Hello, foodie-reader people! Welcome once again to the deliciousness that is Friday Feast. And what healthy little beasties we’re going to be today. There’s a pancake recipe that will sweeten up any breakfast, plus an amazing new paranormal romance to lose yourself in. How’s that for the perfect way to start your weekend off.

But first, the cringeworthy update that is Us Heins Weren’t Mean To Play Golf. The rot has well and truly set in. Shots were duffed. Balls were bulleted into dams. Swearwords were said. A head was hung in shame. On a good note, I guess the only way is up!

Speaking of good notes (oh, I am the segue QUEEN!), our guest today is Friday Feast regular and multi-romance genre author Shona Husk (she of the Toblerone Brownies, which I made a batch of last week and nearly passed out from chocolate overdose after eating). Shona has a new book out in the brilliant Court of Annwyn series and it sounds a beauty, with spies and fairies and powerplays and, of course, that thing that makes good books even better, romance.

Take a look…

THE DARKLING LORD

A darkling with a lust for power…

Henry Saint shouldn’t exist. Every year on his birthday, he kills someone and takes their soul so that he may live another year. He is a darkling, not fairy… but not human either. Yet he is bound by the laws of both worlds. With a new King on the throne of Annwyn and the mortal world trying to rebuild after plagues killed so many, Henry seizes the opportunity to carve out a place of his own. He wants Detroit.

A spy without a soul…

Darah was Felan’s spy before he became King of Annwyn. Now he has one last mission for her. He wants her to join the darkling’s Court and discover what Henry’s endgame is. No one trusts the Banished when they gather in great numbers. As Darah gets drawn into Henry’s world she realizes he can give her the one thing she could never find in Annwyn—love. But is love worth betraying her King?

Far out, that sounds exciting and you’ll in the capable hands of a skilled storyteller with The Darkling Lord, so why not buy it today?  Try amazon.com, Kobo, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, or your favourite ebook retailer. And while you’re clicking about, add The Darkling Lord to your Goodreads shelf and give everyone else the heads-up about this cracking book.

Right. Now let’s get healthy with Shona. A woman who knows her way with chocolate…

Breakfast Made Extra Delicious!

For the last quarter of 2014 I had to go gluten and dairy free. It was extremely unfun (yes, I know it’s not a word but it should be). When you read labels you quickly realize that gluten and dairy are in everything. Coconut milk power…includes dairy. Gluten…where isn’t it?

So I did a bit of research and tried to find new things to eat. Breakfast was the big one for me because I liked fruit salad with yoghurt or porridge (when it’s made with water it’s just gruel) or cereal.

Fortunately the internet is wondrous and I discovered quinoa with apple and sultanas and walnuts and honey. Yum!

Then I found these. Chocolate chip oatmeal cookie pancakes by the Minimalist Baker.

These pancakes are so delish as long as you don’t go into them expecting light and fluffy, or thin and crepe like. These are chunky and full of awesome.

Recipes are just a guideline and we have giant bananas at the moment so click the link for the original or check out my slightly altered version (because I’m lazy and I use what’s in the cupboard).

Shona’s Choc Chip & Rolled Oat Pancakes

In a bowl put 1 banana, 1 egg, 1 tbsp peanut butter (crunchy, smooth, whatever is handy), 1 tbsp coconut oil, dash of vanilla and cinnamon (cloves and nutmeg too if you feel like it). Give it a whisk until smooshy.

Toss in 2/3 cup of rolled oats and ¼ cup gf flour and 1tsp baking powder. Whisk. It should be quite thick. Add ~80ml water (I ran out of oat milk one day and decided water would be fine. It totally was).

Let the mix sit for 10 mins. So go and get dressed, tell the kids to get dressed, feed the cat etc…

Stir the mix add a splash more water if it’s thickened up a lot. It should be gloopy not runny. Add 3 tablespoons of choc chips (throw in what looks like the right amount because who really measures chocolate?)

Blob mixture onto the frying pan. Don’t try for big pancakes, think pikelet size. Flip and then serve with nutlex and maple syrup and fruit (oranges, berries and pears go really well).

If your kids aren’t snarfing them down these will keep in the fridge for a couple of days once cooked so you can enjoy them for breakfast tomorrow without the fuss of cooking them.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do…the Minimalist Baker has lots of other yummy recipes for the gf and df. I no longer have to be as strict which makes going out a whole lot easier but at home I try and avoid them still.

And while you enjoy choc chip pancakes check out The Darkling Lord for some paranormal romance with spies and fairies.

Honestly, Shona, you are the queen of healthy cooking with chocolate! These sound great and I love the idea whipping up an batch and keeping them in the fridge to have later. That’s very handy, especially for when you’re running late. And because they’re only pikelet sized, these pancakes would be perfect to munch on while reading The Darkling Lord!

If you’d like to learn more about Shona and her edgy romances, including the Shadowlands and Court of Annwyn series, please visit her website. You can also connect via Facebook, Twitter using @ShonaHusk, or sign up to her newsletter to keep up to date with new releases and more.