waffles

crispy, light and airy: make waffles with a natural yeast stater or one mixed the night before with dried yeast.

       retirement must be like the weekend: wake up. have a leisurely breakfast at the dining room table with newspapers, the crossword puzzle, and books. exercise. get some things done. have a cocktail and a nice dinner. take a walk. watch a movie. kiss goodnight.

       when we have the time, i spend as much time making the first meal of the day as i do making dinner . . . and "waffles" is the answer i hear most often to the question, "what do you want for breakfast?" 

       while i'm whisking up the light-airy waffle batter, jim goes out and gets the paper, sets the table, and gives me the weather report. if it's cold outside then he makes a fire. if it's warm, he opens up the doors to the deck so we can listen to the birds while we eat and read. i guess when we retire it'll be waffles and weather forecasts just about every morning.

set the waffle iron on a piece of butcher paper or newspaper for easy clean-up.

if you don't keep a starter, these waffles can be made with one that you mix the night before using dried yeast. so with just a little planning ahead, you can turn out crispy-less-cakey waffles with a delicate crumb and yeasty flavor. i like to serve waffles with whipped cream and fresh berries, or with ice cream for dessert.

ingredients (makes 6 waffles)
• 1 and 1/2 cup of natural bread starter (click to learn how to make a natural yeast starter)
or/
make a starter the night before (see below)
• 1 egg
• 2 tbl. safflower oil
• 1 tbl. sugar
• enough all-purpose king arthur flour to make a batter
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
directions
1. set the waffle iron on a piece of butcher paper or newspaper and preheat it.
2. mix the starter, egg, oil, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl with a whisk.
3. add flour a few tablespoons at a time to make a thick batter that is still wet enough to pour.
4. in a small bowl, dissolve the baking soda in 1 tbl. of water.
5. whisk the dissolved baking soda into the batter and it will become light with air bubbles.
6. pour the batter into the waffle iron and cook them until they are golden brown.
7. serve with butter, syrup (click here to get a syrup substitute recipe), whipped cream, and dust with cinnamon.
to make a starter the night before
1. in a large bowl, mix 1 cup of lukewarm water with 1 teaspoon of dried yeast and 1 cup of flour.
2. cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on the counter overnight.