Buttermilk Waffles...

I typically do not buy my small kitchen appliances from stores like Williams Sonoma, but this last Christmas we purchased a waffle maker from there off a recommendation from a family member and it has been worth every penny (and yes it was a lot of pennies!) With the waffle maker, there was a small recipe book and we opened it and tried the first recipe we came across...buttermilk waffles.

They will not disappoint, but they will melt in your mouth! They are seriously that good! We like to top them off with some fruit and whipped cream which then makes them more like dessert than breakfast.

The trick to these waffles are egg whites, beat to perfection and folded in. It makes a world of difference.

• 3 eggs, separated
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbs. sugar

In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Whisk in the buttermilk, butter and vanilla. Over a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. Add the flour mixture to the yolk mixture and whisk until smooth.

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, fold half of the egg whites into the batter, then fold in the remaining whites. Cook the waffles according to the manufacturer's instructions.