Sweet Start to the Day! {Recipe: Valentine Chocolate Waffles}

These are a fun start to Valentine's Day or a great way to end it with dessert!

Valentine Chocolate Waffles

2 cups flour 

1/3 cup red cocoa powder* or regular cocoa powder

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/3 cup melted butter or vegetable oil 

1-3/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Add melted butter and stir until smooth (a few small lumps are okay). Cook in heart shaped or favorite regular waffle iron according to waffle iron manufacturer instructions. Serve with Nutella, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, ice cream, and/or fresh berries. Waffles can also be dusted with powdered sugar. 

*Note: I used Guittard Red Cocoa Powder that can be found at Cost Plus World Market.

My daughter put this together,
 I think her summer working at a ice cream,
waffle and crepe place shows! 

Happy Valentine's!

Take a Hike! {Recipe: Pain d'Epices (French Spice Bread)}

This recipe is adapted from a recipe I screen shot, but didn't capture the source. It is very similar to a honey bread my father-in-law used to make, so I wanted to record it here. My husband loves it and is sure to request it often. Apparently my father-in-law used to make it for when they would go hiking. It is a sturdy bread that would work well for this. 

Pain d'Epices (French Spice Bread)

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and line a loaf pan with parchment paper. 

In a small saucepan,  over low heat, warm:

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup milk

Remove from heat and set aside. Once cool, whisk in:

1 egg

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together:

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cloves

Add honey/milk mixture to dry ingredients, stir together until well combined. Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Note: to make this recipe vegan, use 1 tablespoon ground flax seed stirred in 3 tablespoons water (let set 5 minutes before using) and any vegan milk substitutes (oat, soy, almond, etc). 

Enjoy!