#12 - Waffles with Strawberry Topping

mmmmmmm waffles!  I had an impromptu breakfast-for-dinner party and made scrambled eggs with cheese, spicy hashbrowns, and waffles with strawberry topping.  I made a giant mess of the kitchen and used just about every bowl, plate, pan, and fork I have.  It took several days (seriously, DAYS) before I actually managed to finish washing all those dishes.... but, the food was good and it was nice to have a bunch of friends over.  [Sidenote: We played a card game called Bohnanza and I dreamed about trading beans that night!]  The pumpkin waffles I made in the past were delicious, but I didn't have any pumpkin, and I could have made pancakes, but that wouldn't have been a new recipe, so I found this classic waffle recipe on allrecipes.com. I had a pint of strawberries, so I decided to make this strawberry topping to go with it.  I had some (what I thought were) old potatoes, that turned out to be rotten potatoes, but luckily Joe called from the store at just the right moment to see if I needed anything, so he brought home (orange juice and) the frozen shredded hashbrowns that I doctored up with lots of onion powder, garlic/pepper grinder stuff, salt, and red pepper.  A little too spicy, but still good.  And the eggs were fine, I just have to remember that they take a long time to cook when I'm making such a big batch.  The waffles were perfect, but the strawberry topping was a little blah and didn't seem to have the right consistency (way too watery).  I'm not counting the strawberries as a new recipe, but the waffles definitely count and I'll certainly be making them again.  It's great to add a new, practical recipe to my repertoire.  Recipe #12 - check!

Classic Waffles
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons white sugar
dash or two of cinnamon (I added this)
2 eggs
1 and 1/2 cups warm milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients.  Melt butter and warm up milk.  In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.  Combine eggs, butter, milk, and vanilla.  Pour wet ingredients into dry.  Beat until blended.  Pour into preheated waffle iron.  Cook for about 2 and 1/2 minutes.  (Makes 3 waffles.)

Strawberry Topping
1 pound of fresh strawberries, washed and hulled
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest (I didn't have/use this)

Slice strawberries in 1/4 inch slices.  In a saucepan combine sugar and orange juice (and orange zest).  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.  Once it reaches a rolling boil, remove from the heat and pour over sliced strawberries.  Let sit while making waffles.  (Other recipes I looked at called for a few teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken the sauce.  I think that would have helped.)

New ingredients: nothing
New skills: planning and serving a big meal!