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There’s nothing wrong with a crispy-on-the-outside fluffy waffle smothered in butter and maple syrup.
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But your trusty waffle iron can do a lot more than pump out a string of standard waffles. If you poke around online, you'll see people experimenting with everything from macaroni and cheese and quesadillas to grilled cheese and tater tots in their waffle maker.
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“I’ve heard from a lot of kids and adults who tell me that making food in the waffle iron is fun and unintimidating,” says Daniel Shumski, author of the book Will It Waffle? 53 Irresistible and Unexpected Recipes to Make in a Waffle Iron.
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Waffle irons are a great way to have fun with children and grandchildren and cook up something unusual, Shumski says. Using a familiar cooking tool in a new way gets people into the kitchen and excited about creating something delicious together.
These days you can choose from traditional full-size waffle irons, as well as the mini version that can serve up bite-size delicacies.
So get creative with these savory and sweet recipes that are easy to make and guaranteed to surprise and delight. And don’t be afraid to “waffle” whatever else inspires you.
Pizza Margherita With Waffled Crust
The idea of waffling pizza crust is pretty brilliant — all the more pockets of crispy dough into which delicious toppings can settle.
“And it’s hard to take yourself too seriously when you’re making pizza in the waffle iron,” says Shumski.
The results, he says, speak for themselves. “You’ve got the fun texture and visual appeal of the waffle, plus the taste and the popularity of pizza,” he says. “What’s not to love?”
Ingredients:
For crust:
- 4 cups bread flour (plus more for dusting)
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups lukewarm water
- Canola (or other neutral-tasting oil) for coating bowl
- Non-stick cooking spray
For topping:
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 large bunch basil, finely chopped
Instructions:
1. For the crust, combine flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add water and mix until mostly absorbed.
2. Remove dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured counter and knead until just blended (but not too smooth).
3. Cover dough with damp towel or plastic wrap and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then knead again for 5 to 10 minutes until fairly smooth.
4. Coat a bowl with oil, add dough to bowl and turn it to coat with a layer of oil. Leave dough to rise in a warm place, covered with plastic wrap, for 2½ hours or until it nearly doubles in size.
5. Dust work surface with more flour, punch down dough and divide into six pieces for waffling, forming each piece into a smooth ball. Allow to rest again for five minutes, covered with plastic wrap.
6. Shape each piece of dough into a disk, pulling gradually on the dough to stretch it.
7. Preheat waffle iron to medium and coat both sides with nonstick spray.
