Malted Wheat Germ Pancakes (+Kretschmer Wheat Germ Giveaway)

Growing up, my mom always had a jar of Kretschmer Wheat Germ in the fridge.  She would add a tablespoon to our smoothies or over our yogurt.  Okay, she'd sprinkle it any place she could get away with it.  But my favorite was always a slice of toast, slathered with peanut butter, and then topped off with a heavy smattering of wheat germ.  And to this day, it's still one of my favorite ways to start the day...alongside a tall, cold glass of milk.  And coffee, of course.

Now, I knew that she wheat germ because it was healthy.  But I wasn't sure what was healthy about it.  Turns out, all sorts of things.

To start, the germ is the part of the wheat kernel that sprouts and grows into a new plant.  It is also the part kernel that is most vitamin and nutrient-rich (and the part that's left out when the wheat is processed into white flour), and a fiber-rich source of high quality protein that contains only heart-healthy polyunsaturated fat.  And for every 2-tablespoon serving, wheat germ contains a powerhouse of vital nutrients like Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Magnesium, Thiamin, Phosphorus, and Zinc.*

Thanks, mom.