Whole-Wheat Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce

These pancakes are a weekend favorite at my house. I use half whole-wheat flour, for all the antioxidants and fiber it contains, and half all-purpose to ensure they are extra light and fluffy. The brilliant red strawberry sauce cradles them in a perfect juicy balance of tangy and sweet. These are also fun to cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter for Valentine’s Day.

For the strawberry sauce:

• 2 pints (16 oz.) fresh strawberries, hulled, or 4 cups frozen unsweetened  strawberries, thawed
• 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbs. pure maple syrup

For the pancakes:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole-grain pastry flour or whole-wheat flour
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. table salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup lowfat buttermilk
• 3/4 cup nonfat milk
• 1 Tbs. honey
• 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• Cooking spray
• Confectioners’ sugar (optional)

To make the strawberry sauce:

Place the strawberries in a food processor and process them into a chunky purée. Transfer the purée to a small saucepan over low heat and heat just until warm. Stir in the lemon juice and maple syrup.

To make the pancakes:

In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk, nonfat milk, honey, and vanilla.

Coat a large nonstick griddle or skillet with cooking spray and preheat over medium-low heat. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing only enough to combine them. The batter will be somewhat lumpy. Use a 1/4-cup measure to ladle the batter onto the griddle or skillet. Flip the pancakes when they are golden brown on the bottom and bubbles are forming on top, about 1-1/2 minutes. Cook the other side until golden brown, about another 1-1/2 minutes. Keep the pancakes warm in a 200°F oven as you finish cooking the remaining ones.

Ladle about 1/3 cup of the strawberry sauce onto each plate, place the pancakes on top, sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar, if using, and serve.