National Waffle Day

By Diane Forrest,

Today is National Waffle Day, it is a really huge celebration in Sweden, but not so big in other areas of the world. 

A waffle is a dough baked cake that is cooked between two metal plates connected by a hinge, with each plate connected to an arm with a wooden handle. The iron was placed over a fire and flipped to cook both sides of the wafer. The irons were used to produce a variety of different flat, unleavened cakes, usually from a mixture of barley and oats, instead of the white flour used today  .Waffles were first introduced to North America in 1620 by Pilgrims who brought the method from Holland. Thomas Jefferson brought a waffle iron from France, and waffle frolics or parties became popular in the late 18th century

The sponge cake recipe from yesterday is sometimes used to make waffles. The recipe I use comes in a yellow cardboard box and says Eggo's on the side. Growing up I don't remember eating waffles.  We usually had pancakes instead, and those were at suppertime.  My son however loves them, so much that one year for Christmas he got 3 waffle irons!  After that I don’t think he ever made another waffle!

When my husband and I would travel out of town, we eventually would visit a Waffle House.  That is a chain of small diners that are famous for their waffles.  He would always order a large waffle topped with strawberries and whipped cream.  Looked more like dessert than breakfast.  Of course you can eat waffles at any meal or even a snack.  Several places now offer a dish of chicken and waffles.

There is no better time like today to have some waffles...so if you don’t have time to make them yourself, head out for breakfast and have a great start to your day!

Waffle Recipe:

• 1 1/3 cups flour 
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 3/4 cups milk

Directions

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.
• Separate the eggs, adding the yolks to the dry ingredient mixture, and placing the whites in a small mixing bowl.
• Beat whites until moderately stiff; set aside.
• Add milk and melted butter to dry ingredient mixture and blend.
• Fold stiff egg whites into mixture.
• Ladle mixture into hot waffle iron and bake.

So how do you like your waffles?