WARNING: On Waffle Day, we are not concerned about our weight, dieting, health habits, etc. Waffles are meant to be enjoyed without feeling guilty. If you try to substitute ingredients with healthy, non-fattening ingredients, it just won't taste right. So, do not use margarine or non-fat milk or artificial vanilla extract. Use 100% real ingredients. Also, it is critical that you prepare your ingredients in separate bowls as described below. If you try to throw all the ingredients in one bowl all at once, the waffles won't turn out right. This recipe is high in saturated fat, so save this for special occasions and eat small to moderate portions.
1. Put one whole stick of real, salted butter (= 1/2 cup) in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, and microwave 10-20 seconds at a time. Keep checking it and swirling it around to get it melted but not sizzling and oily-looking. You want it to look creamy when melted. Otherwise, it'll be too hot and cook the eggs when you add them.
2. In another medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together and set aside:
3 eggs
1 & 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3. In a third medium-sized mixing bowl, blend thoroughly with a fork:
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
4. Add the egg-milk mixture to the melted butter. Mix together with a fork. The butter might slightly solidify into flakes or lumps, and that is normal.
5. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and blend together with a fork. Mix completely but allow the batter to be slightly lumpy. Set aside and let it rest a few minutes while you get the waffle iron ready and preheat it.
6. Cook the waffles according to the waffle iron instructions. I tend to set mine at a higher temperature in order to cook it faster. With my iron, I don't time it but pay attention to when most of the steaming stops. Then I peek at it and remove the waffle when it is golden but not brown yet. Serve immediately. When kids are around, it's necessary to establish rules regarding who will get the first waffle and the second, and the third, and so on.
7. For topping, use butter and syrup or a fruit-type topping. Since we're not worrying about our weight today, add some bacon or sausage on the side, if desired, to round out the meal.
And finally, always make sure you degrease your waffle iron every single time after using it, before you put it away in the cupboard. Once you stick a grease-covered waffle iron into the cupboard, you might as well send it to the graveyard. Nobody is motivated to use a waffle iron again that has been sitting around with an old layer of grease. I have a little waffle iron that I can stand up on its side afterwards to let the grease drain out onto paper towels while it's still hot. After it has cooled off, I wipe it carefully and thoroughly with paper towels (I go through a lot of paper towels!). I can't immerse my iron in water or stick it in the dishwasher. Also, you don't want to use soap on the actual cooking surfaces, as that will take away the "seasoning." The outside of my iron is metal (aluminum?) and I can very carefully put a little windex on the paper towels to get that final layer of grease off before storage--as long as I don't get the Windex on the cooking surfaces. See more hints about cleaning your waffle iron in your manufacturer's instructions. It may seem like a hassle to make homemade waffles, but it sure is worth the effort. The kids will agree! I like to think of Waffle Day as a ritualistic family tradition.
