February 2013
My oldest sister was in grad school for speech pathology when I was learning to read, so I made quite the guinea pig for her homework. When she began teaching in public schools, I would use my days off from school to accompany her on her teaching rounds, which is to say, I went to school when I didn’t have to. On one of those afternoons when I was her sidekick, she led a classroom full of kindergarteners in a little hand-clapping song- “Associate, associate, goooes together.” Then she would hold up an object, and they would make the obvious association. As an adult, I still find myself singing that jingle every now and then.
When I think of the Special Cabin in the Woods, there are a few associations that come to mind. At the top of my list is brunch, specifically waffles! Beyond the practical fact that the cabin kitchen contains a waffle maker, and my own kitchen does not, there is just something so slow and calming about syrup pooling in waffle basins while the creek waters flow through the valley. When that cabin view is still icy, a flavor burst of citrus can do wonders for the winter soul. Associate, associate, they go together!
Meyer Lemon Waffles
Ingredients
2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 organic eggs
1 Tablespoon pure cane sugar
2 Tablespoons Meyer lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 Tablespoon Meyer lemon zest
1 Meyer lemon, peeled and cut into small chunks
Directions
Preheat your waffle iron.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, sugar, lemon juice, zest and lemon chunks.
Pour mixture over the dry ingredients and whisk together until smooth.
Spoon batter into your waffle iron as directed by manufacturers instructions.
Cook until golden brown, crisp, and cooked through.
Serve waffles immediately with blueberries, maple syrup and a dollop of bourbon whipped cream (recipe follows).
Bourbon Whipped Cream
Ingredients
1 pint organic heavy cream
Maple Syrup, to taste
1/4 cup bourbon
Directions
In a chilled bowl, beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add the maple syrup and bourbon and continue to beat until combined.
