Visiting with: Tab's cousin Ron and his wife Donna who are out here from California for Ron's high school reunion.

Weather: Clear and cold! It won't get out of the low 50s (F) today.

Sunday Morning Waffles

Am I tired! Why, oh why can't the boys sleep past 7 o'clock on weekends? Hmmm...what would make getting up this early worthwhile? How about Belgian waffles?

"Would you like waffles for breakfast, guys?"

"Waffles! Woo hoo!" Stephen exclaimed.

Always ready for anything, that's my boy Stephen.

"What are waffles?" Daniel asked.

"You know. Sorta like pancakes, only bumpy."

"Do I like them?"

"You loved them the last time I made them for you."

"I want cereal, Mama," said Matthew.

There's a surprise.

(Rummage around in the pantry for the waffle iron.)

How long has it been since I've made waffles, anyway? And where is that recipe?

"What are you doing at the computer, Mama? I thought you were going to make waffles."

"Just printing out my recipe, Dans."

(Rinse dusty waffle iron and dry it off. Spray fine mist of canola oil over grid. Plug in waffle iron.)

Daniel, watching me prepare the waffle iron, commented, "Oh, yeah, I remember that thing."

(Stir together: three cups of white flour, one cup of whole wheat, two tablespoons baking powder, one quarter cup of sugar, and one teaspoon salt.)

"What are you doing now, Mama?"

"Mixing the dry ingredients. I should have done this last night."

"Why?"

"Because then the dry stuff would be all ready now, that's why."

And it would be one less thing for me to sleepwalk through.

"Can I have my cereal now, Mama?" asked Matthew.

"Wait until I have the waffles started, honey, OK?"

(Beat four eggs with whisk.)

"Ooh, yuck!"

"It's just a little egg yolk, Daniel."

(Whisk beaten egg into three cups milk, add one quarter cup canola oil, and mix thoroughly. Pour liquid ingredients into dry, whisking to blend.)

Oh, great. The bowl's too small. Oh, yeah, I forgot: I usually halve this recipe. That's OK, I'll just freeze the extra waffles I make.

"Now what are you doing, Mama?"

"I need a bigger bowl for this much batter, Dans."

"Yuck," said Stephen, eying the clumps of half-mixed, barely moistened batter clinging to the whisk.

"Look, guys, I'm sick of people saying 'Yuck' when I'm cooking!"

"That's OK, Mama. It looks yucky, now, but it will taste real good when it's done," Daniel reassured me.

(Transfer batter to a larger bowl and whisk until ingredients are completely blended.)

Hmmm, this still looks a little thick. Better add more milk.

(Pour a ladle-full of batter onto hot waffle iron.)

"Cool!" said Daniel, watching the batter spread out on the grid.

(Pour a bowl of cereal for Matthew.)

"Thanks, Mama!"

"Mama, I'm hungry, too!"

"Your waffle will be done shortly, Stephen."

(Open grid to check progress of waffle.)

"Is it done?" Daniel asked.

"Almost."

(Find maple syrup in refrigerator, arrange plates and forks for Daniel and Stephen.)

"I think it's done, guys."

"Yeah!"

(Remove waffle and cut in pieces, giving half to Stephen and half to Daniel. Pour maple syrup for Stephen, and pass it to Daniel.)

"Not too much syrup, Daniel. I don't want a mess."

(Cook second waffle.)

"Oooh! Mama, look! Look, MAMA!"

"What? WHAT? Oh, that," I said, noticing batter oozing out the sides of the waffle iron. "It's OK, guys. Guess I just put in too much batter that time...Want some more, Daniel? Stephen?"

"Yeah!" they both answer.

(Give more waffle to Stephen and Daniel. Start another one cooking.)

"I'm done!"

"Me, too!"

"I'm done, too," said Matthew, pushing away his empty bowl.

"Ok, guys. Take your plates to the sink, and you can go. Play quietly! Don't wake Daddy!"

Finally. A quiet few minutes to eat my waffle, drink my tea, and read the paper. I think I'm finally awake now.

"Mama!"

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