There is a day for almost everything. Today, June 29, is National Waffle Iron Day.
I love waffles. I used to have a waffle iron, but whenever I tried to use it, I failed miserably. Who knows, after researching the subject, maybe I’ll try it again!
Waffle Lovers
This website encourages you – yes YOU – to “break out your waffle iron and give it a good work out. Use #NationalWaffleIronDay to share your masterpieces on social media.”
Waffle irons are first noted in the 14th Century in Northwestern Europe, an area known as the Low Countries that includes Belgium and the Netherlands. They were used over an open fire and featured elaborate designs, like coats of arms and religious symbols. The first electric waffle iron was introduced in 1918. Today’s irons are basically honeycomb-patterned, although you can find them in almost every shape and size, and many come with other patterns. (Try the Ruth Bader Ginsberg!)
There are hundreds (probably thousands) of recipes for waffles, and you can eat them in many ways, with syrup, fruits, whipped cream, ice cream, yogurt. You could probably eat them with peas.
You can use a waffle iron to make sandwiches, fried potatoes, even – gasp – waffles!
According to the site noted above, “Nike Co-Founder Bill Bowerman, an Oregon Track Coach at the time, used his wife’s waffle iron to create a sole for footwear that would be lightweight but also grip a surface. This design would soon be called the “Moon Shoe” in 1972 and the “Waffle Trainer” in 1974.”
Your Types…
This site talks about a variety of types of irons. “You have your regular waffle iron, your deluxe multi-waffle irons that make more than one at a time, round ones, Belgian waffle-makers with their deep squares and thick waffles begging to be topped with strawberries and cream.”
“Waffle Iron Day is a great opportunity to head out and get yourself a new waffle iron. There are a ton of options available these days, even novelty ones shaped as everything from Mickey Mouse to the state of Texas. You can get particularly creative and make an entire menu from waffles, spanning from breakfast to dinner, and everything in between. Waffle-cone ice-cream, breakfast waffles loaded with whipped cream and berries, the always popular chicken and waffles for dinner, and snacks the day through served on specially seasoned savory waffles!”
Recipes
A blog about waffle irons would not be a proper blog if there were not references to recipes. Well. Here is one site with 34 recipes. Here is a sample:
- Chicken ‘n’ waffle tacos
- Blueberry-strawberry breakfast shortcake
- Banana waffle recipe
- Easy toaster waffle sandwich
- Mac and cheese waffle
- Blueberry-lemon cheesecake waffles
- Cheesy eggs & bacon on mini waffles
- Bacon waffles
- Bacon, egg and cheese hash brown waffles
- Chocolate-oatmeal waffles
- Coconut Belgian waffles
- Homemade waffles with bacon and cheddar
- Maple-bacon waffle bake
- Pecan-blueberry waffles
- Pumpkin waffles
- Stuffie for two
- Sunrise waffle scramble
- Waffle ham and cheese bake
- Raised waffles
- Cinnamon waffled French toast
- Easy waffles
- Mark’s favorite waffle mix recipe
- PB&J waffles
- Waffle brunch casserole with sausage
- Banana oatmeal waffles
- Banana-waffle parfait
- Belgium waffles
- Gingerbread waffles
- Huber waffles (well… I don’t know what this is!)
- Spiced waffles with caramelized apples
- The best pineapple waffles ever
- Waffle delight
If you couldn’t find anything there to like, then don’t get a waffle iron.
Tot Waffles
Recently I’ve seen Facebook posts about Tot Waffles. Although most say Totwaffle. They seem interesting. Well… okay, we’ll go with interesting.
I’m not a fan of tater tots, but local restaurants offer a choice of fries or tots, and I’ve noticed that most people tend to order the tots. I tried it once. I’m still not a fan. But there ya go. Different strokes.
Reading through the information about these waffles, you find tips. Tips like how to make extra-crispy tot waffles or making a more mashed-potato-y kind of waffle. (Shave a minute or two off the cooking time.)
I’m going to share a recipe from The Riddler in San Francisco (web site here). The online recipe also offers a loaded baked potato version of waffle as well.
INGREDIENTS
- Vegetable oil (for brushing)
- 1 32-ounce bag tater tots, room temperature
- Flaky sea salt
PREPARATION
- Heat a regular or Belgian waffle iron and brush liberally with oil.
- Arrange tater tots in an even layer across entire surface of waffle iron; pile another handful or two of tots over if you’re using a Belgian waffle iron. Sprinkle with salt. Press down on lid to close (use lid lock if you have one) and cook waffle until golden brown, 8 – 12 minutes depending on your iron. Season with more salt, if needed.
For the really hardcore, here is a recipe for Syrupchup. Yes, it sounds awful to me. Others are just over the moon about it. It’s easy enough. In a one to one ratio, combine maple syrup (or whatever you have) and ketchup. You can use a microwave or stovetop method to heat it, but apparently the trick is to not let it boil and reduce. My opinion without trying it? YUCK! But… different strokes.
In Closing
After doing this post, I just might have to get one of these. A little one that makes one at a time.