Spring time and waffles
No, they didn’t relate really. But you know, when it started to get warmer, with higher blue sky, sunnier days and you could actually enjoy the breezes instead of curling up into a ball and hush hush inside; the joy of first day of spring was even doubled by the arrival of the waffle maker (together with a pasta maker and pasta bike, pasta bike I know!). A lot of fun was promised when spring was just around the corner.
Anyway, first let me just sneak in this super eye soothing image of spring and then tell me if you could contain your joy?
Somehow I was recently reminded of a trip to Europe in 2010 with my mom, those waffles we had in Belgium were what tickled my brain just then. The ones I had there were not Belgium however, they were Liège waffles. Smaller, thinner pockets, more dough than batter (which meant yeast over baking powder) and had a significant crunch due to “pearl sugar” added before baking, it would caramelize under the hot iron and produce a surface of sugary crust, like what you find on creme brulee.
This kind of waffle would suit best with my waffle maker since its pocket iron wasn’t quite thick. Instead of granulated sugar, I used a table spoon of raw sugar so you feel the little crunch with every bite. The use of yeast won over baking powder as well, produced the crust that was more substantial and satisfying to bite at. Now sugar pearl wasn’t a popular item that you would find everywhere, so just like creme brulee, I sprinkled a layer of granulated sugar on top of the dough before closing the maker. Saying that sugar pearl could completely be replaced this way would be over stated, but it did give the caramelized sugar crust effect – enough to fill the room with deep sweet cinnamon fragrance, win over store bought waffles and change Mr Fluffy’s mind about this kind of treat.
Yummy time, we sat outside in the backyard for afternoon tea. While Mr Fluffy’s first choice would always be with bacon and maple sirup, my consciousness kind of kicked my butt about all that carb, so none of that for me. I just ate it with kiwi, after dusting with confectioners sugar and fresh cream, haha, like, that was not carb at all.
Somebody woke up later and was about to get grumpy until his Nani showed him what was saved for him, not that he could already eat but who wouldn’t be cheered up in front of this? He cracked up laughing after his dad put a dollop of cream on his little nose.
It was a beautiful spring afternoon.