Start with your basic pancake recipe. While they can be made with all-purpose flour, this recipe uses white whole-wheat. The taste is similar to white flour, but with all the healthy attributes of whole grains.

While you could dress up these pancakes with blueberries or chocolate chips, how about something a bit more daring? Try finely diced turkey sausage and apple, both common accompaniments.

This recipe also is easily adapted. Other fruit, such as bananas or berries, could be substituted for the apple. If using berries, add them directly to the batter and skip the initial saute.

Sausage and Apple Pancakes
Start to finish: 30 minutes

2 medium sweet Italian turkey sausages (precooked), each cut into chunks

1 apple, peeled and cored

1 1/4 cups all-purpose or white whole-wheat flour

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 egg

2 tablespoons canola (or vegetable) oil

Cooking spray

Place a heat-proof plate or platter in the oven. Preheat oven to 200 F.

Place the sausages and apple in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Transfer to a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Saute until the sausage is lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In another medium bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together the milk, egg and oil. Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. The batter should be mostly smooth.

Add the sausage and apple mixture to the batter and mix until evenly distributed through the batter.

Rinse and dry the skillet, then lightly coat it with cooking spray. Return the skillet to the burner over medium heat. When the skillet is hot (a drop of water should immediately sizzle away), spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet for each pancake. Make 2 or 3 pancakes at a time.

When the edges of the pancakes show bubbles, use a spatula to flip and cook another 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned on both sides. Transfer the finished pancakes to the platter in the oven and repeat with remaining ingredients. Add a light coat of cooking spray to the pan between batches.

Serve pancakes with warm maple syrup.

Makes 4 servings.