Pushing the Organic Envelope

Organic is a real buzz word these days. I've seen organic choco-bears cereal, organic peanut butter cup cookies and admit to indulging in embarrassing amounts of organic chocolate, myself. While all food is technically organic because it contains carbon, people assume if it's bears the label it must be good for you (which I'm sure is the case with Black & Green's Organic Dark Chocolate with Ginger). This false sense of security leads them to treat organic food like a culinary "Get Out of Jail Free" card. Sure, it's pesticide free, but would you blithely swallow arsenic just because it carried the organic seal of approval? According to BoingBoing, some are willing to gobble anything organic, even if it comes in a you-know-it-can't-be good-for-you pressurized canister.

Batter Blaster is proof. This is organic pancake mix in a can. As their jingle says, "Just shake, point, blast and cook." While the ingredients are certified organic, the list begs the questions: How can "organic whole egg solids" retain the organic moniker? So, the eggs originally came from an antibiotic- and growth hormone-free chicken, but what in the name of all that's green do you have to do to an egg to get solids? If the USDA definition posted on Batter Blaster's site is to be trusted, you can do almost anything shy of irradiation without sacrificing the coveted organic tag.

However, if you're willing to start the day with Banana & Nutella Pancakes in Hot Buttered Rum Sauce (recipe available on the Batter Blaster site), I'm pretty sure you're not too concerned about the origins of the eggs.

For those who prefer to make their own from scratch, try my cornmeal pancakes or this classic buttermilk version. Organic ingredients are encouraged, but optional.

Organic or Not Buttermilk Pancakes
Printable recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 tbsp melted butter (canola oil in okay in a pinch)
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Instructions

1. Sift dry ingredients together.
2. Mix eggs, buttermilk and butter together.
3. Fold milk mixture into flour mixture, mixing until just moist. The batter will be lumpy. Do not over mix!
4. Cook on a lightly oiled griddle.

Variations

• Use half white and half whole wheat flour.
• Fold in 1 cup fresh blueberries or fresh raspberries.