Chai Waffles with Spiced Vanilla Whipped Cream

   Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! It's another wintry day at our house. Woke up to a fresh blanket of snow and it is still coming down. A good day to spend indoors baking rolls for a family gathering tomorrow night, maybe sew a dress, enjoy some mommy/son time and being very thankful to God for the blessing of a warm house. (something I too often take for granted)
   We had a Christmas service at church yesterday morning, and I wanted to fix a special Christmas breakfast to enjoy before we went. I was planning to make my gingerbread waffles, but then I found this recipe from  Ezra Pound Cake and decided to try  something new. I made a few minor adjustments to the recipe and they didn't disappoint...the only thing disappointing was the fact that Husband had taken my cooking spray while he was barbecuing the other day and didn't bring it back so I had trouble with the waffles sticking to the iron and tearing. I tried greasing the iron with olive oil etc, but it just wasn't working very well. I managed to get a few that weren't totally riddled to photograph. So although they looked like an almost total flop, they sure did taste like winners! Perfect for Christmas morning. (or any morning for that matter)

Chai Waffles with Spiced Vanilla Whipped Cream

yield: 12-16 waffles (depending on the size)

Waffles:

1 3/4 cups milk 

7 chai tea bags

1 3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp orange peel

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs, separated

1/2 cup canola oil

1 tsp vanilla

In a small saucepan over medium heat bring milk to a simmer, add tea bags and remove from heat. Let the tea steep for about 5 minutes. Squeeze the tea bags into the milk and then discard. Allow the tea to cool.

In another bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and spices. Set aside.

In another bowl whisk together egg yolks, oil, vanilla and the cooled chai tea.

Add to the dry ingredients stirring just until combined, batter will be lumpy. 

In a small bowl beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into the batter being careful not to over mix. 

Preheat and grease your waffle iron. Add batter and cook until golden brown. Dust with powdered sugar and top with Spiced Vanilla Whipped Cream and maple syrup.

Spiced Vanilla Whipped Cream:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

Pour the cream into a bowl and whip on low speed until just beginning to stiffen. Add sugar, vanilla, and spices. Whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. Serve on top of waffles.
 

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And suddenly there was with the angel

a multitude of heavenly host

praising God, and saying,

"Glory to God in the Highest,

and on earth, peace, good will

toward men." 

~St. Luke 2:13&14

  

♥ Sheila 

 

     

Merry Christmas To All!

   So hard to believe it is already this time of year again!! Today has been what I think would be an almost text-book perfect Christmas Eve Day....a lazy day at home with Hubby and G-bug as the first snow of the year falls!

   Of course I had to take some pictures of the little Mr and his first snow. He was mesmerized this morning watching the big flakes float past the windows so I dressed him up and outside we went for a short photo shoot. It was so cute to watch him experience it all for the first time, he even stuck out his little tongue a time or so to catch the flakes. Here are a few of the photos....

 

  So from our family to yours....A very blessed and joy-filled Christmas as we celebrate our dear Savior's birth!

Card photos courtesy of the talented Emily Sacra Photography

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Fear not: for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

 ~St. Luke 2:10-12

♥ Sheila

Homemade Cinnamon Ornaments

   I have been a little slow getting the house decorated for Christmas this year. I wanted and had every intention of doing it Thanksgiving day or the day after, but it just didn't happen. I had several things I wanted to make and I'm finally getting them done. This was one of the projects and I know it isn't edible, but it contains edible ingredients and they get baked so I think they qualify for the blog.
   I spent today making these ornaments and some sticky buns and needless to say my house smelled amazing! They really are the greatest little things; so pretty, smell wonderful and easy to make. I am disappointed though, I wanted to make one with G-bug's hand print on it, but the dough wasn't soft enough for that to work well. I found another recipe that I may try and see if it does better.

Homemade Cinnamon Ornaments 

yield: about 20 ornaments (depending on the size)

 1 cup applesauce

1-1 1/4  cups cinnamon 

1 tsp ground allspice

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground nutmeg 

Combine all ingredients in mixer and mix until well blended and forms a ball. If too sticky add more cinnamon, too dry add more applesauce. Sprinkle cinnamon on counter and roll the dough out to about 1/4" thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on cookie sheet and use a straw to poke the hole. Bake @ 200* for 1 1/2-2 hours, or until completely dry and hard. Cool on wire racks. Add decorative string and hang.  

These are not edible!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......finally!

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Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:

the virgin will be with child and 

will give birth to a son, and will call him

Immanuel.

~Isaiah 7:14

♥ Sheila