Waffles are for more than Politicians
For a while, the phrase “waffling on the issues” was a favorite amongst political pundits. Politicians are famous for statements like “I was for it before I was against it. Waffle became a derogatory term, and the food item suffered for something it had nothing to do with. But, Waffles are for more than Politicians. In fact, waffles are anything but indecisive. They are decidedly delicious. And, they are versatile too. While they hold a place as a breakfast favorite, dessert and dinner are greatly enhanced by waffles (think Fried chicken and waffles, waffle ice cream cones, waffle sundaes). So, today, we celebrate waffles on national waffle day.
And, what a treat to behold. part pancake, part architecture. The waffle has evolved from ancient and medieval times. In ancient Greece, they had something similar to waffles. But, it didn’t have the leavening agents we know today. Similarly, in the 9th and 10th centuries, dough would be heated between two metal plates. Communion wafers were a form of waffle at the time. Some would have designs carved in them, others were plain. During the renaissance they transformed into a delicacy. Flour and sugar were expensive. So, waffles became a treat for aristocracy and the bourgeoisie. Eventually, though, costs came down, and waffles found their way into every home in Europe and the New world.
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Thanks to the availability of Sugar and Flour, Waffles are for more than Politicians
Around the time Columbus “discovered” America, Waffles were evolving. A favorite method began with whisking eggs, salt, and wine, then adding flour. These were known as Oublies. Shortly thereafter, waffles developed into their own. French chefs introduced plates with the telltale square imprints that we know as waffles today. The pattern transcends the food. By the next century, Belgians got their hands on waffles, introduced sugar and leavening, and the rest is history.
Now, we have frozen waffles that you pop in your toaster. But, we are a from scratch cooking site, so that will never do. Eating frozen waffles is like believing a politician. It may be hazardous to your health. So, no more waffling. We’re making waffles today. Don’t worry. It’s not as hard as you think. Eggs, milk, flour, sugar, and baking powder. The only thing you need is a waffle iron. You don’t need a state of the art waffle iron. If you want, you can spend hundreds of dollars on one of those.
But, for everyday waffle making, you can pick up a unit for under $30. And, chances are, it won’t see a lot of action, so you should have it for years to come. It’s not that waffles are hard to make. But, they do take time. So, a good idea is to make a few extra, and freeze them. Then you can pretend they are Eggo’s. But, your tastebuds will know the difference.
Hopefully, we don’t start a run on the Market
Once you try your own homemade waffles, you won’t want to go back to store bought. Fresh, hot off the press is the way to go. And, our recipe is bound to please. Not to say it’s the only recipe. There are many variations. And, waffles are something you can play with. Add fruit, chocolate or other flavors as they strike your fancy. The trick is to get a fluffy, moist cake with crisp edges. Basically, it’s modified pancake batter. The addition of oil and ratio of flour to liquid makes the difference. Today, we take a slight departure from simple by adding lemon and basil. The sweet, savory, and acid kick is a wonderful addition to a world classic.
So, without further ado, the recipe:
Lemon Basil Waffles
Equipment
- Waffle Iron
Ingredients
- 2 Cups AP Flour
- 2 Tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp baking Powder
- 1/4 Cup Turbinado Sugar (may substitute regular sugar)
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 Cups Buttermilk
- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil Or other vegetable oil
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1 medium Lemon, just the zest and juice
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Basil
Instructions
- Mix Flour, cornstarch, salt, and Baking powder together.
- Whisk the eggs with sugar until well blended. Continue whisking in all other ingredients except the flour mix. make sure all ingredients blend well. Then mix in the flour, etc. Refrigerate for about an hour to allow the mix to rest.
- Follow instructions on your waffle iron. Make sure it is fully heated before adding the mix. Spray the surfaces with pan spray to make the waffles come off easier. Cook to a golden brown color. Cut into sections and serve with maple syrup. Most waffle irons take about 3 to 5 minutes per waffle to cook them properly. So, for 4 waffles, you are looking at about 20 minute to cook. remember to let it return to full heat between each waffle you make. A good idea is to preheat an oven to warm so you hold the waffles, hot, for all people at the breakfast table.