Photography by Jonathan Gayman.
Food Styling by Michelle Whittenberg
International Waffle Day
Late last Thursday afternoon I was working on some portfolio concepts when I realized that March 25th is apparently International Waffle Day. I also realized that the shoot we had scheduled for that Friday was likely going to wrap a little early. Lightbulb! I emailed our food stylist Michelle Whittenberg immediately: Do you think we can add some waffles to our shot list in honor of International Waffle Day? Her response (as always) was “Of course we can!”
I already knew which waffle batter that I wanted Michelle to use as a base for our waffle creations. I love a recipe that I originally found on the New York Times (see below). It calls for the addition of sour cream which adds a subtle tang to the waffles and makes them a perfect base for both savory and sweet toppings.
And just what delicious toppings would we want to put on our waffles for Waffle Day? I asked Michelle to develop some recipes for me, and she emailed back to ask what we were going for: Pretty? Unusual? Unexpected? All of the above please, and thank you!
Waffle-tastic Topping Ideas
I was initially thinking of more traditional toppings but Michelle pointed out that we can eat traditional waffles any time we want. “Let’s just go crazy!” she said. “Right on!” I said.
First up, we started with something savory: Mac N’ Cheese and Pulled Pork Waffles! Is this over the top? Maybe. Delicious? Definitely. This could be my new favorite comfort food: creamy and cheesy offset by tangy-salty pork smothered in bbq sauce. This combo would be perfect for game day with a couple of beers.
For the next waffle topping we wanted to go with something a little lighter, but in no way less decadent: Marinated Lemon Shrimp with Green Salad Waffles. This falls into the unusual category but waffles make a great base for just about anything. Perfect for brunch, perhaps with a crisp glass of dry white wine if you like.
Finally, we decided to try something sweet. We love Creme Brûlée and we love waffles, so why not do both: Creme Brûlée Waffles with Fresh Berries. A simple vanilla custard top our waffles crowned with torch-caramelized sugar and fresh berries (which were surprisingly tasty despite being out of season in Missouri at the moment). This could be a breakfast of champions with a cup of coffee … or it could be a dessert as well!
What do you like on your waffles? Try our basic waffle recipe and spend International Waffle Day making up your own creations! Enjoy!
| Servings |
waffles
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- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup milk
- 4 large eggs beaten
Ingredients
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- Pre-heat oven to 200ºF and put a wire rack on a baking sheet in the oven.
- In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, soda.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: yogurt, milk, butter and eggs
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until combined and batter is smooth.
- Follow the instructions on your waffle iron - we like to use butter on the on surface rather than spray lubricants. Cook until brown and golden with crispy edges. Transfer finished waffles to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm while you make additional waffles.
- Finish with your favorite toppings and enjoy!