fruityoaty.com

This past Tuesday was Shrove Tuesday - also known as Pancake Day, Pancake Tuesday, Paczki Day, Fasnacht Day, Fauschnaut Day, Mardis Gras and Fat Tuesday. Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. So, why a photo of waffles, you ask? Because my sister made her super-crisp yet moist and scrumptious Classic Buttermilk Waffles (recipe from The Breakfast Book by Marion Cunningham). Throw out those frozen cardboards from the grocery store that you pop into the toaster. Make your own! Best. Waffles. Ever.

Pancake batter is similar to waffle batter, but whereas a pancake is flat, soft and fluffy, the wonderful waffle is crispy, light and requires a waffle iron. I like how the waffle iron creates those patterned crevices… perfect for catching syrup, jam, melted butter, whatever. My sister always makes a huge batch as Cunningham’s waffles freeze quite well, but they never last for long in Casa da fruity, hehe. Just pop ‘em in the toaster. Classic.

Pictured above is my breakfast on Tuesday: 2 yummy waffles drizzled with chocolate syrup and lightly dusted with icing sugar. The one below is my dinner dessert last night: 2 waffles doused with boozy bananas in caramel sauce. Like I said before, these waffles don’t last very long. I quickly made a caramel sauce with store-bought pancake syrup, butter, brown sugar, evaporated milk, Appleton Estate V/X Jamaica Rum, Frangelico hazelnut liqueur, and then folded in some sliced bananas into the warm sauce. Oh relax, “boozy” is a misnomer because the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process - only the mellow flavour remains. DAMN, IT WAS FINE! I should’ve had these on FAT Tuesday… with whipped cream. Kidding!

Well, on a different note (or is it?), I was thinking about what to give up for Lent earlier, however, I always fail at sticking to my Lent promises. I’d be lying to myself if I said that I’m a good, devout, practicing Catholic. Nevertheless, I’ve decided to give up APATHY, but I feel too apathetic to start. (Now, there’s a conundrum for ya.) Also, I’ve been in a rut for what seems like an eternity. I need A change. I need TO change. Now. Fast.

I can recall an old e-mail from a friend who wrote that attitude, not circumstance is often the best predictor for happiness. Today, I had a brief MSN chat with a friend who just celebrated her birthday yesterday. When I asked her if she felt any different about being 1 year older, she replied, “I prepare for the aging think in advance… I start thinking about being a year older like 6 months in advance.” Attitude and preparation… simple truths, yes… but I’ve forgotten to apply them to myself, lately. For example, one could wake up in the morning and say, “I’m going to prepare some waffles today and they’re going to be super-fine!” Uh-huh.

Anyway, who knew that there were so many definitions for waffling? (Actually, I did know…) Well, here are 4 definitions, in particular:

• The act of making a scrumptious waffle. (Oh, ya know ya want it.)
• Talking around the point, blathering, filling in time, or boring talk
• The inability to decide on something. Breakfast waffles have grooves that go up and down, like some people’s opinions.
• A back-and-forth wing motion made by water birds such as ducks right before landing in order to lose air from under their wings. ( I do this all the time! I just gotta stop with the funky chicken ducky dance. )

So many raisins, so many waffles, so many chocolates, so very little time.

Adieu,

fruity bananas