Dorie Greenspan.
What image just popped into your head? That stuffed pumpkin from Around My French Table? The perfect birthday cakes and frostings from Baking: From My Home to Yours. Or one of those real homemade French desserts from her latest book, Baking Chez Moi?
Not everyone knows but there was life before Paris for Dorie. And many other books. Her first book was Sweet Times: Simple Desserts for Every Occasion way back in 1991. And that book was followed in 1993 by Waffles: From Moring to Midnight. Yes, there is a pancake book, too, but I happen to be a waffle person.
My early childhood memories include the steam and smell of waffles hot in the iron, then pulled finger-burning hot, ready to be topped with fresh strawberries, butter and maybe maple syrup.
So, still, when you say “waffle” I have that one childhood image. There is one and only one waffle for me. And that is why Dorie’s Waffles is just so remarkable. Yes, that basic morning waffle is there. But I just made, and relished, Dorie’s breakfast Crispy Cornmeal Waffle. I did this one with fresh blackberries dappled with sugar, no syrup required [blog to shortly follow].
In that subtitle – From Morning to Night — Dorie says it all. There are waffle ideas here for 24X7 lives.
Waffles for Breakfast includes
Plain-and-Easy Breakfast Quickies
Crispy Cornmeal Waffles
Buckwheat Waffles
For Lunch and Brunch Waffles, Dorie begins with a reminder: we are past breakfast so, please, let’s use our imaginations. And imagination abounds with:
Curried Waffle Club Sandwiches with Chutney Mayonnaise
Scallion Waffles with Sesame Chicken Salad [in the waffles: Chinese chili paste and sesame oil!]
Smoked Salmon and Dill Waffles
Western Omelet Style with Bell Peppers, Onion and Bacon
Tarragon Waffles with Crab Salad
Just for Kids does just that: recipes for the young. Now, you are never too old to qualify as being a kid and therefore you too can enjoy:
PB&J Waffles
Rocky Road Waffles
Butterscotch Babies
Ham-and-Cheese Waffle Sandwiches
Dorie really expands the waffle universe in the chapter on Snacks and Starters. You can transform that soft waffle hot off the grill into waffle chips, with some extra oven time, and then combine flavored waffles with guacamole. Not authentic Mexican? Who cares when you can nibble on:
Cilantro Waffle Chips with Chunky Guacamole
Couscous Waffles with Roasted Pepper Dip
Dill Waffle Chips with Yogurt Spoon Dip
Basil-Parmesan Waffle Chips with Balsamic Tomatoes
Yes, waffles can be Dressed for Dinner:
Spicy Ricotta Waffles with Grilled Pepper Strips
New England Clam-Hash Waffles
Cranberry Waffles with Cranberry-Orange Relish
Creamed Spinach and Rice Waffles with Sautéed Scallops
Finally, you could never have a Dorie book with dessert and she delivers in the chapter Finishers:
Double Vanilla Waffles with Pear Sauce
Spiced Plum Waffles
Rhubarb Waffles
Tiramisu Waffles with Espresso Custard Sauce
When was the last time you used your waffle iron? What? You don’t have one? This is what Amazon is for. The same box can bring you a good waffle iron and a great book, Waffles from the indomitable Dorie Greenspan.