It’s not often that the “city that never sleeps” is mandated a rest. Even in the most extreme situations, New Yorkers insist on carrying on. And then: Juno. Cause for hilarious internet memes and Onion articles (later reenacted by their real-life protagonists, in this case, our own Mayor) and, miraculously, cause for a city-enforced snow day.

It wasn’t much of a storm, in the end, but no matter. We’ll take any excuse to pause, take a step back, and whip up a batch of our favorite, favorite pancakes and a pot of spicy mocha.

Forget everything you’ve ever thought or experienced about pancakes. These — these — are the ones. Sure, at first glance, you may write them off as some “healthy” fad recipe. And yes, they are healthy – what with their whole wheat flour and not a speck of sugar. But more than healthy, they are delicious. Perfectly light and fluffy and unfussy, they’re everything you’ve always wanted a pancake to be. Don’t tell anyone what the secret ingredient is, and revel in the compliments.

(And did we mention these freeze beautifully, and lose nothing to reheating? Indulgent breakfast on-demand!)

Hello, snow day, wonderful old friend.

cottage cheese pancakes.

Make 16 medium sized pancakes

1 cup cottage cheese (4% milkfast & small curd is the best)
1/2 cup canola oil
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt

1. Beat the eggs until frothy, then add the canola, vanilla and cottage cheese and mix well. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and blend well. If you find the batter too runny, add a bit more flour; if it’s too stiff, add in a bit more cottage cheese.

2. Heat a skillet on high heat, then reduce to medium and add a bit of butter. Once melted, spoon small ladle-fulls of the batter onto the griddle. If you’re adding frozen or fresh berries, chocolate chips, or another add-ins, sprinkle over each pancake before you flip.

3. Cook slowly on medium to melt the cheese and thoroughly cook the middle — about two minutes a side. (These pancakes will not bubble like regular pancakes do, so keep your eye on browning and flip when they feel like they’ve started to firm up.)

Serve hot!