Recipe: Waffles for Two (pecan, chocolate or cheese waffles)

WAFFLES FOR TWO

1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans
1 cup sifted flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg, separated
3/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons corn oil
Butter or margarine, for serving
Pure maple syrup, for serving

Lightly toast pecans in oven or a toaster oven; set aside to cool.

Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl.

In a mug, beat egg yolk with a fork. Add milk and oil, and stir well. Stir into dry ingredients just long enough to moisten. Add nuts.

In a separate small bowl, beat egg white until stiff. Fold into batter.

Bake in a preheated, lightly oiled waffle iron until done. Serve immediately, with butter and maple syrup if you like.

VARIATIONS:

CHOCOLATE WAFFLES:
Omit pecans, sugar, and cinnamon from first recipe. Add 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup (and if desired 12 cup chocolate chips) to batter before folding in egg white. Serve with butter and raspberry syrup. Or go whole hog and serve with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce

CHEESE WAFFLES:
Omit pecans, sugar, and cinnamon from first recipe. Add 34 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese before folding in egg white. Serve with pesto butter or shallot/parsley butter, or with a slightly spicy tomato sauce. You may want to add a little milk to tomato sauce to lighten it up. Or, for a bit of a surprise, serve these with strawberry or raspberry preserves.

Makes 2 large waffles
Source: Midnight Snacks by Carol Schneider