Waffles!

To make waffles, you can just slap some ordinary pancake batter into your waffle maker and things will turn out just fine. However, if you want waffly perfection, go a bit further with your preparations and make proper waffle batter.

Firstly you will have to have a waffle iron or electric waffle maker. The only way you're going to get to know it is to start using it. Don't forget, the first ever waffles you make in your waffle iron won't work. Don't be upset, you must sacrifice the first couple of spoons of batter up to the gods of waffles. Just clean out the mangled bits of waffle, give them to the chickens or the dog and keep going. The rest of the waffles will be fine.

Too much batter!

I had the first batch get mangled. My second batch of waffles were better, but I used too much batter and the excess oozed and sputtered out the sides of the waffle iron. Don't panic if that happens to you. Just clean it up and keep going.

Plug in your electric waffle maker and then start making your batter.

In a mixing bowl put in:

1 3/4 cups plain or all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon or pinch of salt

3 teaspoons of baking powder

3 teaspoons of sugar.

Mix the dry ingredients together and set to one side

Separate two eggs.

Place the yolks in a small bowl with:

1 3/4 cups milk

1/4 cup cooking oil.

Mix these together

Now in yet another bowl, whip the whites into stiff peaks and set it aside.

I always whip the egg whites first with my electric beater and then go on to use the same beater to mix the batter. You can't do it in reverse because if you get even a small dot of egg yolk contaminating the egg whites, they just won't whip up.

Blend the milk, oil, egg yolk mixture in with the dry ingredients. When that is mixed completely, fold in the stiff egg whites. When the egg whites have been incorporated you have the perfect waffle batter.

Spoon the batter into your hot waffle iron and close the lid. You'll get to know pretty quickly when you've added too much or not enough batter. Each waffle iron is different.

My new waffle iron beeps when it has reached the right temperature and is ready to receive the batter. It also beeps when the waffles have finished. If you don't have a beeper on yours, you'll know when they're done as the steam coming from the waffle iron will have stopped.

George, my youngest likes apple butter on his waffles instead of the traditional pancake syrup. Strawberries (in season please!) and whipped cream are also glorious on freshly made waffles.

Enjoy the waffles! Have a waffle party!! Invite people over on a Saturday or Sunday morning for a little Festival of Waffles!!!