Springtime Waffles: Starting Fresh, Blog With Friends

Today's post is the next in our series of Blog With Friends theme collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. What I love about this partnership is that it’s not bloggers with similar interests or strengths but a diverse group coming up with a variety of posts. In any given month we may have a recipe, sewing tutorial, crafts projects, book review and/or a technology post all related to the theme of the month.

This month's theme is Starting Fresh.

There will be individual project pictures and links to what everyone else has to offer at the end of my post, but here’s a peek at what we all came up with:

I love this theme. Every month there are a number of theme discussions but this one, suggested by Lydia, was unanimous immediately. What I like so much about it is that it's specific and at the same time open to wide interpretation. For me, Spring comes immediately to mind when you say "starting fresh" at this time of year, but as a mom there was another connection as well. With kids, no matter what may have happened the day before we love seeing their beautiful sleepy faces in the morning. Yesterday is gone, each day we sit down to breakfast and start fresh. So I combined these two thoughts and made Springtime Waffles:

Springtime Waffles

I wanted to make these waffles fun as well as flavorful, more colorful than an everyday waffle. I had to be careful, adding just touches of sweet so those peeps are just for presentation, they're not in the waffles.

I decided to add crushed berry flavored cereal to the batter. Pretty, isn't it?

I cut berry flavored jelly candies in half and put them aside. I then sprinkled them onto each waffle individually once in the waffle iron. By not adding them to the batter and sprinkling them on top, you can control how many candies you add each time you make a waffle.

I love how you can see little bits of color in the finished waffles.

Sprinkle with multicolored jimmies (sprinkles for you non-New Englanders) for more color. This would be perfect for a birthday breakfast or for any celebratory brunch.

Don't forget the maple syrup! And, of course, for Easter add a Peep.

As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!

Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:

Eileen of Eileen's Perpetually Busy shares A Fresh Start for the Kitchen for Under $100.

 Minette of Southern Belle Charm shares a Dollar Tree Wreath for Spring.

Dawn of Spatulas on Parade shares the recipe for Garlic Honey Rubbed Pork Tenderloin in Life Lessons - Starting Fresh.

Tamara of Confessions of a part time working mom shares My Journey from (former) Couch Potato to (wannabe) Fitness Buff.

Kia of Think in English shares Seven Fresh Ideas Straight from the 2017 TESOL Convention in Seattle.

Rabia of The Lieber Family blog shares Starting Fresh: Tips and Thoughts on Moving.

Kristin of Little Mama Jama shares How to Start Fresh Each Day with Your Autistic Child. 

Melissa of My Heartfelt Sentiments shares a Handmade Gift Bag DIY.

Lydia of Cluttered Genius shares Daily Devotions to Start Your Day.

                   

Springtime Waffles

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 stick butter
3/4 cup Cap'n Crunch All Berries cereal
1 3/4 cups flour
1 TBSP brown sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup French Vanilla flavored  creamer
about 35 jellybeans or jellybean type candies (I used Mike and Ike Berry Blast candies), cut in half

OPT: multicolored sprinkles for serving
OPT: warm maple syrup for serving

Directions:
*Melt butter and set aside to cool a bit.
*In a food processor, pulse the cereal to large crumbs but not to a powder.
*Whisk together the cereal, flour, cereal crumbs, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.
*Separately, whisk the eggs, then whisk in the milk and creamer, finally the butter.
*Grease your waffle iron. Heat according to manufacturer's directions.
*While the waffle iron is heating, whisk the dry ingredients into the wet.
*When the iron is hot, scoop about 3/4 cup of the batter into the center. Sprinkle a few of the candies over the batter. Close and allow to cook.
*When the waffle iron indicates it's done, check to be sure the waffle has browned. If not, allow to cook for about another minute before removing to a plate. Keep warm.
*Repeat with the rest of the batter. Be sure to liberally grease the waffle iron each time before adding more batter.

Coffee and Bacon Wake Up Waffles for Waffle Week

It's Waffle Week and I'm so excited to, once again this year, be celebrating with a talented group of bloggers. 

Last year at this time I was contacted by a friend, Kim, who was looking to see if she could put together a waffle celebration. Oh hell yeah, I'm in. The end result was a post I was so proud of for many reasons. More than 25 bloggers created recipes that covered everything from soup to nuts (well, appetizers to desserts actually).

My contribution was Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken, and they turned out amazing . . . if I do say so myself. I had so much fun that a few days later I shared my Banana Bread Waffles with Cinnamon Banana Glaze.

I have to admit that I was disappointed to find out that Kim had stopped blogging. Fortunately the celebration she started is continuing and this year and I, once again, am so happy to be joining in with a unique recipe of my own for #WaffleWeek2016.

Here's a peek at what we all came up with. Individual pictures and links are at the end of this post.

As for my recipe, hoping to create a recipe completely different from what I did last year, I started to think of breakfast. What are some favorite breakfast flavors? Well, for me, coffee is first and foremost. And nothing gets my family out of bed faster than the smell of bacon cooking. So there you go. I had my idea, Coffee and Bacon Wake Up Waffles!

Coffee and Bacon Wake Up Waffles

I started with a basic waffle recipe and went from there. To add the coffee element I replaced some of the milk not just with coffee, but for added flavor I included hazelnut creamer. I beat the wet ingredients before whisking in the dry to make the batter a little more fluffy.

Last, I mixed in the bacon bits. I used packaged bacon bits (real only, not artificial) because I had used up all of the bacon in the house and had a partial package in the fridge.

Be sure to grease and heat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer's directions. Place the batter in the center of the waffle maker. All this is essential to a perfectly made waffle.

Now comes the hard part. All those delicious smells coming from that little appliance but resist the urge. Don't open till it's done!

But if you just have to indulge in a taste of that first one while the others cook? Well, I won't tell.

As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!

Be sure to visit these blogs for more Waffle Week recipes:

Terri of Our Good Life shares Waffles Gone Wild.

Lauren of Sew You Can Cook shares Buttermilk Cornmeal Waffles with Blackberry Syrup.

Lauren of A Nerd Cooks shares Sweet Potato Waffles with Candied Pecans.

Kaitie of Fuchsia Freezer shares Pumpkin Spice Waffles.

Hope you try them all. You know I will!
Happy Waffle Week.

Coffee and Bacon Wake Up Waffles

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients (makes 6):
1 stick butter
2 cups flour
1 TBSP brown sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup brewed coffee, room temperature
1/2 cup hazelnut coffee creamer
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cooked bacon bits

OPT: warm maple syrup for serving

Directions:
*Melt butter and set aside to cool a bit.
*Whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.
*Beat the eggs. Beat in the coffee, creamer and milk. Beat in the melted butter.
*Grease your waffle iron. Heat according to manufacturer's directions.
*While the waffle iron is heating, whisk the dry ingredients into the wet. Last, add the bacon bits.
*When the iron is hot, scoop about 3/4 cup of the batter into the center. Close gently and allow to cook.
*When the waffle iron indicates it's done, check to be sure the waffle has browned. If not, allow to cook another minute before removing to a plate. Keep warm.
*Repeat with the rest of the batter. 
*OPT: top with warm maple syrup.

Use Your Words: If a Tree Branch Falls

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I’m using: waffles ~ bacon ~ eggs ~ storm ~ tree branch ~ debit card

They were submitted by Sarah of The Momisodes.

As I sit here having a lovely breakfast of waffles, bacon, and eggs (OK, you got me, it's actually just a cup of coffee), thinking about the impact of this coming storm on that tree branch inching ever closer to my humble abode, I can't help but wonder if I have enough of a balance on my debit card to rebuild the back of my house. I'm thinking probably not.

But if this tree falls in from the woods? I bet I'll hear it. And see it. And feel it.

It's actually pretty funny that one of my assigned words is waffles, because I published a post about them yesterday. I was invited, in celebration of National Waffle Week (yeah, that actually is a thing) to join a large group of bloggers each coming up with unique waffle recipes. My contribution was an interpretation of chicken and waffles: Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken. My family loved this dinner. Even though I added a nod to breakfast by making the Mac and Cheese into a waffle and even adding bacon bits to the ingredients, for us this was a dinner.

 Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken

Next thing you know, the boys were asking for waffles for breakfast. Honestly, I love waffles, but the waffle iron tends to be messy to work with so I don't take it out often. In fact, by the time I'm done my kitchen looks like a storm passed through. Yes, I'm talking about a tornado, dumping egg shells, grease, globs of half cooked batter, dirty bowls and every utensil I own onto my kitchen counters. If I had found a tree branch or even a Yugo under that mess I would not have been surprised.

Two days in a row of that? Not sure I was up for the mess so I offered eggs. Fried? Scrambled? Omelet? No, they wanted waffles.

Desperate, I offered to send them out to breakfast. Even said I'd let them take my debit card. What was I thinking?

But they were hungry, weren't yet showered and so they issued me a challenge. Could I develop two completely different waffle recipes two days in a row?

Did you say challenge?

Those damn boys, they've got my number.

So, mess or not, I did come up with another unique waffle recipe. And damn, I have to tell you, even I admit that it was well worth the clean up.

Banana Bread Waffles with Cinnamon Banana Gaze 

That waffle iron better get ready. I foresee many more work-outs in its future.

Links to the other Use Your Words posts:

Spatulas on Parade

The Momisodes
The Bergham's Life Chronicles

Stacy Sews and Schools

Sparkly Poetic Weirdo 
 Southern Belle Charm
 The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver
 Dinosaur Superhero Mommy
 The Angrivated Mom
 Confessions of a part time working mom
Someone Else's Genius 
Climaxed 
Evil Joy Speaks 
Never Ever Give Up Hope 
Eileen's Perpetually Busy 
Searching for Sanity 

Banana Bread Waffles with Cinnamon Banana Glaze

                                                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
3 small or 2 large overripe bananas
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
1 stick butter
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt 
2/3 cup cinnamon baking chips

3/4 stick butter
3 TBSP brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 - 2 ripe bananas
maple syrup

Directions (makes about 5):
*Melt 1 stick of butter and set aside to cool a bit.
*In a bowl, mash the over ripe bananas. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla, sour cream and melted butter.
*Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon and salt.
*Add the dry mixture to the the bowl and mix just until incorporated. Don't over mix.
*Heat your waffle iron. When hot, scoop 3/4 cup of the batter into the center. Close gently and allow to cook. When the waffle iron indicates it's done, check and if it's not yet a deep golden brown, allow to cook another minute before removing to a plate. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
*While the waffles are cooking, melt 3/4 stick of butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. *Slice the remaining banana into the pan. Allow to come to a boil and boil for one minute. While boiling, stir gently so the bananas are covered with the glaze but be careful not to break up the bananas.
*Serve waffles topped with the banana glaze and drizzle with maple syrup.

It's all About the Waffle

I love getting invited to a good party. The invitation itself is a gift, that's when the anticipation starts.

So when I received an email from Kim of the blog Feed Me, Seymour, I was pretty excited. She's always been passionate about waffle week but this year decided to invite some friends along for the ride. 

 Graphic by Christie of A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures

Everyone was to come up with their own unique Waffle Recipe. So really it was a party AND a challenge. Yup, I'm in.

But what to make? I have to admit that a few options went through my head, but ultimately I have to admit that the idea of Chicken and Waffles stuck. I believe initially it was a southern dish and although I'd heard of it, I'd never had it. Then this past fall, when out to breakfast while visiting my son PurDude at college, he ordered it. It sure did look good. I think the seeds of this recipe were planted in my mind then. But how to change it up and make it my own?

I decided to see if I could adapt my Cheddar Mac Squares into a waffle. Either it would be crunchy and gooey and delicious . . . or a huge mess . . . a recipe-fail blog post in the making. And since PurDude was home for the summer, I'll use my Honey Bunches Chicken, which he loves, as the chicken element. 

I love the nod to breakfast through the bacon bits in the mac and cheese waffle and the chicken coated with cereal. But really, this recipe could easily be breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Perfect.

I started by adapting my mac and cheese recipe to make into the waffle. I stuck it into the fridge while prepping the chicken.

Mac and Cheese Waffle Mixture

Just a note, the chicken could easily be made a day ahead of time and reheated for this meal.

Honey Bunches Chicken

Next was the moment of truth. Whether or not I could make the mac and cheese mixture into waffles.

Mac and Cheese mixture in the waffle iron

And I could! Mac and Cheese Waffle success! Guess I'll have to save that recipe-fail blog post for another day.

Mac and Cheese Waffles

Now just to plate with the chicken and serve with a side of Maple Syrup.

Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken

I know what I'll be making again.

Be sure to check out all of the other unique waffle recipes brought to the party. Hope you try them all:

Appet-affles

• Waffled Polenta Crisps with Caponata by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Cheese & Pear Waffle Appetizer by The Freshman Cook

Breakf-affles

• Churro Waffles by A Nerd Cooks
• Coconut Flour Waffles with Macadamia Nuts and Spiced Pineapple Syrup by Aloha Flavor
• Orange and Dark Chocolate Waffles by Cookie Monster Cooking
• Buckwheat Waffles Benedict by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Honey Bacon Waffles by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Peanut Butter & Jelly Stuffed French Toast Waffles by The Spiffy Cookie
• Pumpkin Waffles with Butter Pecan Maple Syrup or Chocolate Waffles by With Salt and Wit
• Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Chocolate Pecan Waffles by Rhubarb and Honey
• Toasted Coconut Belgian Waffles by Chef Next Door
• Pumpkin Waffle Sandwiches with Apple Butter and Brie by Go Go Go Gourmet
• Potato Waffle Eggs Florentine by Eats Well With Others

Waffl-ides

• Cauliflower Cheese Waffles by Food Lust People Love
• Sweet potato waffles with horseradish sauce by Our Good Life
• Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken by Baking In A Tornado
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Belgian Waffles w/ Chili Whipped Butter & Maple Glaze by Blue Crab Martini
• Hummus Waffles with Sausage and Sun-Dried Tomatoes by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Sweet & Savoury Sausage & Apple Waffles by Fuchsia Freezer
• Brown Sugar Chicken and Waffles by GirlCarnivore
• Chicken and Spiced Sweet Potato Waffles by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Dessert Dish-affles

• Homemade Waffle Cones by Eva Bakes
• Pumpkin Pecan Waffles by Feed Me, Seymour
• Apple Pie Waffles by Spiced
• Red Velvet Waffles with Bourbon Cherry Syrup & Cream Cheese Drizzle by Cooking In Stilettos
• Pumpkin Pie Waffle Cake by Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
• Chocolate Strawberry Waffles by Dinner at the Zoo
• Banana Split Waffles by Cravings of a Lunatic

Mac and Cheese Waffles with Honey Bunches Chicken

                                                                        ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1# package of elbow macaroni
2 eggs
3/4 cup half and half
2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded
1/3 cup cooked bacon bits
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp paprika

Honey Bunches Chicken, recipe HERE
Maple Syrup

Directions:
*Cook macaroni according to package directions. Rinse 2 or 3 times with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Drain well.
*Mix all the rest of the mac and cheese ingredients into the macaroni. Cover and pace in the fridge while preparing the chicken.
*Make the Honey Bunches Chicken either according to the recipe or by slicing the chicken breasts into 3 fingers instead of 3 chunks. You can make the sauce to serve over the chicken and waffles or just use maple syrup as I did.
*When you put the chicken into the oven, grease and heat your waffle iron. Spread a cup and a half of the mac and cheese mixture over the face of the waffle iron. These waffles will not spread so the size of the waffle going in will be the size of the waffle coming out.
*Close the waffle maker and allow to cook. They will take longer than a batter waffle. Mine took 6 - 7 minutes cooked on medium. They're done when you lift a small section and the bottom is brown and crusted.
*Remove the mac and cheese waffle from the iron by working your way around it with a heat safe spatula until it releases. Plate and keep warm while making the rest of the waffles. Be sure to grease and fully reheat your waffle iron each time.
*Serve the Mac and Cheese Waffles with the warm Honey Bunches Chicken and Maple Syrup.