Novelty in the Mountains- Ricotta Apple + Banana Walnut Pancakes

"Monotony Collapses time; novelty unfolds it".  I read this quote from the book I'm currently reading Moonwalking With Einstein by Joshua Foer, this past weekend.  It felt fitting, as I was away in the mountains of Pennsylvania with some friends. It has always been my biggest fear that I might settle for a monotonous life without the type of excitement I've created in my twenties.  Looking around it seems that society steers us towards a path of least resistance, and people wake up twenty years down the road with a mid life crisis because their life is boring.  It's an interesting concept to think that creating new memories by having as many new experiences as possible might actually lengthen our perception of our lives.  Think back to the last year and what you remember- its the trips you took, the events you participated in or the people you met who made a lasting impact on you. Sometimes I think back on the decision to go to medical school and sacrifice 4 years of opportunities to live abroad, learn more trades, and meet more people.  Although I know I am in the right place and doing what I'm passionate about- it goes against the Machiavellian way ingrained in me to learn and excel at as many things as possible.  So right now, I will find the opportunities in the every day.


This weekend was incredible, we hiked in the snow, played board games, read by the fire, and had wonderful talks over delicious food.

Food in the Mountains: We split up and all took a meal in pairs: All was Gluten Free and Vegetarian

Saturday Breakfast: 
Spicy eggs + Sweet potato mash
Saturday Lunch
Pasta Salad with Vegetables + Herbs
Saturday Dinner
Stuffed Peppers + Cornbread + Roasted Brussels sprout (who knew it was spelled like that? )
Sunday Breakfast (this was mine!)
Ricotta Apple Pancakes + Banana Walnut Pancakes + Fruit Salad

I used two different gluten free mixes: Pamela's and Simply Organic
Pamela's makes sturdier pancakes and Simply Organic makes fluffier ones, so I chose Pamela's for banana walnut and Simply Organic for Ricotta Apple.

I know this is not a picture of pancakes.....

Banana Walnut pancakes are my go to, the banana's just melt into the batter and the walnuts give it a crunch.  Just make the mix as instructed and add one banana and a handful of nuts to each serving or cup of mix.  This works just as well with other nuts like pecans.

But the fruit looked so beautiful
and I was too busy making the pancakes to photograph!

Ricotta Apple pancakes was a new innovation.  After making the mix as instructed I just scooped out 2 tablespoons of ricotta cheese, diced a small fuji apple, added a hint of cinnamon and wallah fluffy apple cinnamon goodness.  You can't taste the ricotta cheese, it just makes the batter fluffier and provides a softer texture.