Remember weekends when you were a kid? Snuggled in front of the television with your loyal dog or protesting cat, watching Saturday morning cartoons while your mom (see footnote) prepared stacks of fluffy pancakes and crispy strips of deliciousness that you didn’t realize at the time were dead pigs leaching carcinogens?

I’ll pause while you think back and get all warm and fuzzy with nostalgia.

So now here you are.  You’re vegan or maybe just thinking about it. And since you’re not sure how to cook without eggs and milk, you think going vegan will mean your own children won’t get to experience the pure innocent bliss that is the weekend pancake breakfast. And you’re worried that if you deny them that experience, it will make you a bad parent.

And you’re right. It would make you a terrible parent. Your kids will grow up weird and you yourself will likely go to hell.

But not to worry. The NCVA’s got your back. On April 6th, 2013, the NCVA is hosting our first Charity Pancake Breakfast. For a trifling $10 per person, you and your family can enjoy as many fluffy vegan pancakes as you can eat (or waffles, for you more structured folks), plus a smorgasbord of tantalizing vegan toppings.

“Puffy Pancakes?” you ask suspiciously. And I feel you. I, too, have been mislead by well-meaning but tastebud impaired hippie vegans into believing that the vegan pancake is a hemp-hearted, chia-seeded, hockey puck-like monstrosity that is loved by no part of you but your bowels.

But have no fear. These will be the real deal. So puffy that you’ll have to load them down with syrup and fruit and chocolate chips and whipped cream just to keep them from going airborne.

And if that is not already the height of awesomeness, know that we will scour the markets to ensure that as many of the ingredients as possible are organic and fair trade, as well as vegan. We’ll have a special griddle set up for you gluten-free folks as well!

So here are the details:

What: All you can eat pancakes or waffles (with Saturday morning cartoons on the TV!)
When: April 6th, 2013; 9:30 am – 1 pm
Where: Party Room, 140 Mann Ave., Ottawa (Sandy Hill)
Cost: $10 per for adults, $5 for kids 2-10, infants under 2 years are free; All profits will go the the Fauna Foundation Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
What to bring: Just your awesome self, your mini-me’s (if any), and your morning paper. Also blankets and pillows for the kids to sit on if they want to watch cartoons!
Where to get tickets: Pay at the door (cash only please!).

A couple more things: One – please let us know if you’re coming by saying you’ll attend the facebook event or by emailing me (Erin) at ncva.events@gmail.com. Two: We’ll be doing our first collection for this year’s Great Glebe Garage sale (proceeds to Project Jessie), so please bring any garage sale items you’d like to donate.

Footnote: Sorry for the gender stereotype, but my mom was the fount from which our household’s supply of tasty breakfast foods flowed. My dad did make us breakfasts. However, they consisted of a vile gruel that he referred to as “pudgy” and which he forced my sister and I to eat until our mouths were cemented shut and tears leaked from our suffering eyes.