Allspice is All Nice!

herbs displayed

I’m so happy to share my new series, Get to Know Your Herbs and Spices at Foodie Friends Friday Daily Dish!

I’m starting this series off with Allspice is All Nice ! Did you know that allspice is actually a berry?
Stop by and learn more about this awesome spice. There’s also a recipe for my Peachy Chicken!
I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let me know what you think! 🙂

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Belgian Waffles for #SundaySupper

Belgian Waffle

For this week’s Sunday Supper we’re each going to tackle our fears. Throw caution to the wind. Close our eyes. Take a deep breath! Open our eyes again (we can’t do this with our eyes closed) and cook something off our culinary bucket list!

Bucket List.
Everytime I hear the term I think of the movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Two guys with terminal cancer trying together to do everything they always wanted to accomplish in life.
We all make bucket lists whether we realize it or not. Everytime you say I got try that or I got to go there someday, you’re adding to your list.
My “got to try that” list seriously got longer since I joined Sunday Supper! 🙂
I love waffles.
I never realized there were so many variations. True Belgian waffles are not like the pancake type we get here in the United States. I had my first taste of Belgian or Liege waffles at a little cafe that is no longer in business. 🙁 . The waffles are sweet thanks to the addition of pearl sugar which has the texture of small chunks. These waffles have a dark crisp outer layer where bits of caramelized sugar cling and the centers are soft but the pockets are firm.
waffles finished
When I read up on making these waffles and saw it involves yeast and beaten egg whites, I panicked! I live in a drafty house and bread is enough of a challenge!
But with a little encouragement from our Sunday Supper Team, I gave it a try! I didn’t have pearl sugar but I read somewhere crushed sugar cubes works just as well.
crushed sugar cubes
I wasn’t able to get a thorough caramelized effect, but these waffles were out of this world good!

Give them a try!

I found several recipes on the internet and variations of this one kept popping up. I also found a lot of useful tips and came up with a few to share too!

piggy approved

Piggy approved recipe!

Here goes!

Belgian Waffles

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 teaspoons of dry active yeast
  • 3 cups warm (110 degrees) milk, divided
  • 3 eggs, separated
  • 3/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup pearl sugar or crushed sugar cubes for sprinkling

1. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of warm milk. Let it set until it reaches full bloom, about 10 minutes.
yeast bloom
2. While the yeast is working, melt your butter. Set this aside to cool. You don’t want to kill the yeast with hot butter!
3. In a large bowl (one big enough to allow for dough to double in size) add egg yolks and sugar, beat together. Add 1/4 cup of the warmed milk, melted butter. Add yeast mixture and salt.

4. Add vanilla to the remaining milk and alternate adding flour and milk until all of it is incorporated.
waffle mixture one
5. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Some recipes state to do this step earlier, but I found the whites to get a bit deflated and not the same when I tried to peak them again.

beaten egg whites
6. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
fold whites into waffles
7. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to double in size, this takes about an hour. My kitchen is extra drafty, so I covered the bowl with a dish towel and placed it in an area by my stove that I had warmed by cooking earlier.
waffle batter ready
The batter when finished can be refrigerated and used within 12 hours or used immediately.
ladle waffle batter
8. Cook according to you waffle maker’s instructions. This is when you add the pearl sugar, or in this case, sugar cube bits. It is advised to use the batter immediately after adding this sugar to keep the crunchy texture.
You can freeze any extra waffles (if you have any) and reheat in your toaster or oven.
waffle freezing tip
I layered them when cooled between waxed paper and put the stack in a plastic freezer bag.
These waffles with the sugar added are fine as is.
waffles and strawberries
I had to try them with strawberries and whipped cream. Delicious!

This Week’s Sunday Supper Recipes are here! Are any of these on YOUR bucket list?

Sunday Supper Specialty Breads:

Sunday Supper Main Dishes:

Sunday Supper Desserts and Snacks:

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Don’t forget to also check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Posted in #SundaySupper, breakfast, egg, fresh ingredients, What's For Dinner? | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments

Sandwich For All Seasons

4 season sandwich
4 seasons sandwich ingredients

Sandwiches with multi-layers of flavor rank high in my book. I don’t really keep a sandwich ranking book. If I did, I’d choose something with different textures, smells and tastes.
Here’s a simple sandwich that packs a punch of vitamins and anti-oxidants in its delicious ingredients! All 4 seasons are represented with a little extra flavor from hummus to bring it together!
Start with a toasted English Muffin. Spread a layer of nutrient-rich hummus on both sides. Need a recipe? Try my friend Soni’s at Soni’s Food for her
Hummus Recipe it is delicious!
Add some creamy avocado full of monounsaturated fats, folate and potassium, sun-dried tomato bring lycopene to the party.
Arugula is high in vitamins A and K, and folic acid. It is a good source of zinc, potassium, calcium and iron.
Sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds for extra vitamin-E and B-vitamins and add a fling of spring with some protien-rich alfalpha sprouts.
Top with a thin slice of Granny Smith apple for fiber and a little tartness.
Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Cap it off with the other side of muffin.
Now you have an awesome sandwich fit for any season!

Posted in apples, avocado, everyday, fasy and easy, fresh ingredients, healthy, lunch, Mexican-inspired, olive oil, pumpkin, sandwich, spring, summer, tomatoes, vegan, vegetarian, What's For Dinner? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sandwich For All Seasons

Foodie Friends Friday Blog Makeover Linky Party

Its a new year so how about a blog makeover courtesy of your Friends at Foodie Friends Friday?

fff blog makeover linky party

Join us for this week’s linky party sponsored by

Something2offer.com

www.tutusteaparties.com

www.fromadaughter.com

www.facebook.com/Getouttamyheadplease

Congrats to last week’s winners



NOW ON TO THE PARTY!

Show the party co-hosts some foodie love!

Foodie Friends Friday http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com

Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom http://www.busyvegetarianmom.com

Robyn’s View http://www.robynsview.com

Marlys at This and That  http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com/

Lois at  Walking on Sunshine http://walkingonsunshinerecipes.com

Michelle at  From Calculus to Cupcakes http://www.fromcalculustocupcakes.com

Cynthia at Feeding Big  http://www.feedingbig.com

Jodie at Binomial Baker http://www.binomialbaker.blogspot.com

R Dawn at Spatulas on Parade http://www.spatulasonparade.blogspot.com

Angie at A lil Country Sugar http://www.alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com

Kelly at http://www.adornedwell.blogspot.com/

Cindy at Cindy’s Recipes and Writings: : http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com

Joanne at Winelady Cooks:  http://www.wineladycooks.blogspot.com

Marlene at Nosh My Way: http://www.noshmyway.com

Jutta at Hungry Little Girl : http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/

Beth at Honey Locust Hills : http://www.honeylocusthills.com/blog

Erika at Chef Picky Kid: http://www.chefpickykid.com/

(Here’s an easy copy/paste way to link back!) This recipe was featured at Foodie Friends Friday and Cindy’s Recipes and Writings ..

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Posted in food club, Foodie Friends Friday, fresh ingredients, What's For Dinner? | Comments Off on Foodie Friends Friday Blog Makeover Linky Party