Coconut Waffles
05.17.2012 
There is an adjustment period that comes with moving. Even after the belongings have found their way into closets, shelves, and onto living room walls, the new house is not a home. Not yet. It often feels like I'm a visitor who has come to stay, signed the guest book, but has yet to realize I'm not going to be leaving anytime soon.
Adjusting to anything new takes time, as we all know, and there is little to do to hurry the process along.
In the middle of cooking dinner, I often forget which cupboards and drawers I've put silverware or certain utensils and end up tearing apart half the kitchen just to find a spoon. In bed, I lie awake longer than usual, not used to hearing the foreign creaks and groans of a new building. I turn my key the wrong way in the lock, never sure which direction will lock or open the door. These are small things, certainly, but the extra moments I spend adjusting (and readjusting) the shower head or flipping on the wrong light switches leave me feeling like a guest in my new surroundings.
Perhaps it is only when you've mastered the little things that you can feel as if you finally belong in the place you've chosen to be your new home.
Sunday morning breakfasts are my favorite meal of the week for a hundred reasons, but mainly because it's one of the few meals my entire family sits down and enjoys together. Sunday brunch is full of comfort foods and loving people. After eating the past half dozen meals alone, in front of a computer screen, I needed to feel contentment that can only come from a Sunday brunch.
At four o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon, I sat down on the floor with a plate of syrup soaked pancakes in my lap and flipped on a familiar re-run of my favorite sitcom. Somehow, it brought me closer to home.
These coconut waffles have a subtle, comforting flavor. Whole wheat waffles are infused with coconut milk and flaked coconut pieces in the batter to bring in the delicate coconut flavor. During cooking, the outsides of the waffles crisp up slightly while the inside stays soft. I prefer to top these waffles with flaked, toasted coconut and a little more maple syrup than is probably considered healthy. Whether it's Sunday brunch or a weekday afternoon, I hope these waffles bring you comfort, whenever and wherever you may be.
One Year Ago: Baby Sugar Cookies
Coconut Waffles
Adapted from Cookie + Kate
Yields 3-4 servings
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons honey
1 large egg
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut flakes, plus extra for topping
Preheat waffle iron.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the honey, egg, milks, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until just incorporated. The batter may be lumpy and this is okay.
Cook the waffles in the waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Serve warm, topped with extra (or toasted) coconut flakes, and a healthy dose of syrup.
breakfast, coconut, waffle in breakfast/brunch
Reader Comments (9)
These look amazing; I can taste them now. Crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside; the way the perfect waffel should feel. :)
I can completely empathise with your feelings on living alone, and I will give you sympathy on the "too-many-baked-goods" problem! Don't worry - you are not alone! A girl's gotta bake, but a girl's also gotta fit into her jeans.
On a totally different note - what's the brand/model of your waffle maker? I find my current machine completely unable to fulfill my waffle needs at this time.
Cheers,
Sarah.