Om in Home

I am not big on New Year's resolutions. Like many, I have set them in the past, only to quickly fall off track and attempt to forget my failures due to laziness or being over ambitious in a moment of denial about my true abilities. Instead, I like to focus on goals.

When I turned 39 a while back, life was CRAZY. I had always intended to set some goals ramping up to my 40th birthday, but then wasn't the time to set any. I find that it's important for me to be in a clear & sensible frame of mind when working on goal setting, or else I am setting myself up for failure. 

So! Now that I am ready...

1. Read 40 books 

2. Try 40 new recipes

3. Try/do 40 new things - yes, this is broad, but I don't want to put limitations on what I try

4. Complete 40 random acts of kindness (I may not write about all of these, depending on what all I do)

Over the last year, waffles have become a staple in our home. It is one of those things you can make and know that everyone will eat them. No fighting necessary! Another fabulous thing about waffles is that there seems to be an endless variation of  recipes and ideas. It is also an easy thing to experiment with and come up with your own recipe, which is exactly what I did on Saturday!

This is a recipe in the making. I am already dreaming of ways to make them better, even though they are really darn good. Next time, I will find a way to incorporate sour cream to give them a little extra zing!

Banana Bread Waffles

makes 12 - 14 waffles

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 tablespoons white sugar

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk, lukewarm

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 large ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

In a medium bowl, mash ripe (peeled!) bananas & set aside.

Chop pecans. Toast in a dry heated pan & set aside to cool. (Toasting brings out the nutty flavour.)

Preheat waffle maker to preferred settings (I use 400F.) Spray or oil waffle griddle if necessary. 

In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Add milk, melted butter and vanilla. Stir together.

Slowly add milk mixture into the flour. Stir until blended. Fold in mashed banana & toasted pecans.

Ladle waffle mixture onto hot waffle griddle. Cook until desired doneness. Serve while hot. 

What's a recipe without photos?

Banana Bread Waffle batter prior to folding in bananas & pecans.

Banana Bread Waffle batter on hot waffle iron.

Banana Bread Waffles ready to eat! Served with maple syrup & bacon.

I will never be considered a "good" writer, I have found that it is important to have an outlet where I can just dump the contents of my brain and make room for more important things.

Sadly, most of my brain space these days is filled with inane things, instead of ones that should be there. I know myself well enough to know that when I no longer enjoy music playing in the background, because it's causing static in thought process, that it is time to do something.

So I am doing something...

Post may be frequent & then again maybe not. I do have a flurry of activity in my life right now. Setting up a new home & creating a new family unit. Moves mean lots of changes. From little, to big ones like new schools & communities. Holidays are quickly approaching (Yay, Christmas!) & with so much newness, it's a great chance to create new traditions, keeping old cherished ones & doing away with those done just out of habit (or sometimes guilt.)

In many ways, life right now is like a new bloom, getting ready to burst open. I am excited to see what beauty unfolds.