Hard

"Don't take my picture!"

As sweet as she is, I get the feeling Daisy thinks life is quite hard.  I understand; I can see how it would be hard to not actually be able to do all the things you think you should be capable of doing.  She thinks she OUGHT to be able to read and run and climb and carry things and open doors and make toast and pour her own milk and work on the computer and so forth, ad infinitum.  (I guess she assumes she should be able to do anything her brothers can do?)  And it irks her greatly when she has to face any reality to the contrary.  Anyway, she really wishes someone (the government, probably) would step in and DO SOMETHING about it.  (And when no one does, she assumes it's because they REFUSE to, rather than because they just can't figure out what the samhill she even wants.)  Poor little lamb!

 "Why won't these shoes stay on?!"

 "I want to be on this bench!"

"This bag holds some perplexing secret!"

"I need this book read to me!  In a certain way!"

"Why can't I lift this?"

"Do something!"

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Oat Waffles

Birthday waffle feast

I requested that Sam make waffles for my birthday dinner last month, and it was everything I've ever wanted.  This is kind of a surprise, since I have never preferred waffles over other breakfast foods (in fact I tend to prefer eggs and biscuits and other savory sorts of things) but since discovering this recipe, I am a waffle convert.*  They are so oat-y and crisp and soft and good, and I like that you don't have to separate the eggs for this recipe.  Fresh fruit and yogurt and lemon curd are my favorite toppings---but since they aren't particularly sweet, we also like these waffles topped with eggs and bacon and hollandaise sauce.  Or, for that matter, hot fudge and ice cream and strawberries (but just for dessert, of course).  Other toppings popular with our family: applesauce and cinnamon, pumpkin butter, and vanilla syrup.

*I was already to a convert to true Belgian waffles ever since I went to Belgium with my family when I was a teenager.  Those are yeasted waffles, I think, which I still haven't tried making, but Beth has, and I want to.  In my mind, though, Belgian waffles are a whole different food.

In fact, these oat waffles are so good plain that I usually eat at least one with just butter on top.  But I think to have the best experience you can, you need at least these two other components: lemon curd and the yogurt spread ("recipe" follows).

Oat Waffles

I'm putting this recipe in the amounts we make it for our family.  Just so you know: we eat a lot.  This is 4x the original recipe.  It fills everyone up . . . for now.

2 2/3 cups flour (we have used both white and whole-wheat flour in this recipe, with good results)

2 cups quick oats

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 T. plus 1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

2 2/3 c. milk or buttermilk (or sour milk---a good use for it)

4 eggs

1 cup canola oil

2 tsp. lemon juice

Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl; stir to combine.  Mix milk, egg, oil, and lemon juice; stir into dry ingredients and mix well.  Let stand for 5 minutes.  Bake in a preheated waffle iron until golden brown.

Yogurt Topping

I can't really call it a recipe.  It's just plain non-fat yogurt with a little brown sugar or honey, and then cinnamon, stirred in.  Greek yogurt is the best because it's so thick and creamy, but regular yogurt just makes a thinner, more syrupy topping.  Both are good.  I love the way the yogurt flavor works with the lemon curd.  This is my favorite topping for pancakes, too (even without the lemon curd).  And it's good to dip apples or other fruit in.

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