Chai Flax Oat Bran Pancakes with Spiced Apples

I will call this a variation on a theme.  The theme can either be pancakes or oats.  I will let you decide.  Do you ever have meals that start out as one thing and then end up completely different?  Well, this pile of chai flax oat bran pancakes is exactly that!  It has been raining here all day and I really just wanted some good 'ol comfort food.  For me, that means oats in some fashion.  I did not want to eat them just plane jane tonight.  So, I took the base for my oat bran pancakes and used flax eggs instead of regular eggs.  No reason other than I just wanted to.  Well, they came together great, but when I went to flip them, they did not flip.  They were still too much like oat bran.  So, I took them out of the electric skillet, mixed in some buckwheat flour and tried again.  They were just what I was looking for.  They turned out like little creamy oatcakes.  Since I used chai tea as the liquid, I needed a good topping to match that flavor.  So, I decided apples would make the perfect accompaniment to the spice from the tea.  I loved the crispy outside and creamy inside with a hint of chai spice.  These are in no way fluffy like normal pancakes.  I just wanted to make that clear.  They are very creamy on the inside.  I like the contrast in textures with the cake like outside, creamy inside and the crisp apples on top.  I love variations on pancakes.  These were just what I was looking for!  Yes, I ate the whole thing...don't judge me!

Chai Flax Oat Bran Pancakes with Spiced Apples
serves one large meal

1/2 cup oat bran
1 1/4 cup chai tea (I brewed this in my Keurig)
pinch of salt
2 TBSP flax meal mixed with 6 TBSP hot water
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 TBSP buckwheat flour
15 drops vanilla NuNaturals stevia

Cook the oat bran with the chai tea according to your package directions.  Allow to cool slightly or make the the day before.  Combine the rest of the ingredients and cook in a nonstick skillet.  You actually cook these longer than regular pancakes.  It takes about 10 minutes on each side.

Spiced Apples

Peel and slice a medium apple.  Place in a bowl and microwave in 2 minute intervals until done to your liking add a dash of pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice or your favorite spice.

Do you have a recipe that you play with all the time?  I love changing up the pancakes.  It is always fun to see what happens and really they are never bad!