Cinnamon Vanilla Waffles

I've been perfecting a waffle recipe for quite a while now, and I think I finally got it. :)

Cinnamon Vanilla Waffles

3 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. coconut oil
5 eggs
1 t. vanilla
cinnamon to taste (we used quite a lot - I let Josiah go at it with the shaker) :)
1 t. salt
2 T. sucanat
2 T. baking powder
1 T. baking soda
3 and 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour

Blend wet ingredients along with cinnamon, salt, and sucanat. I use my vitamix, but any strong (and large) blender would probably work. Mix baking powder and baking soda into flour, then slowly add flour mix to wet ingredients, keeping blender running continuously.

Pour into hot waffle iron and cook as usual for your iron.

(I have to admit that usually I blend 2-3 cups of spinach into the buttermilk at the beginning, but if you prefer your waffles brown instead of green, you can skip that part.) :)

8 years is long enough to wait, right?

I finally have a Kitchanaid stand mixer. Last week I stumbled across a phenomenal deal online. And since I expected a check for almost the same amount only two days later, I bought it. :) Isn't it beautiful?



The boys were suitably enthralled.



(well, we were making St. Nicholas cookies, so perhaps that accounts for the interest.)



I'm in love. I'm so in love that I cleaned the kitchen so that it would match the beauty of the mixer.

Pretty, pretty, pretty!

Thanksgiving!

This song has been part of our itunes playlist today. Love it.



We had intended to spend Thanksgiving with my family (even my sister, flying in from Boston!) but a really bad storm in Nevada County left my parents without power and water for the foreseeable future. So instead, we had our very first Thanksgiving entirely on our own! It all came together really well, and I'm quite proud of myself. :)

Jonathan created this centerpiece for our Thanksgiving Day table. Isn't it nice? The boys picked out their favorite gourds at the store yesterday. Then on the way back, we stopped in a residential neighborhood full of lovely liquid amber trees, and ambled around finding the most beautiful colored leaves and "prickly balls."



Today we dipped the leaves we collected in beeswax to preserve them. They turned out quite well! I found a post at Small Things that convinced me to try it - the result was so pretty and she made it sound easy...and it was!





I managed to smile while washing the turkey. This is definitely a first for me. I must be growing up or something. :)



Thomas thought the trussed up turkey was hilarious!



Josiah and Thomas helped make the pumpkin pie filling. I've found that it is easier to move the mixing bowl down to their level, rather than having them stand on chairs to reach the counter.



Jonathan played softball with Daddy,



and later he helped set our beautiful table. He was very proud.



Josiah spent a surprisingly long time standing beside me while I was cooking, carefully using my Grandma's salt spoon to transfer salt between a silver shaker and a crystal salt cellar. He was so careful and gentle and precise.



The turkey followed most of the rules and browned nicely



and my number-one turkey carver did a great job! :)



I managed to get everything finished and warm at the same time!





The boys practiced their very best table manners, because dinner was a "special feast!"



We finished off with the most amazing pecan pie that I have ever tasted. Instead of corn syrup, it is made with maple syrup! I added chopped pecans to the filling, and then put the traditional pretty layer of whole pecans on the top (Sarah, I thought of you as I added all those pecans!) It was incredible...quite possibly the perfect pecan pie.



And after all that? I collapsed on the couch and let the boys "tuck me in" to bed. :)



Happy Thanksgiving everyone!