Quick Waffles

Here is a quick and easy waffle recipe that can take on all kinds of flavors.  This morning I zested a tangelo into it.  Divine orange flavor permeated the batter reminding me of winter in Tucson when the tangelos come ripe right off the tree.

Quick Waffles

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 3/4 cup milk (can substitute club soda, orange juice, or some combination of these)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 Tablespoons cornmeal
• Optional flavorings:
 
• zest of an orange, tangelo/minneola, or lemon
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary or thyme
• Club soda, as necessary

Preparation

Place all ingredients into a blender in the order given above.  Liquids must go first into a blender or things will not blend properly.  If you are going to add a seasoning, such as grated orange zest, add it now. If you are going to use fresh herbs, I'd recommend leaving out the sugar or scale it back to a pinch. Blend until all flour is absorbed, scraping sides as necessary.  The batter should be the thickness of unwhipped heavy whipping cream.  If it is too thick add more milk - or better yet club soda (I've also substituted tonic water in a pinch or orange juice on a whim).  The soda will lighten the waffles.  I've even substituted all the milk for club soda and it makes a light crispy waffle.  You're now ready to pour the batter into your preheated waffle maker.  As the batter sits, it may thicken up.  If so, add a little more milk or club soda to keep it at the right consistency.

You can use different flours than regular all-purpose flour, but you may have to adjust the quantities.  Straight whole wheat flour will weigh down the waffles so I wouldn't recommend using 100% whole wheat - try mixing it with some regular flour.  You can also substitute a hot cereal grain mix for the cornmeal. If you do that, I recommend letting the batter sit for at least 10 minutes and adjust the liquid to ensure it is still the thickness of unwhipped heavy whipping cream. Cereal grain tends to absorb more liquid than the cornmeal.

This makes a little more than 4 waffles in our waffle maker. We sometimes double it so we have extras for the freezer. Put a sheet of waxed paper between each waffle before freezing so that they are easy to get apart to heat just a few at a time.