18 April 2006

What We're Having for Breakfast on Thursday

Yeasted waffles are one of the very best breakfast foods ever, and they are really, really easy. You do need a waffle iron, but that's easy enough to remedy. If you have a waffle iron and you never use it because you think waffles are too much trouble, think again! Yeasted waffles are easy.

In a large bowl, mix .5 tsp rapid-rise yeast, 2 c. unbleached white flour, and .5 tsp. salt. (note to people who may be reading quickly: those are decimals before the 5s--as in, one-half tsp for each measurement). Melt .25 c. butter. In another bowl, beat 2 eggs, and mix in the melted butter and 2 c. milk and .5 tsp. vanilla extract. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture, stir to combine, and cover and let sit at room temperature to rise for one hour and fifteen minutes. Or overnight, as the case may be.

Use around one-third of a cup of batter for each waffle. Top with syrup, or fruit, or jam, or sugar. (This recipe is from Moosewood Classics.)

A few random comments: Christine Lavin (folksinger with a generous heart and an impressive array of interests, including encouraging younger artists, theatre attendance, knitting, reading, and cooking) has a section on her website of recipes you can cook while you're sleeping. It's an interesting concept, no? Anyone have any other ideas along this line?

One of the most recent issues of Cooks Illustrated tested vanillas and found that imitation vanilla actually tastes better than real vanilla (I'm too tired to reproduce the full explanation)

In Norway, they sell waffles (often heart-shaped) at stands on the street, and people just eat them outside. I liked that. The waffles have a different taste (cardamom, I think), and they really do make a great snack food.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aw, I knew I liked you, but then you bring out Christine Lavin---the woman who will paint your nails at the intermission of her concerts? yeah. anyone who likes CL is way cool in my book.

Anonymous said...

ILL (I love Lavin). She has shout-outs to people who Knit In Public at her concerts.

Anonymous said...

Love the waffles idea! Josh threw away a waffle iron when we moved in together and I almost killed him! I'll have to get another so that we can make waffles.

I've had the waffles in Norway. Yum!

Anonymous said...

Oooh, those sounds so good. But wait, on a THURSDAY morning? Now I'm REALLY jealous.

susan said...

We can all have waffles on Thursday, Marisa! That's the beauty of the overnightness: in the morning you just have to scoop out a ladleful, put in the waffle iron, and eat. It doesn't take any longer than making toast.

How cool is it that there are so many of us Lavin-loving-bloggers?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I reserve waffles for eating out or at my parents' place - not because I'm adverse to doing the work, but I'd eat FAR too many of them if they were in my own kitchen!

Anonymous said...

ILL (I love Lavin) too!

Anonymous said...

This sounds totally yummy, and I want to try it--we're big waffle fans here. If you leave it overnight, do you put it in the refrigerator or leave it at room temperature all night?

Anonymous said...

Great recipe! And nice subject for your 100th post! :) I have a waffle iron and a waffle recipe that involves yeast and when I make them, they're always a huge hit!

Thanks for participating in my "Hooray for 100" link exchange!

Please spread the word, I'd appreciate it! :)