Charlie’s Frozen Veggie Pancakes

A pantry formula with endless possibilities

I have to give full credit to my husband for inventing this recipe, which has gone down in history as our most made munchkin dish.

Regardless of its popularity, I wanted it to be the first recipe I shared via this Substack because it highlights what I think makes a good Munch Menu recipe (and in many ways how that formula differs from my approach on my other recipe site).

• The pancakes rely solely on frozen vegetables and pancake mix.

• Despite being comprised of store-bought items, these pancakes are nutrient dense and packed with a tremendous amount of veg in a tiny package.

• The formula can be infinitely variable to help your littles try new veggies or recycle ones they’ve rejected (I can’t tell you how many times my child has rejected something and then happily eaten the exact same morsel hidden in these pancakes).

• The finished pancakes can be frozen and reheated for endless snacks and munch meals. Stick them frozen straight into a lunchbox and they are thawed by lunchtime.

When we travel, my daughter essentially lives off crackers, bananas and apples (a subject for a future letter). So I always try to pack a stack of these pancakes to ensure she at least gets a few vegetables in on the road.

They can also double as a veg-packed breakfast in your rotation (along with this oatmeal) and a replacement for a store bought frozen veggie burger (you’ll see them featured in this week’s menu!).

Lastly, another reason I wanted to highlight these pancakes is because so often the burden of Munchkin meal prep and menu planning can fall to mom. If you’re raising your hand, let this be a remind to DELEGATE.

Though I still do the majority of the meal time labor, it’s really helpful to have a partner who has a few signature things he adds to the mix. Dads need the extra encouragement and to be empowered. My friend Ali (who has a fabulous Substack Extra Credit) recently wrote this NYTimes article that is one small example of this.

So if you don’t feel like making these, please forward to your partner and make them do it.

Happy munching!

---

Same Same, but Different!

We’ve tried these with all sorts of frozen veggies, including broccoli florets, riced cauliflower, and kale. You can also buy veggie mixes that include carrot, corn, green beans and peas. The formula is infinitely variable, but I’d recommend keeping the corn as the constant since it adds sweetness.

Store-bought Spotlight

I am brand loyal to Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free pancake mix, but I’ve also tried these with Pamela’s, King Arthur and Stonewall Kitchen. Simple Mills is an option if you want to try them grain-free, though I prefer the texture using regular or GF mix. Afterall, you’re trying to get them to eat the vegetables so the pancake vehicle should feel as familiar as possible.

Those of you who are long-time followers know that my husband is THE PANCAKE MAN, hence why we are experts on all the gluten-free mixes. Also hence why he birthed this recipe.

---

Charlie’s Frozen Veggie Pancakes

Makes 2 dozen pancakes