Joyful Spelt Pancakes (a la Hildegard) for Happy, Healthy Mornings

According to St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), food is the first medicine for a healthy life. In her renowned work on natural medicine, she extols the healing virtues inherent in herbs, spices, grains, fruits, animals, as well as precious stones and metals. Among these, St. Hildegard identifies spelt as the premier grain, and today, we're taking up her wisdom with a delightful recipe for buttermilk pancakes!

St. Hildegard celebrates spelt for its ability to uplift the spirit, its exceptional nutritional profile, and its gentle effect on digestion. She describes it as inherently invigorating, imparting strength and vitality, while also offering warmth and lubrication to the body. Whether in good health or convalescing, St. Hildegard recommends incorporating spelt into one's diet, and our family wholeheartedly adopts this advice. These spelt pancakes are not only delicious but also remarkably sustaining—I find they ward off the usual "sugar crash" and leave me feeling nourished and content.

Paired with a comforting cup of spelt coffee (recipe coming soon!), these pancakes make for a truly special breakfast experience, leaving you feeling invigorated and satisfied.

Here's how to create these "St. Hildegard approved" buttermilk pancakes:

Joyful Spelt Pancakes

Inspired by St. Hildegard of Bingen

Ingredients

• 2 cups buttermilk (or substitute: combine milk with lemon juice and let sit)
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 2 tbsp olive or coconut oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups of whole grain spelt flour (plus extra if needed)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp sugar or other sweetener
• Optional: 1/2 tsp St Hildegard's Defender Dust (recipe coming soon!) for immune support

Directions

1. Whisk the wet ingredients together in one bowl and the dry ingredients in another.
2. Combine the wet and dry mixtures until just blended. Add extra spelt flour if the batter needs thickening.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat and grease with oil or butter.
4. Pour batter onto the skillet to form pancakes of your desired size. Wait for bubbles to form on the surface before flipping. Lower heat if necessary to prevent overcooking the outside while undercooking the inside.
5. Serve with butter and syrup (we like elderberry syrup or Lakanto's Monk Fruit Sweetened Maple Syrup) with a pinch of St. Hildegard's Defender Dust sprinkled on top (optional), next to a steaming cup of spelt coffee and relish in the moment. This recipe yields 6-10 medium-sized pancakes.

Indulge in these healthy pancakes, and let St. Hildegard's wisdom guide you to mornings filled with cheer and contentment. Guten Appetit!