Buttermilk Waffles

Yesterday the husband sent me 18 long-stemmed red roses at work. Yeah. Just had to brag on him for a minute. I've got a mighty fine Valentine.

Although I don't get a gorgeous bouquet of flowers every Valentine's Day, the husband and I do have a tradition: breakfast for dinner. It all started seven years ago...

It was our first Valentine's Day as husband and wife, and the husband offered to cook dinner. When I got home from work, the house was a flutter of activity. Grocery bags were strewn about the kitchen. Ingredients were piled on the counters. The husband was flying maniacally from stove to fridge to sink to microwave... "Happy Valentine's Day, hon!" I hollered over the din. "What's cookin'?"

He looked at me seriously. "Waffles."

And a tradition was born.

Buttermilk Waffles
Adapted from Gourmet via epicurious.com
Makes 8 waffles

2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups buttermilk*
3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Extra butter, maple syrup, and berries for serving

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Set a metal cooling rack on top of a large baking sheet. When the waffles are done, you can keep them crispy and warm by setting them on top of the cooling rack in the oven.

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until they are just combined.

Heat your waffle iron to your desired temperature and spray it lightly with vegetable oil spray. Pour about 1/2 cup batter into each waffle mold and cook waffles according to the manufacturer's instructions, until they are golden brown and crisp. Transfer waffles to the cooling rack in the warm oven to keep them toasty. Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve waffles with plenty of butter, syrup, and berries.

*Don't have buttermilk on hand? Make your own! Combine 2 cups milk and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Let it sit on the counter for 10 minutes until it thickens up.