I've been seriously thinking about savory waffles since I posted those sundried tomato waffles.


I mean, why don't they get more credit?


Sure, they may not get drizzled in maple syrup (or do they???), but they get things like chili, eggs, beans, avocado, salsa, BBQ sauce, and even fried chicken (if you're into eating meat that is).

I'm definitely thinking these need to become more of a regular thing.


When today came around, I just didn't want any ol' regular sweet waffle. No...all I wanted was a vessel to transport avocado and salsa into my mouth.


Enter these Savory Herb Waffles.

What I love about these is the ability for the waffles to be customized to YOUR liking....you don't have Herbs de Provence? Cool...use Italian seasoning. Want to use garlic and onion instead of cumin and paprika? Go for it.


Note: I didn't even think to use those until actually writing this post. I only had avocado on my brain apparently.


I mean, and why wouldn't I have? These were ripe and ready to go.

Yeah. Delish.


The next day? I topped these babies with sunflower seed butter. Just as good as the night before. Subtle spicy sweetness. So freaking good.


Don't just take my word for it though. Make these yourself and share the goodness. Tag me, comment, and share your creations at #whiskingoutsidethebox


Until Thursday.....B

Savory Herb Waffles

One thing I've really been intrigued with lately is tiny home living. When I visited Ikea a few weekends ago with Madeline, I spent so much time walking through the little spaces they had set up in various spots around the store. Did you know they had those?

I sure didn't--and I loved every single one of them--a busy family tiny home; a couple's place; and a single gal's urban paradise (uh hi Ikea, I'd like that particular set up please!)

In my spare time, I do watch HGTV & DIY networks for their tiny home living shows.  Also, my sweet friend Amie lives in a tiny hut in Maui, so its been neat to see her stories and videos from her square footage set up.  I've got tiny home living on the brain.

But, why do I like tiny homes so much?

Okay, okay, not gonna lie about this one:  they are super cute!  Its not just the cuteness over the size though.  Its the idea of actually living with less "stuff".

Because your gal Brooke, yeah, she's got alot of stuff.  And to be free from it all, well, for lack of a better term, would be incredibly freeing.

When I even floated the idea of living in less square footage, my mom's response was sheer laughter.  Seriously, she just laughed. And as she was laughing, the response was, "Brooke, that will NEVER be you.  You totally spill over into every room of any house where you live."

Ouch.

Well, upon hearing those words, my inner teenager was quite pissed.  To hear my mom tell me "Never"--yeah, that word NEVER sits well with me.  In fact, it does cause me to regress into my full blown teenager mode including eye rolling; foot stomping, and mega MEGA attitude.

I mean, does anyone else when they're triggered by something their parents tell them? It can't just be me....can it?

Now, I'm not proud of that reaction mind you.  Its something I've committed to working on--by stomping a bit less and toning down the attitude a bit more.  But, the eye rolling stays.  Its my signature move after all.  Sorry Mom. ;)

Despite my teenage reaction, the adult in me began questioning what Mom actually said. Do I really spill out into every area of a house that isn't mine?? Looking back on all of the homes I've lived in, what began as one room full of my stuff, turned into bringing furniture from my storage room into the den, shelving into the dining room, and outdoor chairs on the front porch. I took over bathrooms, entryways, and let's not even talk about a kitchen. I always came in complete with glasses, mugs, utensils, pots, pantry items, cleaning supplies, etc.

Most of it was just normal spread, a simple part of settling into a new place. But, for some things, it was a bit excessive. I just wanted my things surrounding me.

I know there's nothing wrong with that necessarily; but, the amount of stuff I had is horrifying. At one point, I had three storage rooms in addition to the room(s) I was living in. Yeah, for one person and her little 11 pound dog....that's just a lot.

Even now, I have both of our attics, a spare bedroom, the bonus room, living room, and the office full of my stuff in addition to my own bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.

Now thats a lot of stuff. And a clear indication I have to pare down. Stat.

One thing I won't compromise on in my tiny house (or apartment) is a kitchen.  I mean, a gal's gotta make herself some waffles.  And, be able to do dishes.  No efficiency sized appliances for me--bring me the full size ones please!  I'll compromise by having a smaller bedroom, bathroom, and living area for a bigger kitchen & windows full of natural light.

See, I can downsize.  Smaller bedroom and bath means less stuff in those rooms.  Yeah...progress!

Speaking of progress, can we talk about these waffles for a moment? I can and I will revisit my minimalist journey....but, lets get to the real reason you're here....the food!

Carrot Cake Waffles.  They've been on my "to make" list for a while.  (Yes, I have a "to make" list.  And if you have one you'd like me to make, please let me know!) But, its taken some time to get my desired texture.  And my desired timing.

Seems with these waffles in particular, I seem to get quite excited and try to actually remove the waffles before they were really ready to be removed--which lead to many undercooked middles; falling apart waffles; and, burnt carrots.

Definitely not a pretty sight.

Good thing when I made this round, I was listening to a podcast on Patience.  Thanks ladies for helping to remind me to allow cooler heads to prevail and to allow the waffle iron to do its thing.  And, its got a very important job....don't you think?

The flavor here is quite subtle, so if you'd like a stronger carrot cake flavor, add more spices to your liking.  I didn't really grow up eating carrot cake, so the flavor suited me fine; but, my recipe testers told me they used more cinnamon and nutmeg to intensify the cake flavor.

I know...I know....you're asking how in the world did I not grow up eating carrot cake?  Well, see, there are these things inside of the cake called carrots.  Carrots are veggies; and, I had quite an aversion to all veggies growing up.  Even in sugary, cream cheesy treats.

So, flavor away if you need.  And also go nuts...seriously, if you want to add nuts, please do so.  

What I love about recipes, even baking waffles, is the ability to customize your waffles exactly how you want them once you get the "meat" of the recipe down--in this case, the flour and the liquid ratios.

Create away!  Tag your carrot cake creations using #whiskingoutsidethebox so we can share in our love for all things carrot.  So glad I grew out of that carrot aversion.  I can mature.  

​Enjoy the rest of your week.  Until Sunday.......B

Carrot Cake Waffles

adapted from The Crunchy Chronicles

Today has been a day of rest, something which usually doesn't happen on a Sunday. In fact, I'm typically working all day at my place of employment. So, this is a beautiful gift.


With this rest, it's given me so much time to really think...listen....and process.


And with all this thinking, I get super duper hungry. And tired. Which makes me want to just sleep and eat while thinking. Quite the conundrum huh?


I present the fuel I needed to get me through this day of thoughts.

Well, what am I thinking about you may ask?


Hahaha...a lot. I'm always thinking of stuff. It's kinda part of my DNA. I can hear an ol' country song being written---"I come from a long line of.....overthinkers....?!?!?"


Well, maybe not.


I'll have to come up with another award winning songwriting idea. Add that to my "things to think about" list.


But, the reason for my thinking today has a lot to do with the current inner work I'm doing.


I'm deep in the midst of transformation. I'm sifting through a lot of my inner stories, thoughts, and patterns to see if they still ring true. Here's the quick response--they don't. But, as I've been peeling these gunky layers back, I've come up against so much resistance to letting go of these stories. I've seen myself still wanting to stay small, even though my heart's desires are expanding. I've seen myself sabotage my efforts to step outside of my normal routines. I've been dealing with a lot of fear...so much so I've had to sit down and invite fear to eat breakfast with me.


Luckily, this day wasn't really fear I invited to breakfast, it centered around my truth.

Real talk time. I've held onto---no, I've straight clung---to this narrative of unworthiness and incapability in my life. I'm pretty sure I really began to form this narrative in my youth, when I was made to feel incapable of making any decision for myself AND unworthy of having exactly what I desired.


I felt incapacitated to do anything but succeed in school. If I tried sports, I'd tell myself I sucked. I'd end up getting hurt, or getting my glasses broken; then, I'd quit. If I was in dance class, I told myself I wasn't as good as everyone else; so, I practically begged to be in the back for every number. These activities were constantly changing, so I had to work extra hard to prove my incapacity....aka by overthinking and self sabotage.


School was where I knew exactly what would go down--homework, quizzes, tests. There were no real curve balls to have to try & predict. I'd just go in and get shit done.


Except for geometry. That class was so hard.

I have spent so much of my life trying to control every outcome under this narrative of unworthiness & incapability. It's been exhausting. I can see how this narrative has weaved its way into my adult life too with broken relationships; extreme financial distress; career switching; and, severe health problems.


And, dismantling what took 37 years to build up isn't going to happen overnight. In fact, this process of uncovering my truth has been over 5 plus years. For the past two years though, it feels like the revelations are coming much faster. The stakes are getting higher. I'm on the verge of a major breakthrough. I can feel it. And these feelings are making me want to expand and contract at the same time. Kinda like being hungry & sleepy during all this processing work.....it can be overwhelming!

Funny how things come full circle so quick. And how I eat a lot of waffles to get me through these times. I need grounding. I need comfort. I need time to sit & think....and eat. Scarfing waffles down doesn't really feel good; nor do I suggest it. I'm glad I have something to linger over. It helps me comfort myself as I'm moving into these huge releases.


Like this letter:


"Dear unworthiness, thank you for keeping me safe all this time. You've let me navigate through life with a sense of not claiming all of my special & unique gifts. You let me just move through pieces & parts of my life instead of letting me dive deep into my soul. Because you didn't want me to know my own soul. You wanted me to trust you and no one else.


Your best friend, incapability, has led me through some dark ass times; and all the while, you were there whispering to me how all of this struggle was my fate. You gave me a place to land when things fell apart--because you knew they would. Now, you want to keep me stuck here in this limbo place. You want me in this "should I or should I not" place because you are powerful here. This is where you shine. This is where you keep me hidden. This is where I admit I'm scared and you run to comfort me with your "I told you so's & you'll never achieve any more."


I'll admit, I've found solace in this. Each puzzle piece which has happened in my life all points to these themes--I am unworthy of success and I am incapable of success.


But, buddy, these stories have got to get the fuck out.


I've observed you for years playing games with me. I've watched from afar and felt a lot of these feelings--fear, anger, frustration, hatred, confusion, heartbreak, sadness, depression, and anxiety. These are feelings you love because I don't grow in that place.


But, I've started to see another life. I'm envisioning the future. I'm meeting my future self--over Waffles of course-- and we are excited about possibilities. I am grateful for this present place of release AND I'm grateful for where I've been, and for where I'm going. Yes, I'm struggling with a decision. I'm standing on the edge of a mountain not knowing what's there when I jump. I'm choosing between your constant state of stagnation AND my expansive future. I am terrified, shaking like a leaf, and wanting to curl up in a ball. Which I've done today--a lot of in fact.


You're probably gonna try woo me back into your arms more than a time or two. You don't just walk away. But, I'm slowly starting to chart my own path while leaving you astray."

Sometimes, you gotta have days to think and to process. You've got to put your heart in your hands. You need to see what no longer resonates, and craft you up a newer plan.


And a new plan of mine is to begin to bring coffee back into my life. I've gone without it for over a year now, as I've been struggling with my health, my hormones, and my digestive system. But, as I've gotten stronger, I've noticed a desire to have coffee again. I've slowly begun to try again with caffeine. And what better way to bring it in with a waffle? Seriously...the combo of almond and coffee and chocolate gets me every time. It makes me feel like super woman---perfect for processing and releasing the old; and, welcoming and expanding the new.


What do you do when you're in a processing state?


Also, if you make these waffles, tag me with #whiskingoutsidethebox


I'd love to see what you create!

Mocha Almond Waffles

I have woken up every morning this week with bone crushing fear. On Tuesday, it was so bad I could barely breathe. It's why I decided to "lay my heart bare", the #Truthbomb I posted from Danielle LaPorte.

Energetically, I've had this particular week pegged as amazing for a lot of reasons.

First, I got the chance to reconnect with my best friend in the whole wide world, Madeline. Even though it can be months (or in one case a little over a year), each time we reconnect, it's like like no time as passed. My life feels much more complete when we hang out because we share everything and leave space for one another to sort it out. I have a renewed sense of purpose and connection to myself after we talk. Kinda like everything will be okay.

Second, I met the amazing Heather Crosby from Yumuniverse and Gluten Free Baking Academy in Asheville to celebrate the release of her second cookbook, Pantry to Plate. I've been excited about this for months! Heather and I have chatted on IG, FB, and through email....so it was so nice to put a face to a name (and snag a picture of us too)! I'll have an interview with her and giveaway very soon...so stay tuned.

Lastly, I made the decision to begin sharing more of myself--in pictures, especially. For a while, you didn't see my face. You only read my words. I didn't want to be seen. I just wanted to pour my heart all over the page. And I did...and that's been super cool...but somehow it just felt awkward and impersonal. So, here I am, sharing myself and my heart.

But, with all of this energetic awesomeness, comes the bad---well, maybe I should say interesting. So today, when I woke up and felt fear creep in...I did something different. I invited fear to breakfast.

Uh, what Brooke? Inviting fear to breakfast?

Yeah, I can see your faces from across the screen--part shock, part questioning, heck maybe even you're rolling your eyes and mouthing crazy.

I get it. It was foreign to me too. Until I heard a meditation on Tuesday and it suggested to invite fear inside. It even said instead of merely shutting down with fear (which I admit I do quicker than anything), ask fear questions. See what the chat will reveal. Hence my breakfast idea.

I love getting fancy with my waffles, but you know, sometimes only simple will do. Especially when you're gripped in fear and can barely move. This recipe used simple flavors to create delicious results. Banana. Maple syrup. Ground ginger. The "trio of comfort" as I'd like to dub it today gave me comfort while tackling a rather uncomfy situation.

Now, I know you're all wondering how fear showed up for breakfast. I mean, I made her a plate and all. It's what a good host does. But, she came in rather abruptly, as fear tends to do, but sat rather still during our chat.

Turns out, there were things we needed to discuss. The first thing she brought up was to be recognized and acknowledged. She wanted me to merely see her and not run away. She was here to give me a message, not send me to shut down mode.

The other thing she gave me advice for was to breathe. Not sure where I heard this, but fear is excitement without breath. She said I hadn't been breathing deep at all, and I needed to calm down and give these exciting things some breath. It would free up some space in my chest and give me some space to decipher my own thoughts.

Lastly, she gave me permission. Yeah, fear gave me permission. Permission to feel all these feelings. I'm doing things in my life which are totally different from my usual responses. I'm moving outside of my comfort zone. I'm looking at things in a new way. I'm listening to how I feel instead of just gut reacting to things. And it's uncomfortable. I'm stepping out and owning my power. And it is different. So it's normal for me to be scared and fearful. I'm training new empowerment muscles. And it feels good and scary at the same time. But that means my new way of doing things is working.

Somehow I bet I'm not the only person dealing with fear right now. A lot of y'all are doing some majorly brave shit. And I'm in awe of you. But, if you are fearful and don't know exactly why, try inviting fear to breakfast. Or coffee. Or heck, just to come to meet you at your journal. Be kind with yourself. Ask good questions. And if all else fails, make her some waffles. I bet that'll win fear over....you think?

Banana Maple Ginger Waffles

Stories have always been an integral part of my life. And when I say stories, I mean the ones you find in a book or through a the spoken word.


Though I don't remember it, my parents told me I was so obsessed with stories as a wee young tot, when I used to sneak off behind a chair to look at pics and do my business if you know what I mean ;)


And as a kid, I remember my mom telling us stories & reading us so many books. Weekly trips to the library were so joyous. She even recorded tapes for us which we'd listen to when we went off to visit our grandmother.


And one story in particular sticks out in my mind. In fact, it was many stories. About Cookie Bars.

Yes, Cookie Bars. I'm capitalizing those words for a reason because Cookie Bars was a person....errr cookie bar.


But, Cookie Bars went to many places in his life. The library. The fire station. The doctor. The swimming pool. At my age, his adventures made him a worldly guy. She would tell us these stories to soothe us; to calm us if we were anxious (hello doctor or dentist time!); and, to make us laugh. It worked every time.

I loved these stories. They helped me to create my own stories when I began really reading to my stuffed animals & writing in my many journals. They also encouraged me to keep reading stories....and continue the tradition of creation in ANY form.


So, this recipe is more than just an homage to Cookie Bars. It's an homage to my mom herself.


And how fitting for Mother's Day.

These cookie bar waffles are totally grown up from what I ate as a kid. What makes them grown up? The addition of sweet & spicy crystallized ginger pieces into the batter.


What did I eat as a kid? Anything with chocolate. Chocolate chips, chocolate candies, chocolate ice cream....but no ginger. It just wasn't in my diet plan of chocolate, ketchup, chicken nuggets, and macaroni & cheese.

Good thing I've grown up. Because this was just damn good.


I made these waffles into a sandwich because sometimes you just want a sandwich made out of waffles. I mean, who wouldn't? Sandwiched between these two luscious layers is almond butter which made this sammie even more decadent.


I also have eaten these as regular waffles, drizzled with yogurt & maple syrup. Either way is equally delicious in their own right. I'm sure you'll come up with something equally as cool.


Because that's what story making and story telling is all about. It's about creating what works for you and sparks your curiosity or soothes your anxiety. It's about creating memories. Its about experiencing emotions. It's about celebrating what grabs you and doesn't let you go.


Thanks Mom. For your light. For your laughter. For your love. For your creativity. For Cookie Bars. Because he was pretty cool. Now, if you'll excuse me, let me go search for that tape. I need some story time before I go to bed.

Cookie Bar Waffles with Ginger

adapted from Simple Mills

I feel like each week bring about so many new revelations.


But, I also feel with each new lesson and revelation I've experienced, I've also held myself back.


Does that make sense?


For each growing moment I've had, I tend to overthink myself into holding back and not stepping into my full power....as a woman, as an empowered woman....heck, let's take a step back even further....as simply me.


So on these weeks where I feel like I'm walking the border between two "states" of being---empowered & holding back (Side note: At Carowinds, you can walk the line between North and South Carolina...and it's so cool!), it's easy to feel like I can't take care of myself....it's easy to say I won't eat healthy....it's easy to not post a waffle recipe.


But, then when have I ever taken the easy way out?

Okay okay, I'll admit I did have help with this recipe. I played with a Simple Mills mix.


A gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do to get things done.


For this experiment, which turned out amazing, I wanted to recreate some cornbread. And by recreating cornbread, I mean creating a recipe not using corn.


Because that sounds like a totally normal thing to do when making cornbread, right?


Like Rihanna sings, "Baby, this is what you came for."

Why no corn B?


Well, see I've had an intolerance to corn since 2015. Maybe because I ALOT of corn for the years prior to my 2015 food intolerance test. And by a lot of corn, I mean like bags of tortilla chips, taco shells, grits, polenta, hominy, and even corn in my cereal. And I ate cereal every freaking day.


Yeah, I had so much of a corn cereal problem, I had cases of that cereal shipped where I lived in SC. Not kidding. My old roomie will tell you the truth...she laughed every month it was delivered to our door.


Maybe that's why the sheer look of the box turns my stomach. I kinda overdid it. Good thing I have so many varieties of waffles to create...

How did I get the color? Turmeric. And turmeric's taste was undetectable to me (I hadn't really used turmeric until this year...I was put off by the smell), so if you're wigged out by the smell, don't be. Now, I eat it on almost everything...kinda makes me wonder why I freaked out for so many years about this spice. Hmmmm, maybe I should apply how I feel about turmeric now to how things in my life.


I topped this amazing ness with a blackberry jam I created from this post.


Since then, I've made it savory with scrambled eggs, black beans, guacamole, and salsa. I've also topped them tahini and cranberries.


I can go on and on...but then I'd spoil your own topping fun.


I'd love to see what you post, so share your posts using #whiskingoutsidethebox


Enjoy!!

"Corn" Bread Waffles

adapted from Simple Mills

Happy Sunday! I've dubbed this week unofficially "strawberry week". We got the most beautiful, flavorful, and aromatic strawberries at a roadside stand last Saturday. Since then, it's been all strawberries all the time.


I've added strawberries to all kinds of meals--rice & beans, roasted potatoes, roasted veggies, even tacos. Yes, even tacos.


But, oh my stars...they made amazing waffles....such amazing waffles.

Well, I've got another strawberry one for ya here....strawberry kombucha.


Kom-what??


Kombucha. My new favorite beverage. Have you tried it? The wonderfully vinegary, fermented, flavored drink full of bubbles, live bacteria, and microscopic yeast.


Doesn't that description just sound appetizing? ;)


Well, years ago, I'd have quickly turned up my nose at even the thought of kombucha....and grabbed a Diet Coke with some Snackwell's instead.


So glad I've matured....at least in a few foodie ways.

This was the first time I'd actually used a 1 for 1 gluten free flour blend, one which is brand new on the market. I was pleasantly surprised at both the flavor and the texture of the blend. It was very much like regular flour! I'd honestly avoided these gluten free blends for many years. I'd heard too many cooking horror stories about the flavor and texture being "off". But, I was pleasantly surprised. It's opened up a new world for me recipe wise.


A world I'll be sharing with you very very soon. I'll keep this one short and sweet...so much quicker to get to these fabulous strawberry-rific waffles.


What's your favorite strawberry recipe? Do you have a recipe you'd like me to either remake (to become either gluten or grain free) or to create in general? Leave me a comment and let me know what kind of waffles you'd like to see!!

Strawberry Kombucha Waffles

So, you didn't think I was only gonna post once this week did you?? I know, I know, a post on Wednesday didn't happen and I'm sincerely sorry. I hate disappointing anyone, especially myself. And I let myself down. I'll do better these coming weeks. For both of our sakes.


I am working on some exciting things though (building up my recipes, and I've even got a few new things in the works). I can't wait to share with you what I got!


So do you think you can forgive me with this waffle I concocted?


Because, I totally forgive myself for this deliciousness.

So, now that we've moved past all of this...Happy Cinco do Mayo y'all! Know why we celebrate this particular day? Well, it's the celebration of the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla back in 1862. It was an unlikely victory for sure.


There is some controversy as to whether it's an American created holiday or if it's an import from Mexico. Either way, it's a great time of year to celebrate spring, rebirth, renewal....and of course tacos and margaritas. I mean, what's not to love, right?

But, seriously, it is a celebration of a victory in any case. And celebrate whatever you'd like--the ending of a hard winter, the beginning of a new season of life, a movement in the right direction--anything.


And for me, this is definitely a celebration of the end...and the beginning. Yes, winter was a hard season physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I'm happy the cold weather is gone (for most days anyways....it'll be 49 degrees here tonight...brrr!). It's also a celebration of bringing on new opportunities...new chances to be authentically me...new ways for me to shine.

For so long, I've lived in the shadows, doing what everyone else says is good for me. In fact, listening to everyone else WAS my default pattern. I didn't ever check anything with myself...I just methodically did as I was told. And that scenario made me super miserable. No longer do I want to bring that misery in my life anymore.


I still have my moments of lapsing back into feeling others know better than I do when it comes to my future choices; but, now I'm celebrating cross checking other people's ideas with my own soul. I am learning to feel others ideas in my body...and assess whether it's truly right for me. I am feeling into whether the choices before me feel expansive in my rib cage or whether they make me contract into myself and curl up into a ball.


And curling up into a ball, rolling around like a roly poly is not a good look for a 37 year old. Not all the time anyway. ;)

Now that I've placed quite an image into your head, let's talk about waffles. Yes, these waffles.


Fresh strawberries, lime juice & zest, coconut milk....the only thing I missed was the tequila. But, that's only because we didn't have any in the house--horrific I know, especially on today of all days. I totally know tequila would've gone over quite well....and if you have some, by all means...celebrate away!!


If you don't have fresh strawberries, thawed frozen ones will work as well.


Let's celebrate shall we?? To new beginnings....to standing up for myself....and to feeling expansion in my chest. And to chowing down on these waffles. Enjoy!

Strawberry Lime Margarita Waffles