And in the Morning, I'm Making Waffles

When we were first married, I had no idea my husband was a fishing addict.  I guess I should have seen the signs: he bought me an expensive fishing pole and reel to take me fishing randomly, he would always stop to show me ideal casting spots in rivers, lakes and ponds, and every time we stopped by a pet store, he would spend the majority of the time scrutinizing the fish tanks.  I guess I was blinded by love.

That first summer together, my husband had a job that took him away on long trips into rural country.  He'd be gone for a few days at a time, and I would sit at home and wallow in self pity, lamenting the fact that I was a lonely bride.  Of course I had my job, so that kept me busy during the day, but I would lounge on the couch at night with only my kitty Suki for company.  After the summer was over and he was back in school, he would go on little fishing trips.  Sometimes I went, and sometimes I didn't.  To tell the  truth, I do love fishing…..for two or three hours.  Nick loves it for six to eight.  Not my cup of tea.  Oh we'd have fun, going to reservoirs and fishing, catching 60 or more fish in a single trip.  But then there were times I didn't want to go, and I'd let him just take off.  Or the times I let him go fishing while I was at work, and would end up waiting an hour or more after clinic for him to remember he needed to pick me up.

New bride + husband gone fishing = worry and panic.

He told me he'd be home an hour ago, didn't he die?  Did he fall asleep at the wheel and drive off a cliff?  Did he get a fishing hook caught in his eye?  The what if's plagued my mind as I frantically texted him "are you coming home yet?".  No answer.  Worries confirmed.  Bah!  What do I do now?  He has the car!  I know, I'll call the bishop, he'll give me a ride and we can go find him.

Of course, a few hours later, he would stroll through the door, usually sopping wet and smelling of fish.  I would be soo happy he wasn't dead, thats it was all I could do to restrain myself from leaping into his arms just to prove a point.  So I would glare at him, telling him he was late getting home, he didn't answer my texts, and I was mad at him.  He would shrug, make up some silly excuse about being a man, and that would be the end of it.

A few months down the road, I learned how to deal with my fishing anxiety, and on the trips that I didn't go with him, I did something else.  One of our wedding gifts was a card to Bed Bath & Beyond, so I used it to buy a waffle iron.  And when Nick left me home,  I made waffles and watched 50 First Dates.  Yeah, I went through a lot of waffles.  And by the end of our first year, I could quote the entire movie word for word.  I have to say I became quite attached to Ula.  "You got a cat?  Cuz I feel something licking me".  Oh and Doug, "I love Spam and Reeces, can I have 'em?"

Moral of the story: waffles are the next best breakfast food, after pancakes and donuts.  And, they taste amazing any time of day.

And for your tasting pleasure, here is the recipe I have perfected after many trials!

Sara's Best Waffles

• 1 cup milk

• 1 tsp vinegar

• 2 cups flour

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

• 4 eggs, separated

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1/2 cup oil

• 2 tbsp sugar (less if desired)

• Confectioners sugar (optional)

• 
  

• Preheat waffle iron (medium heat works best)

• Combine vinegar and milk. Allow to sit for at least 5 minutes.

• Mix flour, powder and cinnamon together.

• In a separate mixing bowl, combine egg yolks, sugar, vanilla and oil.

• Stir in milk/vinegar mixture.

• Whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients.

• Beat egg whites until frothy, does not need to stand in complete peaks.

• Fold egg whites into batter.

• Cook in waffle iron using about 1/4-1/3 cup of batter at a time.

• Waffles should be slightly golden brown when finished.

• Serve with syrup, jam, or ice cream. Garnish with confectioners sugar if desired.