PUMPKIN WAFFLES

PUMPKIN WAFFLES

Makes 7 servings, 4 small waffles each

Cooking spray

6 eggs

6 egg whites

½ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar

5 ¼ cups warm water

1 ½ cups canned pumpkin

6 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup sorghum flour

1 cup brown rice flour

1 cup millet flour

6 tsp. grain free/aluminum free baking powder

3 tsp. baking soda

¾ tsp. sea salt

4 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cloves

OPTIONAL: add 1 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, Enjoy Life mini chips, or Sunmaid dried cranberries

Pre-heat waffle maker according to directions.  Spray grates of waffle maker with nonstick cooking spray.   Combine egg and egg whites.  Add sugar, water, pumpkin, and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, whisk together flours, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add dry ingredients to wet and whisk until smooth.  Add optional ingredients if desired.  Pour batter in waffle maker according to directions, being careful not to overfill.  Cook for about 4-6 minutes, or until waffle is cooked through and outside is crisp.  Repeat with remaining batter, making sure to coat grates with cooking spray before each batch.  Keep warm in a warm oven, or serve immediately.  Very good with Breakfast Sausage Patties and pure maple syrup.

 We have been looking for an amazing waffle recipe, and came up with this one after some trial and error.  With chocolate chips added, it is almost exactly like my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins.  Needless to say this was a HUGE hit with my family!  I don't mix any optional add ins with the batter so that I can add Sunmaid Cape Cod Dried Cranberries or pecans to hers, and Enjoy Life Mini Chips and pecans to ours.   Steve wants me to make caramel sauce and turn these into Belgian style waffles using my Dairy Free Whipped Topping.  

Linked to  Weelend Whatever #77

Strawberry Pie

 Steve has been really craving Strawberry Pie lately, so last night I looked up the recipe (after he was wonderful enough to buy me 6 quarts of fresh berries!) and a pie crust recipe - and tonight I swallowed my fear of gluten free pie crust - and made the pie.  Of course I made it Mandie-safe - aside from the whipped topping.   It was a huge hit!  Everyone is eagerly awaiting the second slice tomorrow night!   The only thing I'd do differently next time is to cook the glaze a bit longer so it gets thicker.  As you can see, it was still a bit thin.   

STRAWBERRY PIE

2 quarts of strawberries, sliced

1 baked gluten-free pie crust*

1 cup water

¾ cup Pure Cane Sugar

1 Tbsp. tapioca or potato starch

Fill the baked pie crust with sliced berries until no more will fit.  Chill the full crust in the fridge for at least an hour.  Save the remaining strawberries.   At the end of the hour, put the berries in a medium saucepan with a cup of water.  Cook 4-6 minutes, til the berries are soft.  Put the water and berries in a mixer or food processor, and blend until smooth.  Pour back into saucepan, and whisk in ¾ cup of sugar and 1 Tbsp. of tapioca starch.  Cook on low until sugar and starch dissolve and mixture thickens.  Pour hot glaze over the cooled berries in the pie crust.  Chill for another hour, and serve plain or with Coconut Whipped Topping**.

*SUPER EASY GLUTEN FREE PIE CRUST

½ cup lard (may use shortening)

1 ½ cups brown rice flour

4 Tbsp. cold water

Preheat oven to 400* F.  Cut shortening into flour until crumbly using pastry cutter or a fork. Add water.  Work dough with hands until it’s soft and you can form into a ball.  Place dough into an 8” or 9” pie pan, and press it up the sides.  This works best using your fingers.  Using a fork, prick the bottom of the crust about 2 dozen or so times, to let air escape.   Place crust in oven and bake 12-16 minutes, or until edges start to turn golden brown.  Set on a wire rack and fill with strawberries.

** DAIRY FREE WHIPPED TOPPING

1 can full fat coconut milk, chilled in fridge 24 hours

2-3 Tbsp. pure cane sugar or pure maple syrup

1-2 tsp. vanilla or almond extract

Chill milk in fridge for 24 hours.  Chill metal bowl and wire whisk of mixer in freezer for 2-3 hours.  Combine milk with sugar & extracts and whip until creamy. Use in place of whipped topping.    

Stores well in fridge.