NEW WAFFLE IRON! Woo!

.
So I've been lusting over this waffle iron for ages ever since seeing it on Joshua Katcher's blog (The Discerning Brute; Food, Fashion and Etiquette for the Ethically Handsome Man).
.
I tell you, more guys need to do blogs. Not that I don't love all my blogger girlfriends out there, no, no, no. I just enjoy the perspective that guys like Joshua and other vegan men can provide.

OK, so, I don't need a waffle iron. I own three. Yes. Three. But NONE of them made waffles in the shapes of cows, chickens and pigs.
.
And as a vegan, dedicated to eating NO ANIMALS for breakfast or any meal, I thought it was delightfully ironic that I could enjoy waffles in the shape of those animals I cared enough not to eat!
.
So, even with the screaming-tight budget this household is on, I set pennies aside until I had enough for my precious waffle maker.
.
The one I don't REALLY need. But everyone needs to treat themselves to something special once in a while. Right? Others might choose a manicure or new shoes or a power tool. HA! I chose a waffle maker!
.
And without further ado, here is the wonderful waffle iron I ordered from Amazon a few weeks back. And here are some of the WONDERFUL Sunday Morning waffles we enjoyed today.
.
My waffle recipe is HERE.
.
The waffles are topped with real maple syrup, and others with fresh berry sauce and whipped coconut cream. (1 can COLD coconut milk whipped with hand mixer, sweetened to taste.)
As you can see, I didn't whip it long enough - certain people (*cough*Shaun*cough*) were WAY too impatient!
.

Fresh Berry Sauce

(I dislike "cooked" fruit so this sauce has the berries gently folded in at the last to preserve their bright flavor)
.
Bring to a low boil stirring with a wire whisk as needed:
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
.
In a separate bowl, mix:
2 Tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1/2 cup cold water until there are no lumps

Pour cornstarch mixture into boiling sugar water. Reduce heat to medium high but keep just boiling. Mix with wire whisk until mixture thickens and starts to turn clear-ish.

Remove from heat. If it wants to scorch, remove from heat sooner.

Set aside until ready to serve.
.
Just before serving, mix in thoroughly:
2 - 3 cups fresh berries of your choice, stemmed, rinsed (and if strawberries, cut into chunks).
.
This will give you a beautiful, bright and very fresh-tasting fruit sauce for ice-cream, waffles, shortcake, whatever sounds good...

Oatmeal-Blue-Corn Waffles

Well, I had lots of blue-corn meal and oats in my pantry so have been experimenting with our family's favorite breakfast food - Waffles!! I admit, these took a couple batches to "perfect". My sister is now gluten-free, so I'm experimenting in that arena sometimes too. I like that these turn out nice and crisp and not too heavy. If you try these, please let me know how they work for you.

Oatmeal-Blue-Corn Waffles

4 1/2 cups water

2 tbsp. ground flax

6 soft, pitted dates, chopped
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup blue (or yellow) cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (OR sorghum flour, I just tried this as a gluten-free version and they're GREAT!!)
1/4 cup chickpea flour
5 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla extract (or pecan or butter-rum flavoring)
1 1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp oil (you can leave it out, but they tend to stick after the first one or so...)

Preheat waffle iron. Blend water, dates and flax until liquidy.

Add the rest of the ingredients and blend for several minutes until batter is smooth, light, and foamy - add a splash of soymilk if too thick.

Pour a generous amount into lightly greased waffle maker. (I use a Belgian waffle maker, these work with a regular waffle maker, just need less cooking time) Cook for about 4 - 6 minutes or until waffle is golden brown and crisp.

Serve with Butter-Pecan Syrup.

Butter-Pecan Syrup

1 tablespoon Earth Balance or other vegan margarine
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1 1/4 cups maple syrup

Toast pecans in margerine in a small skillet for a few moments, add syrup and warm through.

Belgian Waffles and Chunky Nectarine Sauce

My Sprouts wanted Belgian Waffles today - you know, the big, fluffy kind with the oversized 'waffle' pattern?

I discovered I don't have good luck with heavier, whole-wheat pancake batters when making these waffles, so I had to modify my "standard" vegan pancake recipe somewhat.

It now turns out light, crisp and wonderful but I'll admit it took some experimentation to get to that point...
Well, lazy cook that I am, I had planned to simply serve these with maple syrup, but as I put the piping hot waffles on the table in my best Betty Crocker imitation, a little Sprout voice said "But I wanted a FRUIT SAUCE topping..."

*Gasp!*

SuperMom to the rescue, of course.
(Who am I to deprive my Sprouts of FRUIT?)

My "recipe"?

Cut up two super-ripe nectarines.
Throw in food processor for a few seconds...

Presto! - "chunky nectarine sauce", I feel like a chef!

Now, admittedly, it may look like barf in the photo (sorry for that mental image, really) but seriously, it was a HUGE hit!! And what could be better for you than plain fruit, really?

The potatoes are some baby Yukon Golds that we scored at the Farmers Market, fried crispy with some sea salt. Truly decadent.
-------------------------------

Here's the waffle recipe.
It works in both a regular waffle iron or the Belgian kind...

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup white flour
1/4 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
2 cups soy or almond milk I like vanilla almond milk here but use whatever - rice milk is too thin)
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp ground flax seed whizzed with 6 Tbsp soymilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
In a blender or food processor, combine remaining ingredients and process until well-combined and "airy".
Add soymilk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until moistened - don't overmix or the waffles will turn out tough and heavy, a few lumps are fine.
Mixing the wet ingredients in a blender introduces lots of air bubbles, to make the waffles light and fluffy.
Cook according to your waffle maker.
The batter is enough to make 4 - 5 large Belgian waffles.