You know that waffle iron you got as a wedding gift? It’s probably in the dark recesses of your kitchen cabinet behind all the other things you use once a year.
Well, I’m on a mission to let the humble waffle iron see the light of day! There’s no room for a one trick pony in my kitchen because the real estate is so valuable. So, I got creative and decided to make breakfast, lunch and dessert using mine. Here are 8 things I’ll bet you never thought to do with your waffle iron.
Tater Tot Hash Browns
Making hash browns on the stove top takes forever and you have to flip them if you like them crispy on both sides, but not with a waffle iron. I placed my tots 3 by 3 on the surface and closed the lid for about 5 minutes. They came out perfectly. Very crispy on the outside but tender on the inside, delicious!
Cinnamon Roll Waffles
Oh yes, I did! I used the dough that comes in a can that scares the daylights out of you when it pops open. Just place the dough on the waffle maker and close the lid for 2 to 3 minutes. The best part about this is the square pockets to hold the icing.
French Toast Waffles
Crispy on the outside and custardy on the inside, it’s the best of both worlds. Did I mention the square divots you can fill with butter and syrup?
Grilled Cheese
You can make a wicked grilled cheese sandwich in the waffle maker. Be sure to brush the outside of the bread with butter so it comes out golden brown and delicious.
Bacon!
Everything’s better with bacon. I liked that the waffling held the bacon out of the grease and cooked it lean and flat. Perfect for a BLT or club sandwich. No splattering either, bonus!
Pressed Sandwiches
Dress up any sandwich by warming and crisping it in the waffle iron. For maximum crunch; brush the outside of the bread with butter or, if you want it absolutely over the top, bacon drippings. Oh yeah!
Pizza Pocket Dippers
I took pizza toppings, like cheese and pepperoni, and placed them inside crescent dinner rolls then folded them to make a sealed pocket. I don’t recommend using pizza sauce in the pocket because that made a rather gooey mess but instead use pizza sauce as a dipping sauce. Great as a snack or appetizer.
Waffle Wraps
Take a tortilla and fill with sandwich makings, roll it up like a burrito and warm in the waffle iron. I used thin sliced turkey, cheddar and a schmear of cream cheese to hold it all together. You could add tomatoes and spinach too. Melty gooey goodness!
To see the result of my week-long obsession with my waffle maker please join us on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom for lots of photos and recipes. I hope this inspires you to dust off that waffle iron and enjoy a quick and easy way to make fun food for your family.
Frugal and Fun Food Finds contributed by Patti Diamond author of Divas On A Dime – Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! www.divasonadime.com Join us on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom