Waffles and a winner

I've told you before I'm a breakfast for dinner kinda girl, but this past Sunday I felt the need to make waffles in the morning! I know I'm just so freakin exciting you don't know what to do with yourself. Ironically when I was a kid it was the opposite, I lived for the weekends because that meant if I let my dad sleep past the crack of dawn he'd make me whatever I wanted (if I woke him up before dawn I only got cereal... smart parental planning)! Crepes, waffles, pancakes, french toast, he was like a short order cook whipping up things for me, my mom, sister, and nana. Even though I'm a cereal in the morning kinda girl now I still look forward to waking up to my dad cooking breakfast when we go to visit them :) SIDE NOTE: this makes it sound like my mom never cooked, not at all the case, so no commenting in defense mom ;) love both of your cooking! :)

As for the Lipton giveaway the winner is.... Sarah B who likes her tea: "I'm a big fan of Chai tea. But right now I'm sipping on a peppermint tea with one sugar!" I'll send you an email in a bit to get your address! Thanks everyone for commenting!

What's your favorite breakfast treat?? What's your favorite if you're not the one cooking? Were you lucky enough to have great cooks for parents?


Whole-Grain Waffles
recipe from The CarbLovers Diet Cookbook

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 Tbs wheat germ
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups buttermilk
2 Tbs melted butter
1 Tbs pure maple syrup
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla

In separate bowls whisk together dry, and wet, then mix together until just combined (don't over mix) Coat a hot waffle iron with cooking spray and cook according to the irons directions. Stack high and drizzle on some pure maple syrup!

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Flax seed waffles and maple agave nectar

So did the title get your attention? Hope it did, because these are not to be missed things! First off I want to tell you about how I love to make homemade pancakes and I think mixes are just vehicles for gross chemicals and I'd never ever buy one. Now I want to tell you about a mix that is amazing, delicious, and contains only REAL ingredients and totally something I would buy.


Pizzey's Premium pancake and waffle mix. This product was brought to me by Flax Matters and I'm so grateful they found me!


The mix is super quick and easy. 1 cup mix plus 1 egg, 1 cup milk, 1 Tbs oil. Mix, let sit 2-3 minutes, and you are good to go! How simple is that!?! And all ingredients you can read and understand! Whole wheat flour, flax seeds, delicious.


I whipped them up and plugged the waffle iron in to heat up, a few minutes later I had these tender with just the right amount of chew waffles on my plate. Delicious and better than some homemade recipes I've used before.


OK now onto the topping. My peeps at wholesome sweeteners (love this company) have been up to it again and have now come out with flavored agave nectar!!!! Seriously!!!


mmmmmmmmmm Obviously there will be more posts to come using these bad boys in recipes and not just as toppings (I'm thinking up so many good ideas you have no idea). But for today I had to try the maple agave on the waffles, and I was NOT disappointed. I mean don't get me wrong I love me some REAL maple syrup, not that fake kind, but if you are looking for a lower glycemic index way of having your wonderful maple flavor... this is it right here. Not at all fake/gross tasting, I say give it a go!

Another thought... I kinda want to make the waffles again but use a flax egg instead of a real egg... flax overkill? perhaps... but I still want to try it!! Good thing they sent me some milled flax seed too! Results to come :)

Keep your eyes peeled the cinnamon agave should be making a baked goods appearance shortly :D

Pumpkin waffles

mmmm vermont maple syrup... mmmmm

As you all know I have a pumpkin addiction and it comes out it full force this time of the year! I'm a sucker for "breakfast for dinner" and made up a batch of these after the gym last week. They came out so good and crisp on the outside, drizzle a little Vermont maple syrup on top and be prepared to melt into a pool of happiness... yes they are THAT good.

I'm actually headed to VT in two weeks, I'm going with my friend for a work weekend at an adorable B&B. We help stack firewood, clear trails, paint things, and in return we get to stay for the weekend and enjoy the sauna, miles of hiking trails, and the culinary 4 star chef from England who will be preparing all of our meals.... a YUM!! Don't worry I'll be taking tons of pictures for you all to see!

Ok onto the waffles!

Pumpkin Waffles
(recipe from cooking light)

Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup skim milk
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray

Preparation
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 4 ingredients (flour through cloves) in a large bowl, and make a well in center of mixture. Combine milk and next 4 ingredients (milk through egg) in a bowl, and add to flour mixture. Stir just until moist.

Coat a waffle iron with cooking spray; preheat. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter per waffle onto hot waffle iron, spreading the batter to the edges. Cook 5 to 7 minutes or until steaming stops; repeat procedure with remaining batter.

These things will be a crowd pleasure for sure!

Chow!

Whole wheat waffles

I love waffles. Especially belgian waffles. I have a standard thin waffle maker (which has a split personality... it's rather disconcerting... it also leads a second life as a pizelle maker, AND a panini maker depending on which plate you use). Anyway, belgian waffles are where it's at, deep wonderful crevices for syrup to fill! Who wouldn't love it? Lucky for me my roomie has a belgian waffle maker and she has since brought it home from its living at her boyfriends apartment. Hooray thick waffles are back! So I brought out my crazy healthy tweaked recipe that works great in the thin waffle machine... alas in the thick thick belgian kind... no oil means they tear apart pretty easy. Example below....

yes that's vermont maple syrup peaking out behind the pile of waffle fun... is there any other kind??

I must say after I tore the pieces off they were so crisp and wonderfully tasty... however it was a pain to get it out of the waffle maker...So I gave in an added some oil to the remained of the recipe, and thoroughly greased the hot plates before pouring the batter in.

I mean just look how that blueberry is lost in the deep crevice!

Much better luck this round at getting the waffle to release itself from its toasty home. It also gave me a little time to whip up some nice fruit topping.

whole wheat waffles
1 egg + egg white
1 3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 Tbs Splenda
4 tsp baking powder
1 Tbs oil

Mix dry ingredients together in a small bowl. Beat egg and add to milk mixture along with oil (if using a belgian waffle maker). Gradually add wet to dry and whisk together until smooth.

Pour about 1/2 cup of batter onto a hot belgian waffle maker. Remove when light goes out or timer dings. Leave in a little longer for a crisper waffle.

fruit topping (serving for one)
5 frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 tsp corn starch
1 Tbs splenda
splash of skim milk

heat strawberries and blueberries in a thick bottom pan, once they start to release juices add corn starch and splenda, if it gets to thick gradually add a little skim milk to attain desired tastiness... yes that really is a word :)