Fudge Walnut Waffles

I have fond memories of having friends over for these delicious chocolate waffles on Sunday afternoons during my growing up years. This recipe comes from my Grandma Cassidy and my mother.

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup baking cocoa

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (I actually used pecans because I like them better. You could also just leave out the nuts if you prefer.)

Sift dry ingredients together into a large bowl leaving a hollow in the center. Pour milk in well, drop in unbeaten eggs and pour melted butter on top; stir from center out until mixture is smooth. Add nuts and vanilla. Spread on hot waffle iron, cooking at a lower temperature than with plain waffles*. Watch carefully. They burn easily because of all the sugar in them. Serve warm dusted with confectioner’s sugar and spread with whipped cream.

*We have a waffle iron that has only one setting. I just didn’t cook them as long—between 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per batch (two waffles). Make sure to spray your waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray even if it is Teflon coated so that the waffles don’t stick. I learned that the hard way on the first batch.

Other topping options:

• vanilla ice cream
• sliced bananas
• cherry pie filling
• any fresh fruit
• marshmallow fluff
• peanut butter
• plain old traditional butter and maple syrup