Heart-Healthy Power Granola Pancakes with Super Fruit Topping

Dried cherries are a great heart-healthy addition to your favorite pancake or breakfast bread batter. Top with a warmed superfruit salsa of dried cherries, cranberries and blueberries for an added antioxidant boost.

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Ingredients:
1 cup dried tart cherries, chopped
1/3 cup tart cherry juice
2 cups low-fat pancake mix
1 /2 cup toasted wheat germ
1 cup granola
1 whole egg
1/4 cup egg substitute
2 cups 1% low-fat milk (or light plain or vanilla soymilk)
1 teaspoon almond extract
cooking spray
3 Tablespoons sliced almonds

Salsa Ingredients:
2/3 cup dried tart cherries
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried wild blueberries
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup tart cherry juice
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
6 inches stick cinnamon, broken into 2-inch pieces
Dash ground cloves
1/3 cup water
1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:
Heat griddle. In a small sauce pan over medium-high heat, stir cherries and juice until cherries are plump and juice is absorbed. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix pancake mix, wheat germ, granola, egg, egg substitute and milk until blended. Add cherries and almond extract and blend. Spray heated griddle with cooking spray. Portion 1/3 cup batter onto surface, cook until bottom is golden brown, then turn and cook until golden. Top with favorite syrup and sprinkle with almonds. Makes about 14 pancakes.
For Salsa: Combine cherries, cranberries, blueberries, 1 1/2 cups water, the cherry juice, brown sugar, stick cinnamon and cloves in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; gently simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir together 1/3 cup water and the cornstarch. Add cornstarch mixture to cherry mixture. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; gently simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; remove stick cinnamon. Serve mixture warm over pancakes, waffles, French toast, hot cereal or ice cream.

Makes 8 (1/4-cup) servings.

Nutrition Info:
Nutrition Facts per pancake: 160 calories, 4 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 26 g carbohydrate, 16 mg cholesterol, 6 g protein, 1 g fiber, 176 mg sodium; Daily Values: 6% vitamin A ; 2% vitamin C; 0% calcium; 10% iron

Nutrition Facts per ¼ cup serving (of salsa): 99 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 24 g carbohydrate, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g protein, 1 g fiber, 5 mg sodium; Daily Values: 8% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 2% calcium, 2% iron