  No where else to be, no appointments or rigid schedule.  For the past couple of weeks, each day has been full to the brim.  Luckily, they've been full of great things -- learning, teaching, healing, and growing.  Still, there's something beautiful and liberating about having a free day, a day to linger in the kitchen, to read a good book, and go for a leisurely walk with friends.

 Despite having nothing urgent or pressing to do, I still woke at 5:30 am, excited to have a yoga and meditation practice without time constraints.  I've been thoroughly enjoying supplementing my own personal practice with one of a few videos from Meghan Currie on myyogaonline.com.  (If you'd like to try myyogaonline.com, click here for a free 2 week trial period)  She moves with such fluid grace that it inspires me to be more creative in my own practice, while also paying close attention to form.  A component of the yoga teacher training program that I am participating in is to establish a daily practice, and it feels so fantastic to know that I need to make this a part of my mornings -- it removes any guilt that I may feel if I think I should be doing something else.  I feel so refreshed when I start my day with yoga and meditation -- it's  such a lovely part of my life.

I always make a super tiny pancake so I can taste it before the others!

 After working up an appetite, I went into the kitchen, knowing that I had plenty of time to cook up a creative breakfast.  I had made these muffins with a plum yesterday evening, and had one luscious black plum left over that was begging to be eaten.  While I'm usually not one to buy or eat fruit besides apples, I couldn't resist these plums and decided they'd make a tasty treat to savor.  This morning, I decided to continue the playfulness of my yoga practice and just make up a pancake of sorts -- one that was warm, full of flavor, yet soft and delicate. I wanted a pudding pancake hybrid.  Somehow, exactly what I was looking for happened -- how fun it is to play and have experiments work out!

"Perfect" Plum Pudding Pancakes

• 1 teaspoon ground flax seed, mixed with 1 teaspoon boiling water
• 1 tablespoon gluten free all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• small pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1 plum, diced finely
• oil for your skillet

Heat up a cast iron skillet or stir-fry pan on medium heat with a tablespoon or so of oil.  In a small bowl, mix together ingredients, taking care to fold in the diced plum so as not to lose the integrity of the flesh.  Using a serving spoon, cook the "pudding pancakes" until they are dark brown on one side, and flip until the same color is achieved on the other side.  The goal of these "pancakes" was to be soft and luscious, so be prepared for a different experience than IHOP pancakes!  Drizzle with maple syrup, or smear with apple sauce.  Makes 6-8 small cakes, enough for one main breakfast or to split if being paired with something else.

What would you do if you had a whole day free?