Waffles

There is something to be said about a Waffle...and I'm not talking about Eggos or the ones you eat at Waffle House. The ones I'm talking about are life savers. They can make for a fun morning with all the fixin's! Waffles have a great way of making you look like you're this great cook and little miss homemaker when guest come to visit. They're great for when you need to take a meal or something over to a friends house after they've had a baby...it's the best thing ever...I know, I was on the receiving end after Seth was born and it was a true blessing. If you're in a hurry and the kids are screaming, and you don't feel or can't think to make breakfast...well, your in luck with these amazing waffles. Honestly, it's a win win situation. How, you ask?!? Well, here's my secret. Please stay with me, you obviously have to do a little leg work before it starts paying off...as with anything!

First, you have to invest in a Belgium waffle maker...it's the only way to go. You know, the kind where you put the batter in and flip it...the wells are bigger for butter, syrup, whip cream, fruit...you get the picture.

(This one is one that I pulled out of the freezer to feed Seth and Max)
And then you make whatever batter you're in the mood for, regular, lemon poppy seed (my favorite...however, there is a little bit more clean up that will be waiting for you once it goes through your child's digestive system...those poppy seeds pretty much come out unchanged...don't be alarmed when you open up that dipe), chocolate chip (the secret is to use mini chips...they keep your iron cleaner), pumpkin, blueberry, etc. If you're making for just you and the kids they usually only eat half a waffle, and then the best part...you freeze the rest and you've got breakfast for at least three days and a good one at that. You can pop them in the microwave or toaster or if you're really in a hurry, those kids will eat them frozen...especially if you've made chocolate chips, less mess when they stay frozen. Did I mention that they're great when the baby's teething...just put a bib around that baby and throw them a frozen waffle.

(Seth anxiously waiting for his waffle)

Now can you see how great it was when my good friend brought me over bags of waffles of all different kinds...I had breakfast for weeks, it was a life saver after bringing Seth home. It's a meal that I will never forget; no one else has every giving me food for breakfast. Think about it...your husband is usually home for dinner, he can help cook or get things going for dinner...it's breakfast when you're left in the lurch. So next time you sign up to bring over a meal for that mother who's just come home...make her a few batches of waffles...she'll never forget it!

When that company wakes up after a long day of travel the night before...they think you've bent over backwards to make them this wonderful breakfast, and you have, but you didn't have to bend over backwards. They rant and rave over how good they are, especially when you've made a few different batches. Don't worry, you won't have left overs, and if you do you're secretly excited because you know where they're going...in the freezer, to make your life so easy one morning when you can't get it together!

So, I thought I would give you a few recipes to get you started:

Regular:

2 eggs

2 cups milk

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1//2 cup oil

Beat eggs and milk until mixed. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and oil. Spray Pam on iron and cook according to manufacturer's instructions.

Variations:

Blueberry waffles: add 1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.

Lemon Poppy Seed: 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract, and 2 tablespoons poppy seed.

Chocolate chip Waffles:

2 cups flour

1 cup mini chocolate chips

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 2/3 cups milk

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 eggs

In large bowl, combine flour, chocolate chips, sugar baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add milk, butter and eggs; mix until moistened. Some lumps may remain. Spray Pam on iron and cook according to manufacturer's instructions.

(Obviously, if you have a butt load of kids, you want to double the recipe if you want to tuck away a few in the freezer)

I hope this either helps to get you out of a breakfast slump, think this was funny to read, or you think I'm totally crazy and need to just buy some Eggo waffles. To any rate, you won't be making fun of me when you've stayed the night and you wake up to the smell of warm syrup, fresh strawberries with whipping cream and the aroma of a waffle cooking on my iron...HaPpY BrEaKfAsT!

(Another Happy Camper...it's the breakfast that keeps on giving!)