Before I start inundating you with fattening recipes for traditional Christmas treats, I feel compelled to give you one of my favorite “healthy” recipes.  Before I start all my holiday baking and cooking, I try to stock my kitchen with the ingredients for some healthy alternatives.  I find that if it’s easy for me to reach for something tasty but  healthy, I am less inclined to reach for the cookies I just finished baking.  I know I’m going to consume lots of sugar this next month, so I feel that every little bit helps.  This recipe makes me feel like I’m eating pancakes, but I’m not.  Don’t get me wrong, you won’t  be able to fool yourself into thinking that you are indulging in fluffy, pancakes, oozing in rich, maple syrup.  If only!!  But I think you’ll be able to enjoy this as a substitute with much less sugar and carbs, but packed with protein.  And you won’t get sick of starting your day with these oatmeal pancakes, as there are many healthy variations you can make.

I was given this recipe many years ago for just this reason.  It was Christmas time, and I believe I was heading into a sugar comma, when a friend told me to give this recipe a try.  She had a personal trainer at the time who told her to start her day with these pancakes, and he swore it would keep you full of energy, and you would crave less sugar throughout the day. I can’t say that I found that to be true, but I will say that I do love these, and they satisfy my sweet tooth In the mornings (somewhat).  Being Italian, both she and I, we of course had to make additions to his recipe. We spent weeks calling each other and boasting about how great these are with yogurt on top…. or yogurt and berries…..or granola…..or with blueberries or bananas in the batter…..or canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices in the batter.  So the point being, you can make so many healthful additions to this basic recipe, that you shouldn’t get bored with them for the duration of this very difficult, sugary, fattening month of December.

RECIPE:  makes 2 pancakes

1/3 cup quick oats

1/4 cup cottage cheese

2 egg whites

1 packet of Truvia ( Stevia), as sweetener if desired

Mix all ingredients together in small bowl.  The batter will be thick, so form it into the shape of 2 pancakes in a hot skillet.  Cook over medium heat for a few minutes, until they start to firm and get browned underneath.  Turn them and cook for several more minutes until desired doneness is achieved.

**  I love to top these with vanilla yogurt…..some fruit……some granola, etc.  I also sometimes add blueberries or sliced bananas to the batter, or 1/4 cup canned pumpkin and some pumpkin spices.  And sometimes I cheat, and use some pure maple syrup.  You won’t need as much as you do on regular pancakes, so that makes me feel good, but I’m sure that personal trainer would hate the idea!