Monday, December 29, 2008

Waf-f-f-f-f-les

I have finally reached the domain of recipe-tinkering in my Kitchen Skill Set (to slang around some corporate jargon). It feels so good! My journey to 100% scratch cooking has been in process for 4-5 years now - before that, I subsisted on bagels & cream cheese with cut-up vegetables, taco salad, the occasional baked chicken breast, and spaghetti. And restaurant food, when I wanted something warm and filling.

But no more: I can cook. I can bake. I know many of the rules therein. Looking at a recipe doesn't intimidate me like it used to.

And so, this past Christmas week, when we wanted waffles for breakfast, I tinkered with a recipe from my favorite cookbook, How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman --- and ended up with a scrumptious masterpiece. I may be bragging, but they were definitely the best waffles I've ever eaten. Period.

Fabulous Whole Wheat Waffles

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups yogurt
2 TBSP honey
2 eggs, separated
4 TBSP (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  • Mix the dry ingredients
  • Mix the wet ingredients, holding back the egg whites
  • Mix wet and dry together
  • Beat the egg whites until you see soft peaks (I used my handy-dandy non-electric hand-mixer, where I actually turn the crank - it belonged to our beloved former Minneapolis neighbor, Wilburn. The amount of tools he bequeathed us is astounding, and we use them practically every day.)
  • Add the airy whites gently to the batter
  • Cook, eat, then smack your lips and ask for more

6 comments:

Honeybehr said...

I love to do up home-made waffles, too!! And my fave part is making the egg whites into peaks...with the old-fashioned egg beater. I should try out your recipe...or better yet, just read "How to Cook Everything", since I got it for my bday!

Sandy said...

Ooooo . . . I was just talking to Tanya about how I needed to research a new recipe! I'll try yours, thanks! And, hey, great job on the cooking strides. Freedom, eh? (not to mention better eating.) Merry Christmas! -Sandy

Anna said...

Mmm... Those sound really good. I'll have to try them around here for a nice change of pace from pancakes. :)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Sandy said...

just tried them. yum! thx. -sandy

Timothy said...

My wife dowloads Mark Bittman podcasts off the NYT site. Check them out. He is funny, and all the recipes are quick, tasty, and pretty healthy.

Tim

Neil said...

I got HTCE for Christmas... it's my new go-to general cooking reference.