Thursday 2 January 2014

Hello 2014, Happy New Year!


We greeted 2014 with waffles yesterday morning.  Belgian Waffles, fresh off the waffle iron seemed a good choice to start the first day of the new year.  Watching the Winter Classic was a great way to spend the afternoon, before heading out to the toboggan hill.





It was cold, and colder still today, -25°C.  As I watched the boys go up and down the hill, I reflected on the time we've enjoyed as a family these past couple of weeks.  It was a busy, happy time.  And it was the most wintry Christmas that I can remember having in a long time.  It snowed almost every day. 


Lessons were learned.  Like the importance of shovelling the driveway before trying to drive out of it.


An ice storm caused a lot of damage just days before Christmas, but those icy trees were a beautiful sight.






We celebrated Christmas three times in three days in three different cities.


Our leaning tree is the one in the middle.  


We ate and drank, and ate some more.  Turkey of course, a spectacular whole filet mignon, and a perfect ham.  Cookies, nuts, chocolates, cakes, and never ending snacks.  My Spinach Dip made a few appearances, as did my Pizza Buns which I'll have to share with you.  I discovered a new favourite red wine,  decided that Cosmopolitans are dangerously delicious, and was reminded that I still don't like champagne.

Fun was had by all, indoors and out.





And the Belgian Waffle recipe that I use?  The one that came with my Cuisinart Waffle Maker:



Buttermilk Belgian Waffles

4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
3½ cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 large eggs, lightly beaten 

Lightly coat waffle maker with cooking spray.  I try to avoid using cooking spray and prefer to rub a small amount of vegetable oil around the surface with a bit of paper towel.  

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Whisk together the buttermilk, vanilla, butter and eggs in a separate bowl until well combined.  If you don't keep buttermilk on hand, make your own buttermilk with one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar for each cup of milk.  Put the tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in your measuring cup, then add the milk to make one cup of buttermilk.  Allow to sit for a few minutes before combining with the other ingredients.

Mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined.  Pour two cups of batter onto the prepared, preheated waffle maker. Quickly and carefully spread the batter evenly. Close the cover and cook until indicator light lets you know waffles are ready!  Serve immediately.

This recipe makes 20 waffles, go ahead and cut the quantities in half if you're not feeding an army.  Also the 2 cup measure of batter is for a four slice square waffle maker.  You may have to adjust the amount if you have a different waffle maker.  As amazing as the kids think it is to watch the batter ooze out the sides when you've used too much batter, it's a helluva mess to clean. 

We top our Belgian Waffles the same way we top our Oven Baked French Toast, with maple syrup, strawberries and powdered sugar, but the waffle topping possibilities are endless.  How do you top your waffles?


Happy New Year!



Thank you for featuring me!


The Wednesday Roundup

41 comments:

  1. Sounds like a real classic Canadian Christmas! Happy New Year to you.

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  2. I hate champagne too! Yuck!
    Those sledding photos look like SUCH FUN! Oh man. I'm having sledding hill envy here.
    Happy New Year, Jenn!

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  3. You had me at buttermilk belgian waffles :) Yum. Found you on the creativity unleashed linky party :)

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  4. Fabulous pictures Jenn. I seem to have missing your posts recently and noticed you had dropped off my blog list. Bloody Blogger! It has been rectified now. Happy New Year to you and your family from Dartmoor! x

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  5. Awww, it looks like Narnia! Plus, I love a good Belgian waffle.

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  6. Wonderful pictures Jenn~ Looks like you and your family had a great Christmas~Your Belgian Waffles look so delicious~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

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  7. G'day! Never like waffles on a cold winter's day!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Thanks for sharing at the Foodie Friends Friday Meals in 30 Minutes Party!

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  8. I love champagne! :-) As a child, we always had a leaning tree... Down here in North Carolina we haven't had snow (I'm OK with that, completely- we're southern, we can't drive in that weather) but it looks like y'all had fun!!! Thanks for sharing with the #LOBS!

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  9. It's nice to find another Ontario blogger! I live in Toronto, and saw many of the trees you described in our yard as well. The ice storm really was crazy.

    I'll also have to try that waffle recipe soon. Maybe with a cosmopolitan on the side to drink lol ;)
    Visiting from the mommifried link up.
    Have a nice day!

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  10. The waffles sound delicious, and your winter photos are awesome. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!

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  11. Those look perfect for a snowy day! thanks so much for sharing :) http://www.handmadeintheheartland.com/

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  12. it looks like you had a fantastic Christmas! I am so jealous that you got snow too, I love it when it snows as you can really get some great photos, as you did! And those waffles look delicious!

    Guy

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  13. These Waffles look amazing!!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  14. Belgiun Waffles - so yummy! I haven't had some in awhile. Looks like fun was had by all. The photos are beautiful. Thanks for joining the Thumping Thursday bloghop.

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  15. Looks like you guys had FUN, don't you just love that time of year Jenn! I can just bask in it forever, lol! Love your pictures! 3 cities? Wow and I thought I was busy over the holidays, lol! So glad you and your family had a wonderful Christmas...wishing you a wonderful New Year!

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  16. Oh man, Ice sucks...but it looks so pretty on trees! Love your leaning tree, looks like you've had an awesome christmas! Thanks so much for linking up with Photography Friday!

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  17. Great pics and I love waffles. Thanks for linking up to Best of the Weekend. So glad you could join us!! Nichi -The Mandatory Mooch

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  18. Wow, what a BEAUTIFUL Christmas you had!! <3

    http://www.homeofohm.com/2014/01/wordlesswednesday-apps-for-cats.html

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  19. I'm in Orillia and we have no where left to put the snow. Our banks are taller than hubby and he's 6'4". Hopefully we'll get a break from all this snow soon.

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  20. Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas time, Jennifer. Sledding just looks sooo inviting. I used to have so much fun with it.

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  21. Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas! I know my small people would love to sled if we actually got a decent amount of snow. Thanks for linking up at Tales of a Pee Dee Mama.

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  22. Cosmos and waffles -- that would be a great breakfast! LOL
    I'm in Ontario too -- we had pretty much the same Christmas I think. Snow, ice, warm fires, shoveling, sledding and visiting our family and friends. Our tree even leans too! haha my husband actually secures it to the wall with wires because my kids did knock it over one year.
    Love the recipe.
    kinda wishing I had bought a waffle maker for Christmas :)

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  23. You joined us again for another week of Thumping Thursdays!

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  24. Love your photos! Breakfast is a favorite dinner in our house and these waffles look yummy! Thanks for sharing at the Foodies & Crafties Blog Hop! I can't wait to see what you link up next week! #foodiescraftiessoiree I would love for you to hop over anytime to Apeekintomyparadise.com and link up with the parties I co-host throughout the week! And if you have any of that eggnog left over check out the Eggnog Muffin Tops and Eggnog Pancakes on my blog. The recipes are delicious!
    Have a terrific weekend!
    Cathy
    APeekIntoMyParadise.com

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  25. You guys look like you had so much fun. Your recipe looks delicious! :) Thanks for sharing at The Gathering Spot. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  26. I love Belgium Waffles and we have them very often. They are very versatile and I change the flavouring using some of the flavoured syrups I have around the house... Looks like you had a wonderful holiday season and that cold, snow and ice didn't stop you too much. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday.

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  27. Happy New Year! Your pictures of the ice on the trees reminded me of the beautiful frost we had on the trees today. Breathtaking. :)

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  28. Happy New Year! I found you on the Blog Hop on Reflextions! I love these photos! I miss the snow so much! I'm from Ohio, where we had a lot, but now we live in GA where it never snows! So thanks for the great pics!

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  29. G'day! You had me at the waffles too! Love snow scenes!
    Thanks for sharing at the Foodie Friends Friday Healthy Choices Party!
    Cheers! Joanne

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  30. Hi was already your follower through G+ & GFC, now also folowing you via Twitter, Blogvin, Instagram, and Pinterest

    my blog: wilsontom.blogspot.com

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  31. I love Belgium Waffles and it brings back memories attached to two vacations where we ate Belgium waffles every morning! They look delicious! Your photos are great too. Thanks for sharing on the Four Seasons Blog Hop!

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  32. What a view. While the look of snow is so appealing during the season, it can also be dangerous. Or...like what you said, laborious - clearing the driveways.

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  33. Sounds like a great Christmas! And those waffles look delicious. Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you next week.

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  34. What a nice post! Thanks for sharing with Real Food Fridays :)

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  35. Those look delicious and light and fluffy! And love the holiday photos! Thanks for sharing at All Things Pretty!

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  36. It sounds like you had a great holidays with your family! That's so great!
    And those waffles look delicious!

    Thanks so much for sharing on Turn It Up Tuesday! We love having you! :)

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  37. Thanks so much for linking up to Twirl and Take a bow~!
    http://arttisbeauty.blogspot.com/2014/01/twirl-and-take-bow-link-party-and.html
    Hugs
    Karin

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  38. Thank you for linking up with Time For Mom last week! Beautiful photos. Hope your 2014 is off to a good start. :)

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  39. Those waffles (along with all of the snow, lol!) look amazing! Thanks for linking up with "Try a New Recipe Tuesday." I hope you will be able to join us again this week. :-) http://our4kiddos.blogspot.com/2014/01/try-new-recipe-tuesday-january-14.html

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  40. I love all of the snow pictures. My snow is pitiful compared to that. My kids would LOVE that huge sledding hill. Looks so fun! Visiting from DYWW link-up :)

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  41. Great recipe thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays, now do you have a recipe for snow. Since we moved to Louisiana four years ago I have not seen snow. Thanks for sharing your wonderful fun snow photos.

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