Wanna Waffle?
At this stage of my life, as a mother to three young kids (7 mts, 2.5y and 5y) a rambunctious dog and a busy self employed (aka perpetually distracted) husband, I am very picky about who I welcome into my life. The same goes for my appliances. You must be able to prove to me that you will be utilized on more than two occasions each and every day (I am talking about appliances now...sort of). For example, we make coffee in the morning and in the afternoon. We often make a crockpot full of steel cut oats for breakfast, wipe it clean and make a stew for dinner. The panini grill is used not just for the obvious but also for perfect fried eggs, pancakes, quesadillas, and even meat. We don’t have a toaster because the oven works just fine. You get the point. I aspire to be a minimalist but I chronically accumulate goods that intend to aid in this minimalization, this in turn creates a chaotic cycle that enables me to keep my curbside FREE box loaded and master the local buy and sell networks. Alas, two weeks ago we welcomed a brand new waffle maker into our lives. We went for a midrange Hamilton Beach 4 slice Belgian Waffle Maker. The biggest selling feature is that you can pour the batter in and walk away for 6-8 minutes and become fully immersed in changing diapers, breaking up fights or chugging lukewarm coffee (the morning joys). Unlike eggs on the stove or a boiling pot of oats, they are fast and self sufficient. I am also happy to say that after two weeks of doubled up waffle dishes, my kids are still raise their hands to the rood when they see waffles!
So now I will grace you with a top ten of the waffle recipes we have enjoyed or plan to enjoy......
1) Banana Bread Waffles
Say What? I don’t have to wait an hour for the banana bread to come out of the oven? Yummy Banana Bread in 6 minutes. Take note this recipe is heavy on the sugar I would recommend cutting it altogether or at least halving it (although my kids didn’t complain).
2) Vegetable Waffles
And this is how we had waffles for dinner. A fried egg on top and it was divine. Not the most beautiful waffle in sight but every food group on the list with very little mess. I used the food processor for all the veggies and cheese so clean up was minimal. I also went with what I had on hand which meant omitting the kale, adding 3 carrots, a head of broccoli and a handful of dill. I free poured the cheese which in all likelihood was double the norm. The yam added a delicious sweetness to the mix.
3) Oat Waffles
I love grinding my own oats. Two reasons, one being I feel I have side stepped at least one of the food processing stages (questionable whether this has any impact on the nutritional value of my oats), and number two I make use of another appliance in my house (Vitamix with the dry container). I don't use bowls for this recipe. Everything is done with the blender. I feel like the antithesis of housewife when I can make food without mixing bowls. Little achievements here. When you make waffles twice a day every day you need to switch up the milks, oils and especially the flours. No wheat bombs people! Heres a spelt flour recipe that I will sneak in too.
4) Vegan Waffles
We are not vegans but we do run out of eggs ALOT. Im disgusted to say that we average 36-48 eggs a week and are in the market for some chickens. And I should mention I do not eat eggs, so this is a combined effort between my always hungry husband and equally if not more hungry children. This recipe was a result of a very early morning with no eggs, no cereal and no bread in the house.
5) Cornbread Waffles
Making chilli in the crockpot and need a fuss free accompaniment? Who doesn’t love cornbread.
6) Falafel Waffles
Protein packed and ready to throw on a salad or into a pita pocket with a helping of hummus (enter food processor). These are also great to throw in a lunch boxe the next day.
7) Pizza Waffles
There are a lot of pizza waffle recipes out there that will trick you and tell you its an easy pizza waffle. But they don't have three impatient kids and aren't as pissed off as I am after frantically googling a recipe and doing my best to multitask the 5pm rush with three hungry kids and a pile of dishes from the day building around me. Yes I really should pre-read recipes but time is not always on my side. When I get to step two and realize I need to now find a baking tray, turn on the broiler and move on to step three of the pizza waffle process, I feel like a victim. If I am making waffles for dinner there is a reason. Its because I don't have time for step two or three. With this recipe dinner is served when the ready light turns green.
8) Savory Breakfast Waffles
Waffles with no flour! We are talking about a revolution people! Bacon, cheese and cauliflower, how can it not taste good? I am not a Paleo follower (is that what they are called?), nor am I celiac (or trendily opposed to wheat), but I do believe we can do our bodies a favour and eat a wide variety of foods in moderation....like waffles twice a day for two weeks. Right?
9) Hashbrown Waffles
This recipe is so simple I am pissed I even have to link to someone else for it. But reality sets in and I remember I don’t know a thing about cooking except how to follow a recipe and whether it tastes good. Maybe in a decade or so I will consider myself an expert enough to veer off into the realm of creating my own culinary treats. For now, I am happy to be a lemming (but do note I only follow those with rave reviews from other lemmings).
10) Power Waffles
I had to link Heidi’s waffle recipe because I heart Heidi. This recipe is nothing revolutionary (aside from a reality check that I don’t and won’t ever have crystallized ginger on hand or that fancy flour). If nothing else, take this opportunity to check out her muffins because man does she have some tasty healthy muffin recipes which I am certain can easily be done in the waffle maker.... report back on that one.
There you have it, your beginners recipe guide to justifying the teeny splurge on a waffle maker. I am so in love with the waffle maker that it has made the even tighter roster for the camping trailer kitchen goods. No one will judge you if you make grilled cheese sandwiches, paninis, or PB and banana sandwiches your waffle maker as well... Throw away your plates and cutlery people, the waffle maker is here!