Make Breakfast

Life Lessons of a Rodeo Queen

Lesson #3

I am busy person. Four kids, husband, cats, horse—well soon to be horse. We’re fixing her fence as we speak. I’ve heard all of my life that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When I was growing up, we always had breakfast.

I’ve always cooked breakfast. We have all manner of things: scrambled eggs, spinach omelets, whole-wheat toast, protein fruit smoothies, scones etc…

But, this summer, we were so busy, I tried the cold cereal route. I thought tossing a couple boxes of cereal on the table with a few bowls and spoons would do the trick for breakfast.

Not so.

I learned pretty fast that the best way to have happy, smiling children at 10 am is to make breakfast. Same goes for a happy, smiling husband.

So I thought I’d share a recipe that is a hit at our house: Sunday Morning Cinnamon Waffles with homemade Buttermilk Syrup.

Cinnamon Waffles

2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 egg whites
½ tsp of ground cinnamon

Preheat your waffle iron.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and butter until well
blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt and cinnamon; stir into
the buttermilk mixture. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites and vanilla with an electric
mixer until stiff. Fold into the batter.

Spoon batter onto the hot waffle iron, close, and cook until golden brown. Top with homemade buttermilk syrup.

Buttermilk Syrup

1 1/2 cups white sugar
 3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda

In a large saucepan, stir together the sugar, buttermilk, butter, corn syrup. Bring to a boil on medium heat and cook for 7 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Add the baking soda. *Warning—this will make the mixture foam. I add the baking soda and then quickly stir with a whisk lifting the whisk up and back in a circular motion—almost like scrambling eggs. This will dispel the foam so it doesn’t overflow over the edges of the pan.

Stir in the vanilla.

Pour over warm Cinnamon Waffles.

Add in a nice cup of coffee or tea and you’ve got happiness all around.

What breakfast menu is a hit in your house?