Continued above freezing with interesting things to make with a waffle iron other than waffles
This morning we have cloudy skies and an expected high of 37°F. Winds are NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight we'll have clouds and a low near 25°F. Winds will be light and variable.
The readings from my weather instruments are:
Humidity is 51%, the Dew Point is 21.4°F and the outdoor temp is 38°F.
The wind direction is West Northwest between 2.5 MPH and 4.1 MPH, generating a wind chill of 37.9°F.
The Relative pressure is 29.84, the Absolute pressure is 29.64 and falling with a weather graphic indicating snow/rain.
The UV rating is 0 out of 16, Sunrise is 7:07 a.m. Sunset is 4:33 p.m., Moonrise is 9:34
a.m., Moonset is 9:13 p.m. and we have a waxing gibbous moon being 17% illuminated.
The RAW METAR readings from Augusta's airport are:
METAR KAUG 211053Z AUTO 31005KT 10SM CLR 04/M04 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP156 T00391039
Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers with clear skies so far.
We didn't receive any new snowfall here over the past 24 hours, but we've had a great deal of melting, so it's very wet out there.
Space Weather for this morning is:
Today's Solar flux is 70, the solar wind speed is 462 Kilometers per second and the chance of a solar storm is 1%.
Hey folks, outdoors it's downrioght messy. Kids driving you a bit nutsy today? Why not break out the waffle iron, get the kids to help out and try a few of these.
Waffle Irons Can Be For More Than Waffles! Copied directly From the Farmers' Almanac. 8 delicious foods you didn't know you could make in a waffle iron. by Edward Higgins Published on Monday, February 15th, 2016.
Note: I'm not posting all 8 items here, because of space considerations, but all of them are great ideas.
Waffle irons are not just for waffles anymore. Granted, most things you put between waffle irons will come out "waffleized," but that's a good thing! The reason waffle irons are shaped the way they are is to increase the available surface area of the heating surface, so it comes into maximum contact with whatever batter or food you are pressing between the irons. This promotes crispness and browning in all the nooks, making the humble waffle iron a versatile kitchen tool.
Here is a list of some clever ideas for delicious foods you didn't know you could make in a waffle iron. Get the kids involved and have fun!
1. Sandwiches. Move over, Panini press! A waffle iron makes terrific grilled cheese sandwiches.
Brush it with butter or olive oil and close it down over the sandwich (you may not be able to close it
completely) until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy golden brown. Sliced bread such as scali works best. Try filling your waffle sandwiches with prosciutto and provolone, gruyere and tomato, or
smoked turkey and muenster. It also makes great tuna melts and Cuban sandwiches!
Ross Note: when this is done with black forrest rye, French peasant bread or marble rye it's fantastic. Just wait until you hear the cheese sizzle and it's done. Also, if you open the iron and tap the top ofr the sandwich, you'll know it's done if its crisp.
2. Muffins/Brownies. (Ross has not tried this. Yet.)
You can experiment with all kinds of batter in a waffle maker. A few that work really well are corn muffin batter (add onion or jalapeño for a more savory hush puppy style waffle to serve with grilled fish!), banana bread/muffin batter, date nut batter, lemon poppy, etc.
Brownie batter is terrific in a waffle iron, especially if you like crispy edges. Imagine a whole waffle of crispy brownie edges topped with vanilla ice cream! Just load the batter in the iron until 3/4 full and cook 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Frittatas.
Make a simple Spanish "tortilla," which includes chopped onions and potatoes cooked in olive oil, allowed to cool, and mixed with scrambled eggs. Season well with salt and pepper and then ladle the mixture into the waffle iron, close, and cook until set and lightly brown. You can add cheese, meats, and all kinds of veggies to your frittata mixture. Try a Denver omelette with ham, bell pepper,
onions, and some shredded cheddar cheese. Or try spinach and feta cheese; even a "crustless" quiche with bacon, swiss cheese, and onion. Whisk some light cream in with the eggs! Get creative!
4. Corned Beef Hash.
Once you try corned beef hash in a waffle iron, you will never make it in a skillet again. Fair warning, it probably won't stay together in a perfect waffle shape. It really depends
on the hash you use. Getting the browned hash out of the waffle iron tends to happen in pieces, but it's still delicious — crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Be sure not to rush it. Let it brown well. It's hard to overcook hash. Top with a couple of poached eggs and serve!
5. Hash Browns. (Ross has had this and its great!)
(Remember that microwave recipe I posted a while back about microwaving eggbeaters and placing the result on an english muffin? Do these hash browns too.)
Another breakfast staple that works so well in a waffle maker, that you will wonder how you ever lived without it. Grease the irons well with oil, butter, or bacon drippings, and add shredded potatoes from a bag (or grate them yourself and squeeze out as much water as possible- my wife uses a potato ricer after grating the spuds).
Season with salt and pepper, add some minced onion if you like. Press in the waffle iron and let it get
a rich golden brown. Want an even shorter short cut? Add frozen Tater Tots in a single layer and close
the lid. Cook until your potato waffle is crispy.
6. French Toast.
Continuing the breakfast theme, try making your French toast in the waffle maker. Soak slices of day old bread (brioche works fantastically) in beaten egg, butter the hot waffle iron generously, and close the egg soaked bread inside. Dust with powdered sugar and top with maple syrup, fruit preserves, or whipped cream.
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