Carrot Cake Oatmeal Pancakes

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)

1 egg, beaten

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Butter or oil for the griddle

1/2 cup grated carrots ***make it Rasberrys-like by subbing sweet potato, parsnip or strained apple***

Maple syrup, butter, extra carrots and chopped nuts for topping (optional)

Grind oats in a blender for a few seconds, until they have a flour-like texture. Combine the oats, milk and egg; let sit for 10 minutes. Stir in baking powder, spices and vanilla.

Heat a griddle or skillet over medium. Spray with oil or melt a pat of butter. For each pancake, drop and spread a scant 1/4 cup of batter into a 4-inch round. Sprinkle evenly with about 1 1/2 Tbsp grated carrots.

Cook pancakes, three at a time, until small bubbles form and pop on the top. Flip, and cook 1 to 2 minutes more until golden on the other side. Serve warm with desired toppings. Makes 2 servings.

Source: April 2021 Costco Connection, recipe by Marisa Moore.

Container Gardening in Sun Valley, Idaho

While we all may not have acres of land, growing is a summer pastime with so many benefits. Containers come in all shapes and sizes and add beauty just as the green things they grow. Clay pots are attractive and sustainable and we mostly use this type. Many veggies flower and are a pretty compliment to non-edibles in a shared container.

A few key considerations when choosing your containers:

• drainage - make sure there are ample holes at the base and drip trays

• substrate - fill your container with compost, soil, gravel, etc. for optimal plant health

• fertilizer - produce and annual crops require lots of food. The smaller the container the more they need.

• sunlight - choose plants for your light conditions. This element is key to the plants thriving.

In our years of backyard gardening in the Hailey, Idaho area, we have found success with the following plants:

• Basil

• Chilis

• Cilantro

• Eggplant

• Kale

• Potatoes

• Rosemary

• Spinach

• Tarragon

• Tomatoes

There are a number of garden stores in the Wood River Valley. They are very knowledgeable and stock a nice assortment of product. Stay tuned for Maeme’s homemade “miracle grow”, she will be making some as the summer gets rolling.

Happy gardening!

Powerhouse Pudding

This recipe was a crowd pleaser at a recent Earth Day event at Natural Grocers. It was super yummy and very easy to make.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Serves: Approximately 2 half cup servings

Ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 medium ripe banana

1 medium ripe avocado

1/4 cup bulk cocoa powder

1 Tbsp honey

Optional addition: 1 tsp vanilla

Directions: Mash banana and avocado together with a fork until smooth with minimal lumps and well combined.

Add in coconut oil, cocoa powder, honey and vanilla. Mix until throoughly combined and develops a smooth, pudding texture.

Natural Grocers