The best Mother’s Day gift we ever gave my mom was a Belgian waffle maker. I feel certain she’s the one who gave us the suggestion. However, it was really my sister Laura and I who loved it.
I was in middle school that year. When summer came, my sister and I spent all our time swimming. My mom would be at work when we came home from morning practice. As a result, the two of us were left in charge of making our own breakfast. We always came home starving. It was the kind of hunger that a bowl of cereal couldn’t touch. So that’s when the waffle maker called to us from the depths of the kitchen cabinet.
Determined to make our own, we went looking for a waffle recipe. Thoughts of crispy waffles with sweet maple syrup filled my head as I suddenly remembered my mom’s Cooking Light magazines. I specifically recalled seeing an issue with a stack of waffles covered in strawberries and powdered sugar. So, I climbed on the kitchen desk and searched through a tall tower of magazines until I found it.
Excited and famished, my sister and I pulled out the flour, sugar, eggs and milk and began measuring and mixing the batter. We poured it into the waffle maker and watched in amazement as it slowly puffed up. When it began to steam wildly, we bravely lifted the lid to find our treasure, golden waffles. We made a short stack and ate them together. Full and happy we vowed to make waffles all summer long.
Summers have a way of flying by. Now my sister and I each have two daughters of our own. Laura lives in New Jersey so we don’t see each other quite as often as we would like. But some things don’t change, my girls love Belgian waffles as much as my sister and I did. These days it’s my daughters who are in the kitchen mixing up a batch of waffles and as I watch them, I am reminded of all those summers at the pool and morning waffles with my sister.
Laura’s Belgian Waffles
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ cup milk
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
First, preheat the Belgian waffle maker. In a medium bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add the eggs, milk, vanilla and melted butter. Whisk with a fork until most of the lumps are gone.
Next, when the waffle iron is hot, add the batter. Use a ladle or large spoon to spread about ½ cup of batter per each individual waffle. Since waffle iron shapes can vary adjust the amount of batter so it just covers the waffle squares.
Close the lid and cook for about a 4 ½ minutes or a number four setting if the waffle iron has a timer. You will know the waffles are done when the steam slows down and the top looks golden brown. Extra waffles can be saved and reheated in your waffle iron. Makes 6 waffles.
Finally, the best part of making waffles is dreaming up new toppings. Add fresh berries, peaches or powdered sugar. In my house we love making a strawberry syrup, but you could substitute your favorite jam and fruit.
Strawberry Syrup
- ½ cup strawberry jam
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
First, in a small saucepan heat the strawberry jam. Then add the lemon zest and maple syrup. Stir until the jam and syrup until well combined. Finish the waffles off by drizzling the syrup over your berry topped waffles.
By the way, if you’re still looking for a Mother’s Day gift might I suggest a Belgian waffle maker. It just might be the gift that keeping giving all summer long.
What a sweet story! Now I’m hungry for waffles!
It’s so good to hear from you Shayla. I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Amy