So, while I should be blogging about my dissertation or teaching related things, I’m slightly stressed and thought it would be a good time for a snack break!

With the aid of some saved up gift cards, a few weeks ago I purchased my first ever waffle-iron.  I did my research (Cook’s Illustrated, Alton Brown, Amazon reviews, etc.) and finally decided I had to have the Cadillac of waffle irons — the All-Clad 4-square Belgian Waffle Maker. (Did I mention I had gift cards?)  This purchase and sudden interest in waffles was inspired by the inventive Waffelizer blog. After coming across the blog a few months ago, I decided to make waffles (or things waffled) predominately featured on the Fall 2010 tailgate menus.  With summer teaching around the corner, final grades due this week, and a dissertation cloud over my head, I could not imagine a better time to immerse myself in a new hobby. (Do I even have to say insert sarcasm here?)

Long story short, my first attempt at waffles went pretty well.  I had planned on making waffles for dinner this past Sunday night after running the exciting Heart of a Spartan 5K in the morning.  Now, I don’t think waffles for dinner is bizarre, but, my husband disagreed and did not express a desire to partake in the fruits (breads?) of my waffling.  So I went a googling for a “waffles for one” recipe.  (I didn’t have any wax paper or ziplocs for freezing and I just wanted to make 2 waffles.)

I was disappointed with my google search — had no one perfected the waffle for one? So, I decided it would be a great time to experiment — and here is what I came up with! (It was successful if I do say so myself!)

Waffles for One
Perfectly portioned to fill one side of the All-Clad 4-square Belgian Waffle Maker.

Dry Ingredients:
1/3 cup organic flour (or, play around and get up to a 1/3 of a cup of different flours, whole wheat, etc.)
pinch of salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Wet Ingredients
1/2 egg
1/4 c buttermilk (or regular milk if you don’t have buttermilk on hand)
1 tbsp melted butter
dash of vanilla

Step 1: Put dry ingredients in small bowl and set aside

Step 2: Melt the butter and let it cool (but not re-coagulate)

Step 3: Crack egg and whisk it up, scoop out approx 1/2 of the egg (you can cook it up to go with your waffle!)

Step 4: Whisk buttermilk into egg, whisk in vanilla, whisk cooled butter into the mix.

Step 5:  Mix wet and dry ingredients – give it a few nice stirs to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.

The waffle iron was set to 6 (out of 7.) I scooped out the contents bowl to fill the left side of the waffle maker.  Set the lid down and once the escaping steam slowed down, lifted the lid. Looked nice and golden brown – but put the lid down for another few seconds (I like crisper waffles.)

And there you have it – two perfect waffles emerged from the Cadillac, I mean @allclad waffle iron. I drizzled with some local honey and enjoyed my waffles with no leftovers and only a few small bowls to clean up!

Now for extra credit you could mix in some ham and shredded cheddar to make it more savory and “dinner like.” You could mix in some berries for a sweet treat…the possibilities are endless (as you will quickly find out if you follow @waffleizer)

Enjoy – and let me know if you try out the recipe!