I lay in bed, stretched out under the sheets on our comfy pillow top mattress that has me feeling more like I am stretched out on a cloud of wonderfulness. I am desperately trying to get just a bit more sleep, a few more moments of rest before I start the day.
I hear the blender in our kitchen, and the sound of the boys laughing, not just the little ones but my big one too. I smile knowing what they are up to, making Derrick’s famous vegan, banana waffles. My favorite! I stretch my leg over the side of the bed that’s almost as tall as I am, and put my foot onto the hardwood floor. I am not sure if it’s the thought of the waffles that’s getting me up, or the laughter that’s coming from the kitchen, but I know I will soon be greeted by a huge hug from Koeplin, proclaiming that he and Dad are making breakfast! I open the bedroom door into our dining room and see through to the kitchen, there is flour everywhere, and cupboard doors open! Our boxer is running around the table being chased by our three year old.
But amongst the mayhem there is something so calming about the morning, something so routine and wonderful. It’s moments like this in our life that I am so thankful that we don’t have to rush off to our 8-5, sure we may work long hours, especially at night, but at least right now we can enjoy one another in the morning sun, and enjoy our boys, and of course enjoy the waffles! -April
Recipe – Vegan Banana Waffles
2 cups of whole wheat flour
2 ripe bananas
4 teaspoons of baking powder
2 tablespoon of brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 3/4 cups of soy or almond milk
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
Pre-heat the waffle iron. You can mash and mix this together I suppose, but I just recommend using a blender. We break up the bananas and put them in first, then add the flour, the baking powder, salt, brown sugar, then the milk and oil. I’m sure the order doesn’t matter, but this is my superstition. blend it until it’s smooth like waffle batter. You may need to either add a bit more flour if it’s too runny or a bit more milk if it’s too thick. Grease the iron, we use olive oil, and add batter. With all waffles it’s a little trial and error to get the thickness you like best. You don’t want to over cook, they are best if still moist and not hard. Once they’re done we top with peanut butter and syrup and since they are whole wheat and banana based they will fill you up fast, unlike typical mix or white flour based waffles, and keep you full until lunch. Enjoy! – Derrick
