BUTTERMILK WAFFLES AND BLUEBERRIES PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS MORNING.

Pull out the waffle iron and make Buttermilk Waffles!

Come to think of it, I can’t think of a time when I don’t want to pull out the waffle iron…but sense and Andrew put the kibosh on that idea.  So waffles are a very special event.  And tomorrow, may I suggest making Buttermilk Waffles! This recipe for Buttermilk Waffles yields a perfect waffle: light as air, with a slight tang of Buttermilk, a crisp crust yielding a tender center.  And no waffle is complete without Maple Syrup, preferably Canadian in origin. I also like to butter mine.   And to fool myself into thinking, I’ve done something healthy, big fresh blueberries top the whole thing.  Although the sides of bacon likely negate any health claim for this recipe.

 The Waffle is astoundingly ancient.

The country most famous for Waffles is Belgium where there are over a dozen regional recipes for Belgian waffles. In England “the waffle” first appeared in 1725, directly derived from the Flemish word ‘wafle’. The waffle goes back much further: to the 9^th and 10^th centuries.  This was when the first communion wafer irons (fer à hosties/hostiezers) were invented.  Generally, these communion wafer irons depicted Jesus and his crucifixion.  The irons were almost always round. Early recipes for what were called “oublies” were composed of flour and water.   After the Crusades, flavorings like orange blossom water and honey were added.  They became so popular that there was even a Guild made up of “Oubliers” founded in 1270. They not only produced oublies, they also made other light pastries and finally waffles.

For centuries after, waffles grew and grew in popularity.

Waffles were relatively expensive, especially those made with sugar.  When Caribbean sugar became widely available in Europe, sugar prices were cut in half and waffle recipes took off.  Dutch, Belgian, German, and French versions of waffles spread throughout England and America.  Waffle parties, known as ‘wafel frolics’ were held as early as 1744 in New Jersey but the Dutch had already established waffles in New Amsterdam (New York City) even before that.

Here’s today’s recipe. For a Gluten-Free version, go to: https://chewingthefat.us.com/2019/05/a-new-flour-brings-great-taste-back-to-gluten-free-baking-and-our-buttermilk-waffles-proved-it.html