Sunday Mornings

I absolutely love going out for breakfast, but there's also something so nice about enjoying a leisurely breakfast with a nice hot cup of coffee in your pajamas. I'm not a big "sweet things for breakfast" kind of person, but every once in a while a really good waffle or piece of French Toast sounds so delicious. And this past Sunday Belgian Waffles with Orange Vanilla Butter and fresh Strawberries was just what I needed.



WAFFLE EQUIPMENT
Large Mixing Bowl
Medium Mixing Bowl
Glass Measuring Cup
Measuring Spoons
Measuring Cups
Whisk
Waffle Iron
Small Cookie Sheet (to keep the waffles warm in the oven)



BUTTER EQUIPMENT
Small Bowl with Lid
Fork
Sharp Knife
Zester or Vegetable Peeler



WAFFLE INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 C Flour
2 T Sugar
2 t Baking Powder
1 t Baking Soda
1 t Salt
1 t Cinnamon
1 3/4 C Buttermilk* (well shaken)
1 Stick Unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
2 Eggs
2 t Vanilla


Heat waffle iron, and preheat oven to 200 degrees.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Making sure there are no lumps of baking soda or powder.

In your medium bowl whisk together the buttermilk, butter, eggs and vanilla until well combined. Whisk wet mix into dry ingredients until combined.

Add your batter according to the waffle iron instructions, cook for 2-3 minutes. If need by spray a little oil on your iron to avoid sticking. Once waffles are cooked stack in the oven to keep them warm until they are all ready to eat.


*If you don't keep buttermilk around (and really don't want to go out and buy some) you can make a buttermilk substitute that will work just as well.

Just under a cup of Milk
1T Lemon Juice or White Vinegar
Put the lemon juice (or vinegar) in a glass measuring cup, and pour milk over top until it reaches the one cup line. Let stand for 1 minute, then use as much as you need. This may of coarse be made in a larger batch, just keep the same ratio.



ORANGE-VANILLA BUTTER
1 Stick Unsalted Butter, Softened
1 Vanilla Been, split
Orange Zest (desired amount)

Mash up the butter with a fork until nice and soft. Cut the vanilla bean lengthwise with a sharp knife and scrap out all the seeds. Add the seeds to your butter mixture. Zest as much orange as you would like (depending on how strong of an orange flavor your want) into your butter. I couldn't find my small zester, so I just used a vegetable peeler to cut off 3 strips of peel (careful not to cut too deep and get the pith) and then minced it with my knife and added it to the butter. Mash everything together until it is all well incorporated and use as desired.


Enjoy this delicious waffle with fresh fruit on top, syrup, whip cream or yogurt...really however you like it. Pour yourself a nice cup of hot coffee or tea and sit down for this delicious breakfast with your someone special, a really good friend, or just enjoy a nice quiet morning by yourself.


Comer!