You Said a Waff-full!

The turkey may be the center of attention at the dinner table, but what about breakfast? It's the most important meal of the day- right? You damn right it is...so if you don't normally eat breakfast maybe you should reconsider and try out these super yummy waffles recipes! Light and fluffy, warm toasty goodness drizzled with maple syrup goodness. Fry some bacon and eggs and add fresh fruit...BOOM! a complete morning spread. There might not even be a need for turkey. Okay, that's a bit excessive, but you get the idea. I absolutely love these recipes!

Pumpkin Waffles

pic; girlmakefood,com

What you need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin

What to do:

Set up the waffle iron on a countertop or table within easy reach of the cook. Plug in the iron to preheat it. (Remind your child never to touch the surface of the iron; she should touch only the handle and always cook with adult supervision.)

In a medium-size mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, melted butter, and pumpkin. Pour the wet ingredients over the flour mixture and stir just until combined.

Coat the preheated waffle iron with cooking spray. Pour the waffle batter onto the center of each section of the iron. (You will need 1/4 to 3/4 cup of batter for each waffle.)

Cook the waffles for about 4 to 5 minutes or until they are crispy and light brown. (Read the manufacturer's directions for details about how long you should cook the waffles in your particular waffle iron.) Serve immediately with maple syrup and butter. Serves 4.

GingerBread Waffles

pic: midwestliving.com*

What you need:

• 4 eggs
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• Whipped cream and fruit, optional

What to do:

With an electric mixer, beat the eggs until they're light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar, molasses, and buttermilk and mix until blended, about 1 minute more.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, spices, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and stir until smooth. Stir in the butter.

Cover and refrigerate the batter overnight or cook immediately in a waffle iron until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve with whipped cream and fruit, if you like. Makes 14.*picture shows a lemon curd*

This one may hurt somebody or having you slapping yo mama! 

Bacon Cheddar French Toast Waffle Sandwich

pic: familyfreshcooking.com

What you need:

• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbs. milk
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• Day-old sandwich bread
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Bacon - cooked
• Confectioner's sugar (for dusting)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup (for dipping)
• Cooking oil spray

What to do:

Pre-heat a waffle iron. A square waffle iron would be best for this recipe. Lay out the day-old bread, cooked bacon and cheese slices so that they are ready to assemble in the waffle iron. If you don't have day-old (slightly stale) bread, try toasting it very lightly. This will keep it from getting too soggy when you dip it in the batter.

Prepare the French toast batter. In a shallow bowl, whisk together: 2 eggs, 2 Tbs. milk, 1 tsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon.Spray the waffle iron with a non-stick cooking oil spray.

Working quickly, dip one side of one slice of bread in the French toast batter and place it batter side down on the waffle iron. Top with sliced cheddar cheese and bacon. Dip a second slice of bread in the French toast batter and place it batter side up on top of the sandwich. Close the waffle iron. Slowly press the waffle iron so that the sandwich bread presses into the iron. Cook until golden brown (usually 3-5 minutes, depending on your waffle iron). 

Remove the sandwich from the waffle iron and serve with a dusting of confectioner's sugar and a side of maple syrup for dipping. Enjoy!

Lastly, this a new spin on waffles and may not be necessarily suited for early morning hours, but it can work well for brunch. You can top these any way you like; chili, gravy, chicken or serve plain as a new twist on holiday breads!

Maple Cornbread Waffles

pic: theberry.com

What you need:

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sugar (for sweet cornbread)
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 3/4 - 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

What to do:

Pre-heat a waffle iron.

In a large bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt. For sweet cornbread, also add 1/4 cup sugar.

In another medium bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: 1/3 cup melted butter, 3/4 cup milk, 1 egg, 1/4 cup maple syrup.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Whisk together to make a smooth batter. If the consistency is too dry, add up to 1/4 cup more milk, a little bit at a time.

 Pour the batter into your waffle iron, following manufacturer's directions for the amount of batter to add. Cook until the waffles are golden brown and crispy on the outside (usually 3-5 minutes, depending on your waffle iron). Serve with butter and maple syrup for brunch or add to your appetizer menu with your favorite savory toppings!

More can be found on http://spoonful.com