My oldest brother, Mike, is 22 years older than me. I’ve never thought a whole lot about that, until recently. He was married by the time I was born and began his own family just a few years after my birth. Sure, it was kind of odd growing up with a nephew just a couple years younger than me and a brother around the same age as some of my friends parents, but it is all I knew so I didn’t think much about it.
While we were visiting Mike and his family in Chicago over Thanksgiving, his wife said something about my mom’s waffle recipe and how it is such a staple in their house. I was perplexed… my mom made waffles? Enough times to have a family recipe? I remember my mom making pancakes often and the best buttermilk biscuits, ever, but I do not remember waffles being on our table very often.
When my sister-in-law handed over the tattered and worn recipe card – written out for her by my mom many, many years before – it really dawned on me that my mom had a life before I came around. As strange as that sounds, it never really hit me that my mom did a whole lot of living before I was even born. It’s kind of like when you are a kid and you hear your parents talk about when they were young… when you are old enough to realize that they haven’t always been “parents” and at one time they might have actually been cool… that was what happened to me at the sight of the recipe card.
My "Super Chef" great niece, Haidon, helped me to tackle pie baking over Thanksgiving break.
My great nieces and great nephews - this is what it is all about!
Anyway, this waffle recipe is Mike’s favorite, his kids favorites and their kids favorites, handed down from generation to generation through our family… and even though it somehow skipped me, it’s back in place thanks to my sister-in-law, and is a favorite of my family as well.
What breakfast recipe is most well known among the generations of your family?
Recipe: Mike’s Favorite Waffles {Not sure of the original source}
- 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 beaten egg yolks
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 stiff, beaten egg whites
- Beat egg whites until stiff. Beat in sugar and set aside.
- Combine together dry ingredients.
- Combine egg yolks and milk. Beat in dry ingredients. Add oil and beat until blended.
- Fold in egg whites (do not overmix)
- Bake in preheated waffle iron (I just got this one for Christmas and love it!)
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I also grew up in a multi-generational family. My oldest sibling is 18 years older than myself. Our family was large, with 4 siblings relatively close in age, then 10 years of nothing before I was born with 2 sisters closely following. Needless to say, the childhood that I had differed greatly from my parent’s “first” family. We did have waffles, though. However, since my mom was not an adventurous cook, ours were Bisquick. I have tried several waffle recipes since I discovered the joy of really cooking, and can’t wait to give your family recipe a shot.
Thanks for sharing.
*Just Fran*´s last [type] ..Let Us
I don’t really remember my mom cooking much at all!!! While she is an amanzing mother, cooking was/is not one of her strong points.
I’ve had to teach myself how to cook which is both fun and frustrating at the same time. My mother in law, on the other hand, will always be known for her quiches.
Amy´s last [type] ..Elvis Lives!
I know exactly what you mean! Last year, while helping to organize some stuff from a junk drawer (okay, it was actually a shoe-box; drawer sounds less pack-ratty) belonging to my dad, I found a whole history of my dad that I didn’t know about, for instance: he took a watch-repair class?! He has a little certificate the size of a business card that says so (I think this was before he wed my mom)! Visions of pretty vintage watches repaired by my father appeared before my head…. (He claims he can’t really remember if he even finished the course…. Hmmm.)
xo
Sorry for rambling, but this cute post really struck a chord!
I love this. I think being the oldest, I have a different view of my parents. I forget that when I moved out of my house my sister was 4. She’s done a lot of living, as have my parents, while I’ve been out creating my own life.
Wonderful reminder, and I am so glad the waffles found you.
Shaina´s last [type] ..Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon and Sage
I love learning more about your family! How fun that waffles can be passed down through generations!
Julia´s last [type] ..Chocolate Red Wine Zabaglione
We love waffles! I look forward to trying these. We’re having “breakfast for dinner” one night this week.
My dad has always made his waffles by mixing the egg whites till stiff and there is truly something about doing that which makes waffles so much better!!! Let them sit for at least a half hour so they fluff up, fold one more time, then pour on the waffle maker…DELICIOUS!!!! Best waffles ever!
A wondeeful post! I am 20 years older than my brother…we’ve never lived together! And there is another brother smack dab in the middle at 10 years younger. We are all very different. It is like my parents raised 3 families.
Katrina @ In Katrina’s Kitchen´s last [type] ..Patchwork Winter Mitten Cookies
Loved this sweet post and am definitely going to try these! The old, tattered recipe cards always hold the best recipes ;0)
I have never made waffles! Nope, not a one, well homemade waffles! Me thinks I need to borrow a waffle iron and try it and see if we need our own waffle iron! Thanks for sharing the sweet story! Hugs from Conroe, TX!
Nancy Wyatt´s last [type] ..My sweet grandpa, Ernesto…
Yeah, it’s funny how we forget that our parent ever had lives before they were our parents isn’t it? I’m always asking my mom questions about what life was like for her before I came along.
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Great post! Love all the photos
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray´s last [type] ..Build A Better Me
Some of my favorite posts of yours are when you share your story, your family, your life. And, an added bonus is that I have been looking for a good waffle recipe. I cannot wait to try this one.
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I love family recipes, especially when they are on a handwritten card! I found one for my grandmother’s chocolate pie and just love it. Need to try this recipe…I think I know some people who would like it.
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Yes this was and is still a favorite. The recipes card you saw missed one important point. Double all the ingredients so someone besides mike gets to eat them. They were made even better over the holiday when you added your buttermilk syrup recipe. Thanks for your igniting more precious memories of family. Mike
Great tip, Mike! I’ll remember that next time, for sure
I love you!
this post melts my heart Kristen . . . not only because it’s your brother’s favorite recipe but because you didn’t even know it existed before the holidays . . . and now you have it in your possession . . . i think this is what i love about food the most: it’s connection to people not only from one generation to the next, but to all cultures as well . . . the era, ‘before babies’ and ‘after babies’, what was happening in lives, etc., it’s exactly the story behind the recipe itself . . . and now your children will pass it along to their children, telling the story about how you didn’t even know it existed but it’s a family favorite . . . i am doing a happy dance for you!!
SMITH BITES´s last [type] ..ORANGE CAKE
What a funny story – I find it strange/amusing at times to learn things about my parents’ lives before all 7 of my siblings and I came around…like how my dad skied. Well.
This recipe looks fantastic, and I love your top photo 
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What a wonderful reminder that we’re all people not just parents, huh? ; ) I think I’ve just started to realize that about my parents as well. Looks like a great waffle recipe. I need to get a new waffle maker. Somehow ours was sold at a garage sale. : (
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Hi Kristen! Reading this has made me realize that there *weren’t* any breakfast recipes at our house. When I stayed at my grandmother’s house, though, she would always stock up on frozen strawberries, which she would defrost for me to enjoy in a dish at breakfast. And I was sure that was the fanciest thing, ever.
Sarah P. / Julia’s Child´s last [type] ..Another Thing My Children Had to Teach Me
Such a beautiful post, Kristen and a great reminder that our parents have lives that weren’t always 100% centered around our each and every breath. I’m so glad your sister-in-law mentioned the recipe to you and even more proud for you that you now have it in your own family.
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LOVE how simple this is!! I make waffles & pancakes on the weekends & I make extra to freeze for my boys to eat during the week before school. Looking forward to trying this, thank you for sharing!!
Me again! Just made these waffles today & my family LOVED them!!! I was told I was NEVER allowed to use a box mix again
I even doubled the recipe (there are 5 of us) in order to freeze some for the week & I was only left with 2!! (& I only had 1/2 of one) They were THAT good!! Thank you Thank you for this GREAT recipe!!
MY BOYS ARE 31,19 AND 13 SO I GUESS IM PRETTY MULTI GENERATIONAL TOO. WASNT PLANNED THAT WAY JUST HAPPENED THE WAY GOD WANTED TO TO BE. AS FOR MY BROTHERS AND SISTER WE ARE PRETTY DOOR STEP KIDS.
What a fun story, your mom might have gotten sick of making waffes for your brother thus no waffles for Kristen ; (. My mom wasn’t much of a breakfast maker. We ate alot of Cream of Wheat. Do you know if these can be made ahead and frozen?
Sheila @E2g´s last [type] ..Jerk Chicken over Cilantro Lime Rice
Hi Sheila – Yes – they can be frozen and are great that way too. Makes for a very quick and easy breakfast
That’s so funny…you never really do think about your parents lives before you come into the picture!
These waffles look like the beginning of a new tradition!
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Just want to say I was looking for a fail proof waffle recipe and this was it! Tried it this morning and it was great! Made a error and put the sugar in with the flour, so I just added a little more to the egg whites. Also put 1 tsp of cinnamon in with it and they wew awesome! Thanks Kristen!
Just made these waffles for dinner… YUM!
Now that’s when you know a recipe is good – when it lasts through the years like this one has!
Deborah´s last [type] ..Ham and Bean Soup
I once found a picture of my dad wearing cut off shorts and a monster truck t-shirt. It is hard to imagine my conservative, protective Daddy with a life before me! I’m going to try this recipe. My favorite thing about waffles is how the butter melts down inside each tiny square and gets filled with syrup. That is the best bite!
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I love waffles, and I love homemade waffles even better! I can’t wait to make these!!! Thanks for sharing. I’m your newest follower, can’t wait to check out the rest of your blog. I’d love it if you stopped by mine sometime and shared some love as well! Thanks.
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That’s so great that you discovered such a special recipe!
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I need a waffle maker!!! When you instagramed the one you bought right before Christmas, I almost stopped and bought one right there!! lol
Thanks for linking up Kristen! I featured you post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2012/valentines-day-ideas/ Have a great weekend!
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We love to make waffles in our family! Thanks for the recipe! I’d love for you to submit this to the M&T Spotlight http://www.makeandtakes.com/spotlight
Sue´s last [type] ..What Do You Love? ~ A New Valentine’s Day Tradition
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