Belgian Waffles

Belgian Waffle
with strawberries

It may seem that I have not been cooking very much in the past few months.  Oh, that's not true.  I've just not been blogging as much. 

There is one staple that we have quite often in our freezer.  Belgian Waffles!  Belgian Waffles made with buttermilk, egg whites and olive oil!  On a cold winter morning it's great to take them out of the freezer and quickly microwave to enjoy for breakfast.

Now, while preparing the batter I use a little less sugar, baking powder and baking soda.  We do not prefer to have a lot of salt in the foods we enjoy, so I usually reduce it when cooking.  Now, I also add (2 shakes each of) Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cloves from my Spice Rack to the batter.   

If I have an overripe banana in the fruit bowl, I mash it first and also add it in.  They become Banana Belgian Waffles.  With or without a mashed banana, Belgian Waffles are so yummy!  Sometimes we enjoy them with defrosted strawberries and at other times with maple syrup!  If you have not enjoyed them at breakfast for a while, put it on your list of things to do!

Belgian Waffles  
     makes about 8 waffles
   
Ingredients: 
1 + 3/4 Cup King Arthur Unbleached Flour
2 teaspoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/8 teaspoon Salt
2 shakes of Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cloves from containers in my Spice Rack

1 Whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites
1 + 3/4 Cup Buttermilk or 1 Cup Buttermilk + 3/4 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Olive Oil for sauteing & baking
2 teaspoons Vanilla

PAM- to spray Waffle Maker

Method:

1. In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients.
2. In a smaller bowl beat 1 Whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites until well combined.
3. Add Buttermilk (+ Milk if using), Olive Oil and Vanilla to beaten Egg + Whites.  Combine.
4. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients.
5. Stir together until almost smooth.
6. Spray Belgian Waffle Maker with PAM before preheating.  Spray only before making 1st Waffle.
7. When Waffle Maker is hot, scoop 2/3 Cup batter to make Waffle.
8. Close lid of Waffle Maker.
9. Cook 2- 3 Minutes until steam stops.  (My Waffle Maker beeps when cooked.)
10. Carefully open lid and remove.
11. Continue until batter is used.

A Waffle at breakfast is so tasty!  It is also quite filling.  We do have remaining Waffles after breakfast.  After they have cooled, I wrap each one in plastic wrap.  Then, they are placed in a large freezer bag and stored in our freezer.  Breakfast for other mornings!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

   

Buttermilk Belgian Waffles

Buttermilk Belgian Waffles
(cooling before wrapping & freezing)

Do you have 1 and 3/4 Cups of Buttermilk in your fridge?  Do you have 1 Cup + 3/4 Cup Milk?  That small amount of Buttermilk is the beginning of a delicious breakfast!

About a month ago after opening the door to one of my kitchen cabinets, suddenly I "spied" my Belgian Waffle Maker!  It's only been "untouched" for about 6 years!  Other than taking it down when cleaning the cabinet shelves.  Remembering that I had Buttermilk in my fridge, the next step- King Arthur Flour's website.  There it was- a recipe for Buttermilk Belgian Waffles!  The photo looked so yummy & I had the Buttermilk!

• I use King Arthur Unbleached Flour whenever I make pancakes.
• My less cholesterol habit:  Substitute Olive Oil for sauteing & baking for Butter.
• Another less cholesterol habit:  Rather than 2 whole Eggs, I'd use 1 whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites.

I was on my way to make a very yummy breakfast.  By using the Olive Oil, no butter/ margarine was needed at our table either- only a topping.  What delicious waffles!  The second time I prepared these waffles for breakfast, defrosted strawberries were a great topping!
 
No, we did not devour the entire batch!  The extra waffles were cooled & wrapped in plastic wrap/ placed in Freezer bags for even quicker breakfasts other mornings.  My method of reheating:  my microwave.

The holidays are in our future!  If you are looking for a quick, easy & absolutely yummy breakfast to serve your overnight guests Buttermilk Belgian Waffles are great!  Take out your waffle maker!  If you don't have one, that small appliance would be a great gift to receive!  My waffle maker is at least 15 years old.  Make & try these.  They are so good!

Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside!

Buttermilk Belgian Waffles
             makes 8 Waffles
             adapted from King Arthur website

Ingredients:
1 + 3/4 Cup King Arthur Unbleached Flour
4 teaspoons Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 Whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites
1 + 3/4 Cups Buttermilk or 1 Cup Buttermilk + 3/4 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Olive Oil for sauteing & baking 
2 teaspoons Vanilla

PAM

Method:

1. In a large bowl combine Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Baking Soda & Salt.
2. In a smaller bowl beat 1 Egg + 2 Egg Whites.
3. Add Buttermilk, Olive Oil & Vanilla.
4. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring until almost smooth.
5. Spray Belgian Waffle Maker with PAM before preheating, only when making 1st waffle in batch.
6. When Waffle Maker is hot, use 2/3 Cup batter to make waffle.
7. Close lid. Cook for 2- 3 minutes - until steaming stops.
8. (With my Belgian Waffle Maker cooking time is 2 Minutes, 30 Seconds.)
9. Carefully remove & continue.

***One AM I had only 1 Cup Buttermilk, so I also used 3/4 Cup Milk & the waffles were also oh, so good!

Using the Olive Oil, no butter/ margarine is needed.  Maple syrup or Strawberries are our fave toppings!  What will yours be?

Enjoy!
Yummy!