This is a great recipe for a special breakfast or brunch! Lots of variations!

3 C sifted all-purpose flour (or part whole wheat flour)
4 tsp baking powder
2 T sugar (optional)
1 tsp salt
4 egg yolks, beaten
4 egg whites beaten until stiff
1 1/2 to 2 C sweet milk or buttermilk
4 T melted butter

Sift dry ingredients together. Beat egg yolks until light and add the milk and melted butter. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Fold in beaten egg whites. Bake in a hot waffle iron. Makes about a dozen waffles.

Tips:

- Put the waffle batter into a pitcher. It is much easer to pour the batter!

- Don't overfill waffle compartments or the batter runs out on the sides of the waffle iron.

- Waffles are done when there is no more steam rising from the iron.

- After cooling, freeze extra waffles in a plastic freezer bag. Separate with wax paper before freezing.

Variations:

1. Apple Waffles - Add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the dry ingredients. Add a cup of chopped, peeled apple to batter. Serve with warm applesauce & sour cream.

2. Bacon Waffles - Crumble a few slices of cooked, drained & crumbled bacon into the batter.

3. Banana Waffles - Add a chopped banana to the batter.

4. Blueberry Waffles - Add 1-cup fresh or frozen blueberries (thawed & drained).

5. Chocolate Waffles - Increase sugar to 1/3 cup and add 1 square melted unsweetened chocolate OR add 1/2-cup cocoa and a 1/3-cup sugar to dry ingredients. Serve with whipped cream and chopped pecans.

6. Cinnamon Raisin Waffles - Add a teaspoon cinnamon and a couple spoonfuls of plumped raisins to the batter.

7. Ham Waffles - Add a couple of spoonfuls of diced ham to the batter. Saut it first for better flavor.

8. Molasses Spice Waffles - Add a teaspoon of cinnamon and a 1/2-teaspoon of nutmeg to dry ingredients. Add 3 tablespoons of molasses to liquid ingredients.

9. Nutty Waffles - Add 1/4 cup chopped peanuts, pecans, walnuts or filberts. Toast the nuts for better flavor!

10. Orange Zest Waffles - Add a tablespoon orange zest to batter. Substitute 1/2 cup orange juice for 1/2-cup milk.

11. Pineapple Waffles - Add a cup of well-drained crushed pineapple to the batter.

12. Sausage Waffles - Add a couple of spoonfuls of cooked, crumbled and drained sausage to the batter.

Copyright 2000 by Leslie Sausage