Chocolate Waffles

Want an elegant yet easy dessert for company? These can be made ahead then reheated in the oven or toaster.

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1 - 3/4 cups pancake mix
2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 - 1/3 cups water

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together the pancake mix, walnuts, chocolate chips, cocoa and sugar. Add water and oil. Hand mix until large lumps disappear. Do not over beat. Let batter rest for at least 5 minutes.

Pour desired amount of batter into pre-heated, well greased (or non-stick) waffle iron. Bake according to your machine's directions -- usually until an indicator light goes off or the steam stops rising.

Top with ice cream and garnish with chopped nuts and a mint sprig or, perhaps a luscious, ripe strawberry.

Waffles on Sunday

Q. How long does it take for a waffle to bake if you pour the batter in the waffle iron and never plug the waffle iron in?

A. Well, I suppose it depends on the climate and season. Currently -- early October -- the waffle will take considerably longer to bake in Antartica then Death Valley. In either extreme, or anywhere else in between, it is best to plug the waffle iron in and heat it up before beginning.

Sometimes everything clicks. Sometimes perfection happens. Today I made the perfect waffle -- and I had a camera nearby so I could take a snapshot and prove it. These two were light and fluffy on the inside and brown and crispy on the outside. OC devoured them and another set just like them.

We have waffles every Sunday. I asked OC today if he was getting tired of them yet. As he was using the last bit of waffle to soak up the last bit of maple syrup from his plate, he said he'd be sure to let me know when if it happened.

Sunday Waffles

2 cups flour
1 tbs. sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbs. butter, softened (the Real deal)
1 egg
1/2 cup whole milk
water

Mix dry ingredients together. Mix butter, egg and milk together. Add to dry ingredients. Add water as needed to make thick pourable batter. Pour batter down the middle of a preheated waffle iron (read manufacturer settings). Bake until steam stops rising.

Open waffle iron and remove waffle. Butter immediately. *Add your favorite topping and eat. Yum!

Tips:
* You may actually want to put the waffle on a plate.