HEALTHIER WAFFLES, Sugar&yeast-free, almost no fat, higher fibre, wheat-free option, frugal

Waffles aren't just for breakfast; they can be snacks, tea treats, sandwiches and dessert...

                  original 2027; updated Feb 25                                                

Waffles with Strawberries'n Cream: 
Low sugar & fat, with wheat-free and high-fibre options

photo 19/6/17

Back in 2017 when this recipe was first posted, few UK households owned a waffle-maker.  Since then, many -- attracted by well-priced models - have added a waffle iron to the household equipment.  

And many families are now happy to indulge in this European based/iconic  American treat, especially with a recipe like this one --  low sugar and fat and with wheat-free, diary-free and high fibre options.

Households have grown to really love waffles; the possibilities for waffle treats all day are endless:

• waffles for breakfast with maple syrup, sweet bacon & sausages
• portable waffle sandwiches stuffed with cooked meat, pickle & cheese 
• chocolate chip 'cookie' waffle
• peanut butter & banana snack waffle
• afternoon tea waffles with berries & cream 
• home-made waffles frozen and reheated in a toaster (a great healthy no-sugar carb for a kid's breakfast)
• waffles stuffed with crispy Southern Unfried Chicken

...and waffle-shaped panini, pizza, hash browns & omelettes.  

67's favourite is the breakfast waffle but a close second is the tea-time treat, waffles with fruit and cream (or if you're not indulging) thick unsweetened yoghurt with vanilla.

The Strawberries 'n Cream waffle, pictured above, is indulgent but pretty low on the OMG-scare-o-meter.  The batter has no sugar and only a little fat.  Replacing some of the flour with wholemeal adds healthy fibre.  If the fruit is ripe and sweet, no sugar is needed. If you want to be really good, don't bother with the cream, just go with strained unsweetened vanilla dairy or plant yoghurt. (See how to do it at home, bottom of page Dressings)


Cost: £3.00' is, more depending on dairy free options (2025)
Feeds: 8-10 single waffles  (recipe doubles easily)

Ingred:


    100gm/3 1/2oz plain white flour
     50gm/1.7oz wholemeal flour
        2 tsp baking powder
        pinch salt

     1 egg, separated
     300 ml milk
     2 tbsp light veg oil (or melted butter)
     1/2 tsp vanilla extract         


Method:Separate egg yolk and egg white; set white aside in a clean bowl; place yolk in a jug

1. Sift dry ingred into a large bowl - the bran will be left behind but just toss it in on top of the flours; mix; make a depression in the centre
2. Add milk to the yolk, then oil & vanilla; stir together; pour into dry ingred
3. Using a whisk & plenty of muscle, beat until smooth and thick  
4. Whisk egg white until soft peaks form (electric beaters are fine for this)

   

   Soft Peak
   Courtesy of Fine Cooking and licensed for 
   reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
   
   

   
   

    -when you lift the beaters the whites form a peak that folds back on itse
5. Heat waffle iron until 'ready' light goes on
6. Fold egg whites into the batter using a spatula to cut the white into the mix by pushing it down to the bottom and back up again, turning the bowl as you go, until the whites are incorporated.  (A few streaks are ok.)
7. Using a silicone brush dipped in oil or butter, lightly brush the waffle wells 
8. Fill each waffle well 2/3 full, gently pushing the batter into the corners 
9. Close waffle iron; do not open until done;  usually 5-10 mins or until (a) the machine stops steaming or (b) the thermostat turns off.  
10. Release waffles with tongs or a blunt knife slipped under a corner; the waffles should should come away easily
11. Pile on sliced fresh strawberries and top with:

• clotted cream (indulgence) OR
• whipping cream mixed with strained unsweetened 0-fat yoghurt flavoured with vanilla or lemon zest (a 'skinnier' treat) OR 
• strained unsweetened 0-fat yoghurt flavoured with vanilla or lemon zest ('I just want something sweet & creamy without breaking my diet!')

14.  If freezing waffles or saving for later, cook, cool completely, place in an air-tight bag with small strips of greaseproof paper in between; refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze.  Defrost overnight and lightly toast before serving.

For information on freezing & reheating waffles, plus cleaning the waffle maker,  see How to...Waffles: everything you wanted to know

Tips:

• if you don't have a waffle iron, do a Jaimie Oliver and cook them in a well-greased grill pan, following the same instructions in Method: 8-10 
• Separating the egg and folding in the beaten whites is essential if you want the best waffles - uniformly thick, fluffy inside and beautifully crunchy outside.  But if you can't be bothered and just want to mix a whole egg with the milk, you'll still get good waffles
• The recipe works well with spelt flour instead of wheat

 Waffles & quick breads incl, pancakes on NavBar: Recipes I/Baked Goods 

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This recipe has  been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.  

HEALTHIER PICNICS: HOT DOGS WITH NO-SUGAR VEGAN RELISH, Low preservative, Easy

American hot dogs have become a favourite English picnic food...

A hot dog picnic with Make-ahead Easy No/low Sugar Homemade Relish
Photo shows Tivali veggie dogs in Light wholemeal Spelt rolls. 

first posted 2016

...and the English have developed various strategies to enhance their enjoyment. 

Nowadays when healthy eating is all the range, high-meat beef or pork frankfurters are popular, as are lower-fat chicken or increasingly, vegan franks.  Vegetarian frankfurters* which the blogger discovered in Israel are recommended but in the west, high-end vegan frankfurters are apparently being developed alongside increasingly popular meatless burgers.

Whatever their origin, frankfurters/hot dogs are best eaten warm.  Try these methods:  

• place the dogs in wide-mouthed thermoses and cover with hot - not boiling - water; drain at the picnic site OR
• wrap the frankfurters in buns and then in foil packets.  To prevent burning, wrap in tea towels before placing them on the car engine while travelling to the picnic site 
• cook over a campfire; load a young branch with the dogs and grill over the flames (it's probably best to have jumbo dogs for this)

Traditionally, hot dogs are served with a strip of mustard, a strip of ketchup and maybe some onions fried in butter.  Fill separate squeezy bottles (from Nisbetts & department stores) with mustard and ketchup and cover the tops with cling film before screwing on the lid to prevent spills during travelling.   

Many varieties of relish - red or green - are available at various prices but most are high in sugar and additives.  

67goingon50's easy colourful, tasty hot dog relish is not.  It's a healthy treat -- tasty, crunchy and zippily flavoured -  but either no-or-low in sugar and almost preservative-free.  The relish is very easy to put together; an older child with good knife skills could do it under supervision. (Always have a first aid kit in the kitchen!)  

The recipe does use store-bought sweet & sour pickles but not in huge quantities.  To make your own, go to Faff-free Dill Pickles, which take only a few minutes to make and 3 days to 'cook'.    

67's relish the relish is a sophisticated condiment for adults. For kids being weaned off high levels of sugar, it's ok to add half a tablespoon of maple syrup. The chillis and mustard could also be reduced.  The recipe makes 1 1/2 cups; preparing two batches won't be a burden.  

Any leftovers can be teamed with chicken or cheese with a little yoghurt-mayo for a great sandwich filling.

The relish can be made in advance and keeps 3-5 days in the fridge.   

Cost: £2.00

Makes1.5 cups

Ingred:
   5 cherry tomatoes or equiv, in small dice
   3/4 tsp tomato puree, preferably low-salt
   small red chilli, de-seeded, in fine dice OR 1/2 tsp chilli flakes  
   1/2 cup bell pepper, pref green or yellow, in small dice
   1/3 cup dill pickle  (2 med in small dice)
   1/3 cup drained corn niblets
   1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

Method:

1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly; add cracked black pepper to taste 
2. Store in a wide-mouthed air-tight container in the fridge 3-5 days

*Tivali

Tips:

• Hot dog buns/finger rolls are sold at most UK supermarkets at good prices; pick up more than you need when they're on offer - they freeze well

Please leave a Comment in the box below

This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and can not be reproduced without the author's written permission.