Design and Style
This is really a quick bread but I baked it in muffin cups instead of a loaf pan. I was craving muffin-shaped things, and muffins are so easily shared.
I used the Cocoa-Nana Bread recipe from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From My Home to Yours (recipe here), with the cocoa powder much reduced (I didn’t have enough, but it’s delicious this way too), and chopped pecans added in.
So moist that no additional topping is necessary. Delightful.
I finally broke out the waffle iron. Why did I not sooner? It didn’t take nearly as long as I was imagining to get a waffle going. This is a buttermilk waffle recipe from Cook’s Illustrated (here it is featured on a cooking blog), which calls for seltzer water to add fluffiness. Works like a charm. Want to try a recipe with yeast next, then something with multiple grains, something savory…it’s only a matter of time. Only a matter of time and waffles.
I invested in a nice All-Clad waffle iron and am so pleased with it. I rarely had waffles growing up and they haven’t lost their air of specialness. Like, if I make you waffles, I must really like you.* It must be a special day (or is henceforth destined to be a special day, on account of the waffles). The people I like aren’t usually around at breakfast, but I hope this is not always the case. It’s hard to imagine a better expression of affection than a gift of homemade waffles. Especially those accompanied by blueberries and proper maple syrup.
* If you make me waffles, you must really like me. If I will not make you waffles, I must not like you quite enough, etc. An unexpectedly effective barometer.
