Classic Buttermilk Waffles

It was Sunday night and my kids asked, "What do we have to do tomorrow?". I had to think for a moment because lately we've been running to something every night. Last week it was dance dress rehearsals, pool parties, baseball playoffs and music lessons. Wouldn't you know, we had nothing on the calendar yesterday...we could do whatever we want! Annie asked if it could be movie day and that got the ball rolling into a weekly schedule for summer vacation. Here it is:

Monday: Movie night
Tuesday: Outside Day (I hope it doesn't rain!)
Wednesday: Game night
Thursday: Baking Day
Friday: Reading Night
Saturday: Random
Sunday: Family Outing Day

I was quite impressed with this schedule of events they came up with without my help. I'm sure it will help with an otherwise unstructured summer.

So here's how our first day of summer vacation went: I had to wake the girls up at 10am! (pooped out after a long dance recital on Sunday). We made delicious Belgian waffles with real maple syrup for breakfast (see recipe below). The kids spent almost an hour taking turns jumping off my bed onto a mound of pillows on the floor while listening to loud dance music. We couldn't go for the walk we planned because of the rain (so much rain lately!), so we hopped in the car and went to the library and the video store to pick out movies for "movie night". It is no small feat finding one that everyone wants to see but we decided on the Disney movie "Enchanted". The kids played with friends after lunch and at dinnertime we ordered a pizza and watched the movie. All in all a very good day. Let's hope the rest of vacation goes this smoothly!

Classic Buttermilk Waffles
adapted from a recipe from King Arthur Flour

2 large eggs
1 3/4 cup buttermilk, plus more to thin if necessary
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 T sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup ground golden flaxseed or ground pecans (optional)

In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla. In another bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. Combine the wet and dry ingredients just until almost smooth. Add more buttermilk if it seems too thick. Spray your non-stick waffle iron with cooking spray before preheating it. Cook according to wafflemaker instructions.

Makes about 8 Belgian waffles. Halve the recipe if you like, or make the whole recipe and let the extras cool on a cooling rack (so they don't steam themselves soggy) and place in a zip top bag and freeze. To reheat, place waffle in the toaster to crisp.