ALIEN WORKSHOP: THYME CODE — Salad Grinds and Bean Plants #27

AWS THYME CODE: Thyme Potato Pancakes

WORDS: Johnny Lozano

Skateboarding years are like dog years not only for sore skateboarders in their mid-20s everywhere, but for skateboarding’s beloved brands, too. While skateboarding is still in its infancy compared to the history of, well, corporate entities in general, it has seen its fair share of corporate ebb and flow. Consider Plan B: A household name in the ’90s, gone by mid-decade, then later  reinvigorated and now enjoying its second iteration 20 years later. Or take éS, for example: While it was forced to take a creative retreat a little over a decade after its seemingly permanent fixture as a launching pad for skateboarding’s elite, it’s now back and it appears as if the days of seamless, innovative design may never end. 

Alien Workshop is yet another company that has undergone the above-mentioned Cinderella story arc. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Alien Workshop has always possessed that je ne sais quoi that makes even veteran skateboarders scratch their heads in equal parts of confusion and amazement. Whether it’s images of aliens draining our brains or the bold stylings of Don Pendleton, the bottom of an Alien Workshop board has always been something that is worthy of both lipslides and art galleries. While it may have undergone the seemingly unavoidable reboot process, the new band of rippers repping the sovereign sect has stayed true to the label’s reputation for turning heads.

While Mind Field and Photosynthesis are undoubtedly worthy of praise (is Dill’s Photosynthesis part the best video part of all time?), I want to give a shout out to Timecode [1997]. Give it a view and you’ll see familiar faces like Fred Gall, Rob Dyrdek, and Josh Kalis; but if you weren’t skating around that time, you may be less familiar with names like Bo Turner and Lennie Kirk (and if you don’t know Lennie’s story, go ahead and start your journey down the rabbit hole). With AWS’s return to Dayton, one can always hope that it’ll once again channel its artistic direction from the VHS tape in The Ring (okay, maybe an exaggeration, but Pat Corcoran’s rat fetus clip is worth mentioning); until then, it’s safe to say that both new and old AWS embody the essence of great skating.

Unsurprisingly, foods go through similar patterns of ebb and flow. Turn on the news and you’ll get pelted with new sensational food advice every other week: 

• *Butter is the devil; no, eat more butter! *
• Carbs will KILL you; wait, no, fat will kill you!
• Use grapeseed oil always; use grapeseed oil if you want to DIE!
• …and so on.

Potatoes have often been the unfortunate victim of such ephemeral campaigns. While an unethically obtained medical examiner’s report surrounding Dr. Atkins’s (founder of the Atkins Diet) untimely death resulted in some controversy as to whether he actually suffered from the lifestyle diseases his diet sought to prevent, potatoes and carbs in general are still largely demonized in the weight loss world.

Yes, potatoes that are deep fried in animal fat are probably bad for you; yes, foods that are higher on the glycemic index may not be the best choice for someone who never exercises (i.e., not skateboarders). However, if you’re not deep frying your potatoes in animal fat and you’re using the carbs you ingest as either pre- or post-skateboarding fuel, then potatoes are a great choice, as they also contain potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Toss in some other veggies like carrots for a little vitamin A and season with thyme and paprika and you can create some delicious potato pancakes that bypass the ebb and flow of flawed sensational health trends.

Enjoy these crispy Thyme Code potato pancakes before or after a sesh and get familiar with classics of yesteryear like Timecode.

INGREDIENTS (makes 12 pancakes / 6 servings): 

• 2 tbsp. ground flaxseed
• 6 tbsp. water
• 2-3 medium russet potatoes (about 500g), grated
• 2 medium carrots (about 100g), grated
• 2 tbsp. whole wheat flour (or flour of your choice)
• 2-3 green onion stalks, diced
• 1 tbsp. thyme
• 2 tsp. paprika
• salt and pepper, to taste

• cooking spray

   

DIRECTIONS:

1. You saw flaxseed in the ingredients, so you know what that means: make the flax eggs. Combine the flaxseed and water in a small dish, whisk with a fork and then set in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
2. Using the large/coarse side of a grater, grate your potatoes and carrots and toss them in a large bowl with the flour, green onion, thyme, paprika, salt and pepper. Once the flaxseed has gelled over, drain the excess water and toss the flaxseed in, too.
3. Mix it all up (don’t be afraid to use your hands), spray down a skillet with cooking spray and set it on medium heat. Pack as much mix as will fit in a ¼ cup measuring cup and empty the contents onto the skillet. Use a spatula to flatten the mix some so that it resembles a pancake. Repeat 2-3 times, but don’t overcrowd your skillet.
4. Bake 2-3 minutes on each side or until the pancakes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Stack those potato flapjacks and go treat yourself to some ’90s goodness.

Happy shredding,

Johnny

For more recipes, check out_ www.saladgrindsandbeanplants.com _or find us on Instagram at @salad_grinds_and_bean_plants.