With Love, From Belgium

by D.S. Fisher

Regardless of whether your Valentine’s Day goes as planned, you can always count on Belgian waffles to sweeten your morning.

Photo from Hilde Vanstraelen

Belgian Waffles from the kitchen of Mama Goldyn

1 package dry yeast (2 and 1/4 teaspoons)
2 cups lukewarm milk
4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups sifted flour (sift the flour before measuring)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup melted butter

Sprinkle yeast over warm milk, and stir to dissolve. Beat egg yolks and add to yeast mixture, along with the vanilla extract. Sift together flour, salt and sugar; add to liquid ingredients. Stir in melted butter and combine thoroughly. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then carefully fold into batter.

Let mixture stand at room temperature for about 45 minutes or until mixture doubles in bulk.

Make waffles:
Oil and preheat a waffle iron. Pour 7/8 cup of the batter into the iron and bake between 4 and 6 minutes, depending on your preference. Makes approximately 5 waffles.

Note: If you prefer, you can refrigerate the batter overnight and make waffles the next day. The batter will keep, refrigerated, for two or three days. Leftover waffles can be frozen and reheated in the toaster.

Chocolate heart from Chocolate Decadence

What do you do when you love chocolate and other treats, but they don’t necessarily love you back? Oh, the pain of unrequited romance...

If you have food allergies, or you’re a vegan, finding ways to satisfy your sweet tooth can be tricky. Here are a few bakers and candy makers who feel your pain, and have the solution.

Chocolate Decadence
Dairy-free chocolates
1050-D Bethel Drive
Eugene, OR 97402
800-324-5018
www.chocolatedecadence.com

Bete Noire Chocolates
Vegan chocolates and baked goods
670 Pearl Street #3
Denver, CO 80203
303-399-4876
www.betenoirechocolates.com

Happy Cakes Bakeshop
Gluten-free cupcakes (Thursdays only, or by special order)
3815 W. 32nd Avenue, Denver, CO 80211
303-477-3556
www.happycakesdenver.com