When I was in undergrad at the University of Illinois and Mr. Prevention had moved to Michigan and entered the working world, I would visit a lot of weekends. We joked that I made the 3 hour drive just to use his amazing Kitchen Aid waffle maker. I would bound out of bed in the mornings and head straight to the kitchen. I think we had Belgian waffles (from a box) every weekend for at least 2 years straight. Of course, I now tell him that I married him for his waffle maker 
There was this brand of Belgian waffle mix that we would find that had these incredibly low calorie and carbohydrate counts. We bought this mix for years and eventually discovered that the label must have been an error as the nutrition facts had tripled at some point in time. Word to the wise: ocasionally check the nutrition facts on your favorite foods to be sure nothing has changed! Mistakes are made and products are altered over time!
While I was making these waffles on Monday night Mr. Prevention was so disgusted with me. I have all but ruined his waffle maker. The poor thing has waffle batter glued and encrusted onto its sides. And trust me, I’ve made plenty of solid attempts to improve the waffle maker’s appearance, but at this point, I figure it has been loved and abused for the better part of 6 years. What can I say? We love our waffles. If anything would be “our” breakfast, this would be it!
Whole Wheat Buttermilk Waffles adapted from Smitten Kitchen and Happy Insides, originally from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp raw sugar or sucanat
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 eggs, separated
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
canola spray
Directions:
Preheat your waffle iron. In a medium bowl whisk together your whole wheat pastry flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.
In a separate bowl mix together the buttermilk, egg yolks, butter, applesauce, and the vanilla. Combine the wet ingredients in with the dry ingredients.
Either by hand or with an electric mixer whisk the egg yolks until they hold soft peaks. Gently fold them into the batter.
Spray the waffle iron generously with canola spray and then ladle the batter onto the preheated waffle iron. Bake until the waffle is done. Serve warm with whatever topping you choose. Yield: 4 large, 8″ waffles.
Nutrition Information (per waffle): 375 calories; 9.8 g. fat; 112 mg. cholesterol; 789 mg. sodium; 56.5 g. carbohydrate; 6.3 g. fiber; 6.5 g. protein
Result: Lightened up and very good! The original recipe called for regular buttermilk and of course, I subbed in low-fat. I also subbed out half of the butter and used unsweetened applesauce instead. These waffles are not dense and dry, but rather, they are fluffy and light but still plenty filling thanks to the fiber! I didn’t try them as pancakes, but I’m sure the batter would world just as well going that route. A perfect breakfast, or breakfast for dinner! Enjoy!
It’s hard to believe today is only Thursday! Blek!
Question: What’s a meal that has “tradition” or history between you and friend, husband, etc.?
Be well!
Such pretty waffles!! I wish we had a Belgian waffle maker. We just have a generic waffle maker
I think Blog World is going waffle crazy! I can’t even begin to count how many waffle recipes I’ve seen this week. I like this one. It’s simple and leaves the topping/mix-ins up to whoever decides to make it. I think I might just have to break out my waffle maker.
Gotta love’em
Chocolate chips for an add-in…mmmm 
We had the waffle makers in the dorms. They were AMAZING. I’d totally date someone for the reason that they had one. Totally…
I just really love waffles.
I have different foods I eat with different people. My friend Mon and I always do Mexican together. My friend Annie and I like to do sushi together… stuff like that.
I know!! College is where this waffle habit first started…
I made waffles yesterday! You should have posted this a day earlier
Argh! Sorry! I made them on Monday night, too! I suck
Not gonna lie, I would totally marry someone for a kitchen appliance. Any man with a kitchen fully equipped with le creuset and/or all-clad? Done deal.
These waffles look SO GOOD. My waffle iron isn’t quite that bad looking..but I’ve only used it once. Wait a few years.
We all have priorities. Yours and mine…are clearly in line.
We like to make banana pancakes. We were away last weekend and the hotel we stayed at had DIY waffles. My husband made them everyday we were there. I’m thinking about getting him a waffle maker for his birthday that’s coming up.
I have some low-fat butter milk the fridge… I think I’ll be making the pancake version of these this weekend!
Let me know how they turn out! Sounds like you’ll get to it before me
I’ve made a mess of many waffle makers – spilling contents down the sides that get crusted on and impossible to get off. Your waffles look light and fluffy!
Kristi
AWw I love this post and hearing about your history with waffles! I would say I’m not a big waffle lover but I LOVE pancakes ! I might have to prep them as such and see how they turn out! Thanks for theinspiration!
I don’t have any meal traditions between me and the hubs
He’s not a foodie like me haha
The best waffle that I ever had was a Liege style waffle in Brussels. It had a crisp, sweet outside and a dense chewy centre. AMAZING
Those waffles look fantastic! I hate when the labels change with no notice. It’s annoying! My hubby and I are fans of getting wawa hoagies and taking a picnic. It’s been tradition with us since about 2005.
I now have to google “wawa hoagies”…
I haven’t had waffles in so long…I love them though! Sliced strawberries are the perfect accompaniment.
I love waffles. I should break out my parents waffle maker soon – they probably wouldnt even notice if I stole it . . .
Do it! Do it! Do it!
Nicole…you truly are THE QUEEN of breakfast foods! yummmmmmy!
I recently helped a friends foreign exchange student from Belgium, make her mothers recipe for Belgium waffles…yup…the real deal. It had a stick of butter in the batter!!!! Yikes! lol I have a belgium waffle maker I adore, and yes, it is impossible to clean! lol
Oh, and I almost forget…a food tradition my husband and I used to have was Taco Bell sundays…before we had kids and when they were little…lol Don’t think I my waist could have afforded carrying on that tradition for too long! lol
HAHAHA! That’s the best thing I heard all day
Our waffle maker hasn’t been loved that much…. At least it doesn’t look very loved! I’ll be changing that this weekend because I have buttermilk on hand from the buttermilk pancakes I made!
I don’t get nearly enough use out of my waffle-maker! I really need to start using it more, your waffles always look incredible, Nicole! And I love how this is yours and your hubby’s favorite breakfast, how cute!
I wish I had a waffle maker – not sure I could convince the hubs of just one more kitchen appliance though!
And my waffle maker would look just like yours, much to my daughters disgust.
LOVE the waffle story!!!! I don’t see a trashed waffle maker, I see a “well loved” one!
I’m hoping to start a new “tradition” at our place soon. I’m thinking “cocktail Sunday” and each weekend, I source out a relatively low point cocktail for fun. (that makes me sound a bit boozy doesn’t it??? Hmm…)
Have a good day Nicole!
I love a good crunchy waffle. We have so many traditions after 32 years of marriage. I always make Danish pancakes for Christmas morning breakfast.
I’m more a crepe person than a waffle person (so snobby, right?) but I have to admit, I’ve thought a few times whether I should get a waffle iron, because god you just gotta love that criss-cut crispness. I also love you more knowing that you may have married your husband for his waffle maker.
I’m jealous of that waffle maker! My friend and I used to go on a run before breakfast in college just so we could indulge in making our own Belgian waffles in the dining hall
I love making waffles – the funny thing is I don’t eat them…
This isn’t a meal BUT the hubs and I like to find time when we are stressed to sit down with a yummy tea (usually a chai latte these days – soy for me skim for him) and just relax!
I’m lactose intolerant, and I was wondering if there is a substitute for buttermilk in this recipe. Thanks!!
Hi Audrey! I would add about 1 tsp of lemon juice to the non-dairy milk of your choice to substitute buttermilk.
Thank you