This morning I made waffles with my Waring Pro waffle iron. I love this waffler because the pockets are deep and it makes a beautifully crisp waffle with a soft chewy interior. I would highly recommend this waffle maker :o) I have had mine for well over two years and it's such a treat to make my own waffles and so much more cost effective than going out for waffles for breakfast. I purchased my waffler at Bed Bath & Beyond with the 20% off coupon and it was worth every single penny! I definitely recommend shopping at these type stores for your small appliances, with the coupon the price is usually the best around! The coupons also don't expire (even though the show an expiration date) and are able to be used beyond expiration.
In addition to my waffler (which we couldn't have waffles without), I love my Cuisinart Smart Stick with the mini prep. I'm including a photo of this kitchen tool that shows what was included with mine. I use this for whipping my heavy cream. It does a wonderful job of whipping cream in a much shorter time. You must watch it though so that the cream doesn't begin to separate and make butter(not that that's a bad thing, mind you.) This tool is not only great for making whipped cream but also for chopping small amounts of things in the mini prep, like nuts or a little onion. I love this smart stick for pureeing my soups while they are cooking. I usually use this and submerse it into the soup mixture and puree to the desired consistency. I tend to leave some chunks for texture but it works great for butternut squash soup, cream of broccoli or potato soup. There are many stick blenders but I love the versatility of this one. I have had mine for several years and would feel lost without it. I wouldn't want to have to try to manage pouring hot liquids into my blender to do the same job, not to mention my Le Creuset pots that I generally use are quite heavy (but cook beautifully). Just a recommendation. I love to cook and anyone that has seen my kitchen knows it is a passion of mine.
I'm including a photograph of our strawberry waffles with whipped cream. I lightly sweeten the whipped cream after I have already started to whip it with the frothing attachment (the little white one in the picture) with confectioner's sugar. I also macerated the strawberries with a little bit of sugar sprinkled on the layers as I was slicing them the night before. I dusted the waffles before serving with some confectioner's sugar flavored with a hint of vanilla powder.
One other tip worth mentioning, I used butter instead of oil in my KRUSTEAZ mix (that's right :o) even I like to take a break now and then) and I also use a dash of mexican vanilla for additional flavor. If you buy mexican vanilla, make sure there is no coumarin in it. They don't have regulations like we do in the United States and it is a known toxin, can cause liver damage and is a carcinogen. Best rule of thumb, if it says 'coumarin free' feel free to enjoy and use in all of your baking needs :o)
