Return of the Waffle

One of the things I've missed since the beginning of my dietary changes (back in 2014) has been waffles. In fact, I gave up making them myself back in 2012. I can't tell whether it's sadder to have actually kept track of these dates or to have not made any myself in 4 years. Hmm....I'll choose the latter.


Well, why B? I felt I didn't have anyone to cook for.


Huh? Really?


Yes. See, back in 2011, I had a roommate/bestie. And a very beginner food blog. I loved cooking for other people. Me being able to eat the food was a bonus. I sheerly cooked for other people's benefit. So, I created waffle Wednesday in my house to have a weekly bonding ritual with my roommate. (I thought I was being original with the title back then...oh well). Each Wednesday, I'd get up before she awoke and I concocted a different recipe. They'd be ready just as she got up. It was a great chance to catch up and fuel up for our day. I looked forward to those moments and spent my week coming up with another recipe for us to try and for me to blog about. ***Need smthg else here***


Then, when she moved out and my then boyfriend moved in, waffle Wednesday stopped. Not because I didn't want to cook for him, but because our schedules didn't coincide. And he wasn't a breakfast for dinner fan, so waffles for dinner didn't become a thing either. (Yep, that's why we broke up...I wanted breakfast any time of the day...he didn't...major deal breaker ?!) I let my once beloved waffle iron begin to collect dust on the counter, then it became a hindrance, and I gave it away when I moved.

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Looking back, I believe my not continuing to cook waffles happened because I lost the relationship with my best friend/roommate (it ended badly and we still haven't connected to date). Because it was my grave mistake which cost us our friendship. And because of that mistake, I began to punish myself in numerous ways (hello return to eating disorder land, depression-ville, and self sabotaging city) Pretty heavy stuff for those fluffy little waffles squares to shoulder huh?


I got to thinking last week, it was time to let myself off the hook and move out of my permanent residence in self punishment land.


For the past month, I've been eyeing various gluten free waffle recipes from some of my other food blog/food company friends. I'd spent days adding a waffle maker to my Amazon cart and then deleting it before I could finalize my order. Finally, last Thursday, the drool from the amazing waffle photos I was viewing on my iPad became too much and I finished my order. Hello Mr. Waffle Maker...nice to meet you!

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While I was waiting for the box to arrive, I got busy figuring out my first waffle combo. After all, this blog is round 2 of food blogging and I've learned a lot since the first one which ended abruptly in 2011. I knew I wanted to reintroduce waffles in the most spectacular way. So, I went to the brand I know I can trust....Simple Mills.

Their products turn out wonderful each time I bake with them, so I knew using their pancake and waffle mix would create a fluffy, light, golden crumb. Plus, I can customize their mix to anything I want AND they've done the work for me by coming up with perfect combination of gluten free/dairy free/soy free/gum free flours which suit my belly just fine!

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So what did I do to this wondrous mix? I added a few flavorful ingredients to brighten up an otherwise rainy, cold, and yucky day: lemon zest, vanilla bean, and frozen wild blueberries.

Ahhh, springtime in a waffle.

I topped them with some wild blueberries I simply warmed on the stovetop. I also thought a few drizzles of almond butter would be delicious.

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But, last and certainly not least, I can't forget it is winter...so I wanted to add a sprinkle of snow ❄️ to my waffles (aka, shredded coconut).

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So, the self punishment is over. And my waffle mania has been rekindled. I'm resurrecting Waffle Wednesday, beginning next Wednesday the 14th. So, enjoy the post today as my ode to a new waffle day, Healthy, Fluffy Thursday. Maybe it will catch on?

Orrrrr maybe not....it's just not as catch as #wafflewednesday.

If you've got a waffle combo you'd like me to create for the blog, I'd love to bring your creation to life. Leave me a comment or send me an email via the contact me link and let's chat!!

Click Here for a Printable Recipe: Lemon Blueberry Waffles

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