Sunday, September 22, 2013

Daddy's Waffles with Pure Maple Syrup

One of my favorite qualities about my dad is his ability to make things feel really special. When he gets excited about something, he has a unique brand of enthusiasm that is totally infectious. He'll start bursting with energy and practically wiggling with joy and he'll break out in a big huge smile.


When we were little, sometimes my parents would organize a day trip to San Francisco for our family - so we could go to Chinatown or the Exploratorium (a super fun science museum). My dad called these day trips "Bozo Excursions." When we woke up on the day of the trip, my brother and I would head downstairs and find little clues and hints scattered around the house about what sort of adventures we would have that day.

Christmas Morning Waffles!!

My dad is also a very sentimental person and he loves traditions... two traits I have definitely inherited from him. Because I am my father's daughter, I love to do the same thing every year on Easter. I love special day trips and I love to make a big deal about them. And, I love to make the same special dish for Christmas morning: waffles!

I don't remember when our Christmas morning waffle tradition got started, but for the past many years it has been going full steam ahead, and my dad and I have combined our shared passion for sentimental traditions to fully promote it! Every year, Mr VE&T and I head over to my parents house on Christmas morning. Usually my brother and his family show up too, and sometimes my aunt Laura comes too.

My dad's favorite syrup jar (long story!) 
My parents actually buy the Grade B syrup at Trader Joe's 
and then decant it into this one! 

Then, we have a super tasty and sentimental waffle breakfast - complete with Orange Juice and coffee. My dad really prefers pure maple syrup, and so do my mom and I! But Mr. VE&T and some of the family kiddos prefer the not-real syrup (like Log Cabin). So, we always need to have both varieties at the table. Plus Earth Balance and dairy butter. And non-dairy milk and dairy milk for the coffees. Ha ha. So there are all sorts of choices on the table, but most of all we all love the tradition of having breakfast together.

There's something about doing this year after year that builds up the meaning behind it. Our Christmas morning waffle breakfast is not a flashy event. Nothing unexpected happens. We just gather, with our love for each other and our happy Christmas hearts, and enjoy our breakfast together. It has become such a nice part of our Christmas celebration.


Since my dad has been recovering from his big surgery a couple of months ago, he hasn't had much appetite... so we've all been brainstorming about yummy things for him to eat. Somehow, we got this idea that we could have a waffle breakfast together! As my dad said, "You don't have to wait until Christmas to eat waffles!" Which is cute, because I certainly have waffles at other times in the year, but I don't think he does.

my waffle & fruity salad; with EB, OJ and coffee in the background

So, this morning we gathered for a waffle breakfast at my parents' house. In true Dad-style, my dad had decided that this breakfast gathering would be entitled "Waffle Blow-Out!" Ha ha. You see what I mean about making things feel extra special? He is awesome. I made a double batch of my number one favorite waffle recipes : Raised Waffles from Vegan Brunch. It took a few years to find a vegan waffle recipe so good that it was no longer necessary to make one batch of non-vegan waffle batter and one batch of vegan waffle batter. This is the recipe! We had such a sweet morning together... all the usual pieces: lots of family, lots of waffles, two kinds of syrup, two kinds of butter, OJ, coffee, fruit salad and lots of love! Even in September! 

the yeasted waffle batter, rising in the morning light in my parents' kitchen

20 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:01 AM

    How utterly sweet and I burst out in to a half laugh half sob at Waffle Blow Out. That is just so hilariously funny with the accompanying visual. Anyway, I've been meaning to try this particular recipe as I'm yet to make it (I've made all the others from VB, mmm peanut butter waffles). In fact I might go see about doing that now because even though it's 5pm my time, there's always time for a blow out. Thanks!

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    1. I've never made the PB waffles from Vegan Brunch! We both gotta branch out! :)

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  2. Such a lovely post :) I've still not eaten a vegan waffle so I'll have to give this one a try.

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    1. oh Imogen Michel, vegan waffles are so easy and every bit as wonderful as a waffle could be!!

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  3. "Bozo excursions" sound so much fun. I'm a big big fan of traditions too and don't think we have enough in my family :( Maybe I should start a Christmas morning waffle tradition!
    Waffles are still nostalgic for me as the only time we had them was on holiday at hotels with those big American-style buffets which me and my brothers loved so much. I've yet to try the raised waffle recipe from VB....

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    1. I know just what you mean about those hotels with buffet breakfasts - they have those cool little waffle machines where you can make your own waffle!

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  4. What a lovely story... It's a happy one, but it brings tears to my eyes..... Thank you for sharing such an intimate moment with us.

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  5. Waffles are so special I didn't think you could make them even more special. But now I know that you can. :)

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    1. It's true, waffles really are special. And I love making a little hype out something, to make it feel like a super special event. :)

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  6. All your Nosh-talgic stories are so sweet. I think I could use a Waffle Blow-Out celebration right now! I have not tried the Raised Waffles from Vegan Brunch - must make!

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  7. O my gosh, I love your dad. I am totally a Christmas Waffle kind of person - my sweetheart is always telling me I don't have to save X or Y for special. I am so glad your dad is recovering and glad that you are having Waffle Blow-Outs together!

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  8. It has been delightful to read your posts regarding food and memories. This post about waffles brought many smiles as it concerns traditions and also the variety of food tastes; log cabin syrup and then the real thing, vegan butter, regular butter, different milks. Something for everybody! Best wishes for your Dad getting better and regaining his appetite.

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  9. <3 Such a lovely post! i hope your dad is feeling better and back to form asap. I'm sure your waffle breakfast helped lift his spirits.

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  10. That is one cute story of a father-and-daughter bonding. Wished my dad knew how too cook at all! haha! :)

    -http://sugarshackvt.com/

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  11. Your dad sounds wonderful, Amey! I love that he can make meals and days out so exciting :) I love that you shared your traditional Christmas breakfast during September!

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  12. Oh, those raised waffles are the best. (And so is the Exploratorium!!) (And so is your dad!)

    When you wrote about your dad and his contagious enthusiasm, I instantly thought "he sounds just like Amey." I think you have a way of making things extra special too. :)

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  13. I don't want mofo to end. I love your noshtalgia posts so much.

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  14. i think my dad has the same syrup container!!

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