Apple, cranberry, pomegranate, pecan, maple... See me coming? This delicious salad sounds to me like the perfect side dish or potluck salad for this year's Thanksgiving table. It's very good on it's own, in fact we eat it as an everyday meal. This recipe is nutritious, hearty and super easy to assemble. But it can also be served as a side dish with your savory Thanksgiving meal (or your Christmas meal! The countdown has definitely started in our house!) to add that little sweet touch to your menu.
Hello friends! How have you been? Awesome, I hope.
I'm back from a road trip around South California. Wow! Grand Canyon and Death Valley were both breathtaking. I don't know if it's all the time I had for myself during the long-hour drives or the ridiculous amount of pasta and pizza I had during these few days in the desert (yeah... cowboys and a meatless diet don't go very well together...) but my inspiration is back and I'm super happy that I can finally share this incredible recipe with you: these delicious apple, almond & salted caramel shortbread crumble bars.
This "Black forest in a jar" is a chocolate chia pudding, layered with a homemade cherry chia jam and topped with coconut whip, shaved dark chocolate, sliced almonds and fresh cherries. It sure sounds like a dessert to me... and I've served it as a dessert in the past, but since this chia pudding is not too sweet, we enjoy this recipe in the morning as well.
The cherry chia jam is adapted from my Strawberry chia jam. I love chia fruit jams because they take only a few minutes to cook and don't require any "jam maker" skill at all! If you can't find good affordable cherries, you can use frozen cherries without a problem! It's also a good way to enjoy this fruit all year long!
This "black forest overnight oats" was adapted from my Matcha overnight oats recipe by adding raw cacao powder instead of matcha tea powder. I served these soaked oats with coconut yogurt (or you can use sheep's yogurt), fresh cherries (or unsulfuried dried cherries), shredded coconut, cacao nibs and bee pollen. It might be one of my favourite overnight oat recipe (and I tried a lot of them!). This breakfast is just slightly sweeten with mashed bananas, decadent enough and as all the flavours that remind me of the famous black forest cake!
I wanted to share this recipe for a long time because it's one of our favorite healthy go-to breakfast. When I was experimenting with this recipe, I was looking for the perfect sweetness (obviously I didn't want it to be too sweet so we could eat it in the morning) and texture (not sticky or too thick) and thankfully I think I got it right! But feel free to play around with the recipe if the balance (sweetness) isn't right for you. I've said it before, our family doesn't have a very sweet tooth.
I'm excited to share this super moist plum "upside down" yogurt cake recipe. It's one of my favorite cake in the world! This cake is perfect for afternoon tea, snack time or as a light dessert after a heavy meal. The texture reminds me of a cheesecake and the fruits are infused with a slight touch of ginger. This recipe includes yogurt (note that you can use dairy-free yogurt if you're intolerant or allergic) and eggs but is completely gluten-free since the base ingredients for this cake are almond meal and a small amount of gluten-free flour. I like to use amaranth flour in this cake because this Aztec "pseudo-cereal" is a little powerhouse : it's naturally gluten-free, a good source of high quality protein, magnesium, iron, fiber and calcium. Amaranth flour has a nutty taste that can be strong and bitter, but mixed with other flours as I do in this recipe, it's delicious! You can also use millet, buckwheat, spelt or whole wheat flour if you want.
I can't believe I waited 32 years to taste my very first passion fruit. I mean... I had some passion fruit juice blends or desserts before, but never tasted the whole fruit. I think it might be the most delicious fruit in the world! The flavour is so delicious, fun and exotic... Kind of hard to describe. When I was a kid, I hated candies and sweet desserts... But I couldn't resist sour candies ! Well... These sour and crunchy passion fruit seeds reminded me of those candies! Felt like a kid again :)
Also know as grenadilla or "lilikoi", passion fruit is a tropical fruit that contains crunchy edible seeds and sour juice. And the passion fruit flower is so beautiful! You want to pick the ones that are sweet and ripe enough, meaning you should choose those who are slightly wrinkled and that have a deep purple color. You can also shake the fruit. If it feels like there is a lot of liquid inside, it also means there should be a lot of delicious seeds to eat.
I've never been a big fan of the "steaming hot and covered in butter" corn on the cob. Until I tasted a grilled corn! Nothing says summer quite like grilled corn on the cob. This recipe is highly inspired by one of my favorite healthy food chain, the Veggie Grill . They have a seasonal menu and this summer, they are serving a "Chargrilled Street Corn", which is basically a grilled sweet corn topped with southwestern mayo, soy parmesan and cilantro.
Roasting the corn after boiling it adds a smoky flavor, perfect for the grilling season. Served with fresh lime juice, fresh cilantro and a Sriracha mayo, this side dish will become the star of your barbecue!
Hibiscus flower is Hawaii's beautiful state flower. It's those large flowers traditionally worn by Hawaiian (and Tahitian) girls. Since my new obsession is to include edible flowers in my recipes as much as I can, I had to find a way to use the dried Hibiscus flowers I bought at a few months ago at my local Whole Foods Market.
Gazpacho is a Spanish cold soup traditionally made with bread, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, garlic, olive oil, wine vinegar and topped with fresh bell peppers, diced tomatoes and cucumber (or any other fresh ingredient). This soup is adaptable (the variations are endless!) and perfect for hot summer days... or when you just don't feel like putting your apron on and spending a lot of time in the kitchen (in front of a burning-hot oven!). The kids and I love to throw whatever vegetables (or fruits!) we have on hand in our high speed blender (aka our ten-year-old-almost-dead-Vitamix!) to make cold soups!
This vegan coconut panna cotta is gluten free, dairy-free, soy free, and is the perfect quick dessert! It only takes a few minutes to make and requires only four ingredients! My favorite way to enjoy this dessert is to serve it with my strawberry chia jam. I also like to use a few other toppings, which probably makes it one of my most versatile dessert. Remember when I posted this vegan pumpkin panna cotta topped with coconut whipped cream, caramel and candied pecans last fall ?
Hello! I know, I know, I’ve been very quiet for the last couple of weeks!
The thing is... I was traveling to my hometown, Montreal, alone with my two energetic kids. Needless to say I was asleep at 9pm every day! Plus I almost never had access to a computer. Yeah... I broke my Mac screen for the second time (no comment...) and had no time to repair it before leaving so I left a computer loaded with draft recipes waiting to be posted... Arghh, how frustrating! So, I apologize for the lack of blog activity.
Enough said, I'm back and I have a lot of great recipes to share!
Açai bowls are so freaking good! Oh my goodness!!! As I explained in one of my previous post (Blueberry, acai & coconut paletas), an açai bowl is like a frozen yogurt/sorbet/thick smoothie topped with granola, fresh fruit, coconut flakes and other healthy garnishes. The small purple berries are full of antioxidants, omega fatty acids, fiber, minerals and other incredibly powerful nutrients, making this bowl the post-workout treat or the perfect breakfast.
This pasta dish is a hearty meal that uses lentils as the main protein (instead of the traditional bolognese meat). Wether you're looking for a delicious and satisfying vegetarian pasta sauce or if you want to replace your traditional bolognese spaghetti sauce with a plant-based version on your "meatless Monday", this is the perfect recipe! In fact, I would classify it as the "perfect transitional recipe", meaning that it is the kind of recipe you want to introduce to your skeptic omnivore family member that thinks a meal without meat is simply not a meal ! I'm pretty sure no one will miss it in this recipe!
Fresh cherries might not be the most affordable fruit, but they sure are worth every penny! They are SO fresh and juicy at this period of the year! The first thing that "popped" into my head when I bought my first bag of organic cherries at my local farmer's market is a black forest cake. Not that I ever particularly enjoyed this cake... It's usually made with cherry pie filling (most brands are made with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, artificial colours and other ingredients I can't even name), white flour and refined sugar... But I kind of liked the idea of the combo "chocolate and cherry"!
My three breakfasts are all vegan, refined-sugar free, rich, satisfying and incredibly nutritious!
Roasted chickpeas are great as a snack, but also in recipes, especially to replace "bread croutons" or when I want to add crunchiness to my dishes. I particularly love to top my salads with spicy roasted chickpeas. This time, I made a butter lettuce salad with fresh tomatoes, avocados, herbs, radish slices, spicy chickpeas and a vegan ranch dressing. Very easy to assemble and honestly... it was a killer lunch!
If you haven't tasted roasted chickpeas yet, this recipe might be a revelation for you (it was for my family just a few months ago)! It's actually one of my kids favourite snack. When we do a "special movie night", my son will often choose to munch on this healthy treat over homemade popcorn... It's also the perfect grab-and-go snack for an outdoor trek. These crunchy little guys are TERRIBLY addictive!
HAPPY SUNDAY!!
I'm very excited! The Nutrition Mama has invited me to do a guest post over on her blog! Chelsea and I connected via the blogosphere and I was thrilled when she asked me to be part of her series called "Mama Monday" where she introduces her readers to moms from all over the world that are passionate about feeding their families healthy and nutritious food. If you have a child that tends to be very picky or if you're planning to raise your baby in a healthy environment, be sure to head over to her blog! I'm sharing my very best granola bar, as well as my professional and personal mama tips for getting kids to eat a wide range of healthy foods.
I'm a girl who likes challenges, and this recipe was definitely a challenge! Kids LOVE finger food! For this special kids week, I wanted to find a tofu "nuggets" recipe that tasted almost like chick'n. I was looking for the best breaded tofu recipe so... I did another little battle in the kitchen! Hubby was desperate to see all the piles of dishes to wash... but he forgot everything when he took a bite of my winner recipe! He said and I quote : "Some people aren't going to like it because it tastes too much like real chicken! Those are the best tofu nuggets I've ever had!". Woot woot!
Popsicles (or "paletas") can be a great nutritious and fun snack if they are made with wholesome ingredients. These refined-sugar, dairy-free and vegan "blueberry bliss" popsicles are made with fresh blueberries, açai puree, maple syrup and coconut milk.
Açai is a superfood that is grown in South America (Brazil) known for its nutritional value. The small berries are loaded with powerful antioxidants, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as essentiel amino acids.
Neon orange. Yellow #5 and Yellow #6. Sounds familiar? No, those are not Crayola colours. Those are the colorants responsible for the famous mac and cheese bright and artificial orange colour.
It's now well known that food dyes may have potential health effects on kids like increasing hyperactivity symptoms or allergic-type reactions. Well well... did you know Kraft Foods just announced that their iconic blue box original mac and cheese will be made without artificial preservatives or synthetic colours starting January 2016. Even if the famous mac and cheese won't glow in the dark anymore, I believed it will still remain very high in sodium and saturated fats... and not a very nutritious meal for kids.
To find the best vegan mac & cheese on earth... and the one that would taste and look the most like the original, I did a vegan mac and cheese battle!
HAPPY MONDAY!!
I'm very excited! Today's the first day of my special kids week where I'll be sharing one healthy, whole food and kid-friendly recipe each day! Be sure to follow me all through the week, since I'm going to share my kids favourites recipes! You sure don't want to miss my best vegan mac & cheese ;)
This smoothie is a classic strawberry and banana smoothie with a healthy twist.
This week I'm sharing these flavourful and vibrant beet "patties". In my opinion, what makes them beyond delicious and different is the addition of fresh dill that pairs perfectly with the earthy flavour of the beets. I have to say that dill is by far my favorite herb; unfortunately I don’t use it nearly enough in my recipes! Well, in this recipe, dill and beets sure are the real stars!
The very first time I served a crepes cake, it was a total hit! People never get tired of it! I even heard : "How come I never thought about this! It's genius"!
It is pretty genius indeed! The person who invented this dish resolved a very crucial problem : if you're the one in charge of making the crepes on a brunch, you'll probably have to spend the entire morning in the kitchen instead of talking and enjoying the company of your guests. That's exactly what I like the most about this idea. You simply have to prepare your crepes in advance and assemble the cake with your favorite garnishes and... Voilà! The perfect recipe for a brunch (or dessert)! It's also a very good morning potluck recipe that you can bring over.
Have you tried strawberry chia jam? It's delicious, super easy to make and not to mention it's an healthy alternative to the store-bought, refined sugar filled jams you can find in all groceries.
This carrot cake is a healthier version of our family "classic" carrot cake and it was on our Easter brunch table last weekend.
My grandma used to do her famous carrot cake on every Christmas Eve. Her version had everything of an "old-school" cake, super sweet, moist and decorated with a bright green frosting. My mom now has its own gluten-free version (with an all-purpose gluten-free flour) with a cream cheese lime frosting. She bakes this incredible cake every single time we visit her (or for our birthdays!).
I must tell you that the original recipe has its own little story... that now became a legend among our family.
My husband and I have been together for more than ten years (!). That means he knows how to make me happy. This past Valentine's day, he gave me a brand new ice cream machine (I was still searching for the perfect machine, remember?)! No chocolate, diamond or flowers (he still brought me the most beautiful flowers!) could've made me happier than this new kitchen gadget! And he knows it! It also means that I have the best husband... but most probably that he had huge ice cream cravings ;)
This ice cream is delicious, minty, rich, silky. See my other post for the complete story : Vegan mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwich.
These gooey double chocolate oatmeal cookies have everything of a traditional oatmeal cookie, but they could totally be called the "free cookies". They are gluten-free, vegan (which means dairy-free and egg-free), nut-free (if you choose the sun butter or tahini butter), almost refined sugar free (except for the sugar in the chips...) but they are certainly not tasteless! If you do the version with the dates instead of the coconut sugar (see the note in the recipe below), you could even eat them for breakfast!
My husband and I have been together for more than ten years (!). That means he knows how to make me happy. This past Valentine's day, he gave me a brand new ice cream machine (I was still searching for the perfect machine, remember?)! No chocolate, diamond or flowers (he still brought me the most beautiful flowers!) could've made me happier than this new kitchen gadget! And he knows it! It also means that I have the best husband... but most probably that he had huge ice cream cravings ;)
Kombucha, also known as the Elixir of life in Imperial China, is a lightly effervescent fermented drink made with tea. It is also referred to as "kombucha mushroom tea", but in reality, it's not a mushroom, but a colony of bacteria and yeast. Therefore, this delicious beverage is high in probiotics and will keep your gut and immune system happy!
Christmas countdown has officially begun! I can't realize we are in December. My definition of December = snow, red cheeks and snowsuits... Last weekend, on our way to the beach, we could see hundreds of christmas trees tied on top of car's roofs! That's when it hit me: it's already been 6 months since we moved to California. Our baby girl will be turning one year old in a few days.
Reality check.
Pumpkin again ! This elegant, silken and vegan recipe is inspired by a dessert I ate at my all time favorite vegetarian restaurant, the Green Restaurant, established at the famous Fort Masson in San Francisco. I ate lunch there a few weeks ago and they had a pumpkin creme caramel on the menu. It was just AMAZING !
It’s Thanksgiving today! I’m so trilled to have a few days off with my husband and to be able to enjoy the outdoor autumn scenes. Even if it’s not even close to the cold winter temperatures I’m used to, we are loosing a few degrees here as well and everybody's saying that winter is coming… At least the Californian’s definition of winter!
My husband and I both love soups, especially creamy soups like this turmeric roasted carrot and fennel soup. This is a delicious, warm and flavourful autumn soup, perfect for the cold weather or for comfort-food cravings! Roasting the carrots and fennel accentuates the natural sweetness of the veggies, but you can still do this soup by boiling the vegetables in a good stock instead.
The misunderstood Brussels sprout, the “kid's most hated vegetable”, is the star in this fantastic salad! I normally like to oven-roast my sprouts, but shaved and raw, they are as delicious! Slicing the Brussels sprouts into very thin slices with a sharp knife (or a food processor) give them a delicate shaved appearance and result in this "chic and festive cabbage salad". If you really don't love Brussel sprouts and kale, you could totally do this salad by replacing them with lettuce/mesclun/white cabbage instead. The result will still be lovely and tasty.
Soon, I will celebrate my first real American Thanksgiving. Even if we won't do the typical "turkey" dinner, inspirations come from everywhere (my Facebook and Pinterest accounts are loaded with pictures of Thanksgiving menus !). I suddenly have cravings for sweet potato, cranberry sauce, comforting root veggies casserole, mashed potato/gravy and of course, pumpkin pie...!
Easy to make ! Easier to eat ! Especially if you're a peanut butter fan ! I've been making peanut butter cookies for a long time now, since they are my husband's favorite cookies. But this variant is so good and by FAR the best peanut butter cookies I've ever made.
My baby girl has been teething and inevitably transformed into a "scotch tape baby" so in the morning... forget about pancakes for awhile! Among my top breakfast recipes there is my homemade nutty chai granola (as well as my basic overnight oats recipe and my chia pudding !). This is totally the kind of recipe I need when I don't have a lot of time (or hands untied!). Therefore, I always make sure I have 1-2 jars in my pantry.
After weeks (!) of trying to create the perfect vegan tempeh meatballs recipe, I can say that my taste buds are finally satisfied! These "no meatballs" are made with tempeh, which is fermented soy beans (while tofu is not). The whole process of fermentation increases the digestibility and the nutrient absorption of soy.
Soaking ingredients for the next morning has now become a part of our family night routine, just like brushing our teeth or feeding the cats. Chia pudding and overnight oats takes 2 minutes to prepare. You can make a big jar of both and enjoy them 3-4 days later! These are two simple recipes that you can adapt to fit your taste.
Look at that color ! When you see color, you see nutrients. This beet n' blueberry smoothie is delicious, fresh and filled with proteins (hemp!). It is also loaded with fibres, antioxydants and is a great booster for the immune system, since the main ingredients are kale, blueberries and beets. The fresh mint really helps to balance the "earthy taste" of the beets and kale and is so refreshing. Don't be afraid of using frozen blueberries in drinks if they aren't in season. Serve this smoothie with coconut whipped cream (see tutorial here) and I promise you'll be delighted !
November has arrived... I am wondering where the heck October went? I can't believe how time flies! Today, I'm sharing my Autumn Harvest Bowl recipe. The weather may not be as cold as I'm used to for this time of the year, but the mornings and nights are getting quite "chilly" and you can see more and more fall vegetables at the farmer's market.
I know I know.... chocolate AGAIN ! I promise I will post chocolate free recipes, but since I'm doing a "Halloween posting week", desserts and treats are really the stars! This chocolate cupcake recipe is life-changing. I've tried many gluten-free cake recipes in the past, but I have to say this one is THE best. Ok... it may not be vegan (though it's dairy-free), nor "light" or sugar-free, but the secret ingredient is definitely one of my favorite ingredient...
Who else is feelin' the Halloween vibe? We do (even if we celebrated the indian Diwali this week at my husband's job!). When your son asks you to carve a "Puss in boots" pumpkin... you have no other choice but to feel the vibe ! 3 hours of carving in total! But at the end, it was totally worth it and our own little knight and ladybug were so happy!
These pumpkin pie squares are the BEST. My son and I ate the whole pan in 2 days. I just couldn't stop ! But it's not a problem since the number one thing I had in mind when I created these squares was that I wanted to make a pumpkin pie that would be healthy enough to be eaten as a dessert as well as a snack or breakfast. And I am proud to say that they are ! The crust is made from pecans and oats and the pumpkin pie puree is sweetened with dates instead of sugar like the traditional version. I would describe this recipe as a mix between a date square and a pumpkin pie. To make this dessert even more perfect, I served it with coconut whipped cream and topped with chopped pecans.
This vegan pasta dish is creamy, healthy and refreshing! My special Alfredo sauce is made from pureed cauliflower instead of the heavy cream, so it's entirely dairy-free and lighter than the traditional version.
There's no "typical" breakfast for us. Sometimes it can be a bowl of homemade granola with coconut yogurt topped with fruits. Other times it can be having pancakes or crepes with nut butter, maple syrup or blackstrap molasses and fruits. I have to say my husband also makes the best omelettes in the Universe! Other than that, one of the things we especially love to eat before starting our busy days is either an overnight oat bowl, a chia pudding or porridge. I have a few porridge recipes, but this one is (so far!) the entire family's favorite.
Fall is probably my favorite time of the year ! We already stopped by 2 or 3 different pumpkin patches to get a couple of organic pumpkins. Halloween is coming soon and Noah’s getting pretty excited! I’m kind of getting enthusiastic too since we can see pumpkin goodies everywhere : pumpkin lattes, pies and even some pumpkin curry! We can find pumpkin desserts everywhere !
A real cultural marker, poutine is Quebec's "embarrassing but adored" junk food. It consists of french fries and squeaky cheese curds topped with warm gravy. Since I'm not a fan of the greasy and "mushy" version, I make my own healthy vegan poutine to satisfy my "comfort food" cravings. I use oven baked fries and tofu instead of cheese curds. My homemade "gravy" sauce is made from healthy ingredients and is completely vegan.
I always try to pack the most super foods and nutrients as possible in their snacks without them realizing it. I often do a super easy, almost instant chocolate avocado pudding (don't worry... no one's going to notice the avocado taste!), so I thought why not freeze them and make pops? I added dates instead of maple syrup and an extra pinch of chia seeds. I also topped these with Goji berries, a nutrient-rich small dried fruits. They're rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Every now and then I get a really bad craving for Mexican food. I guess it's because of the Mexican heritage you can find around here. Wherever you go in California, you can always find shelves loaded with roasted hot peppers, different types of hot sauces and refried bean cans. And it's everywhere.... From the grocery store to the corner store, from the gas station to the street stand.
Ever since we bought our high speed blender (Vitamix), we drink a smoothie almost every morning. At first, my husband was complaining about their taste when I added few green leaves. But last year, on our trip to New York, we took a green smoothie at the Grand Central Terminal in a small grab-and-go shop. It probably was the first green smoothie my husband drank with good appetite (in seconds!). The secret ingredients were fresh ginger and lime juice. We now add those in every green smoothie we make and they always come out great ! No more complaints !
I've tried a few gluten free pancake recipes and a couple weren't so good (ask my husband!). These decadent flourless pancakes are not only delicious but are easy to make! Whenever I serve these on a weekend brunch, they disappear in minutes !
Figs and blackberries are still available in California's farmer's market, but I can see it's the end of the season, since pumpkins, pomegranates and apples have made their arrival.
This vegan ice cream is divine ! Meyer lemons have a sweeter, less acidic flavour than the more common lemon varieties, but if you can't find those, the recipe is still delicious. The combinaison between figs and blackberries is just perfect.
Every week, we buy "ugly mushrooms" and "not so pretty apples" at the Mountain view farmer's market. Yes, they are cheaper, but we also choose to buy them for ecological reasons. There's a growing "anti-food waste" campaign that advocates that ugly fruits and vegetables need love too (since they normally end up in garbage).
Grab-and-go snacks are really important for my family since we love outdoor activities. Everyday, we either eat a granola bar, a cookie, a trail mix or an energy ball with fresh fruits. Kids (and adults!) are SUPER sensible to hunger and most of the time, a nutritious snack can help control cravings between meals and may even help avoid a tantrum. These delicious energy balls are filled with plenty of healthy foods and seeds. I often double or triple the recipe, especially when Noah is helping me sprinkle the seeds on top of the balls. They are great frozen too! I prefer to pack them cold so the chocolate melts slower and we can head to the beach or a trek and have our snack ready!
One thing that my family and I love is to visit "pick-your-own" fruit and veggie farms. It feels good to take a break from our urban kind of life. It's really about getting to know were our food comes from and understanding the whole process from farming to what ends up on our plates. Most food in our stores have been cultivated for their shipping qualities rather than taste. Therefore, it gives my kids a chance to understand where their food comes from and gives us the opportunity to taste ripe fruits and veggies.
Chia seed pudding is one of our favourite go-to breakfast (and dessert!) at the moment. This ridiculously simple recipe can be done in a matter of seconds. You just need to let it soak overnight and you will get a delicious nutrient-packed pudding with the consistency of tapioca. You can add whatever fruit puree you like or just blend it with cocoa powder to get a dessert. If you're not a fan of that kind of texture, blend it before serving to get a creamy omega-3 rich pudding.
Ok. Let's start BIG !
The first post of my blog is a mocha dessert! I do not drink coffee, actually I never drank coffee in my life. I don't like the bitterness of it, whether it's an espresso or allongé (even in Italy!), or a hot or ice coffee served with sugar or milk, even if it comes from the best place in town or an ordinary coffee machin. As boring as it sounds, I'm more of a camomile or chai tea type of girl. However, I LOVE almost every mocha or coffee based desserts. I guess the aroma is addictive. I don't particularly want to start a coffee dependency, I've seen too many people struggling to eliminate caffeine from their life, but once in a while... as a dessert (or breakfast ?), why not!
I LOVE WAFFLES! There's something special about them... Maybe it's because they taste like pancakes... but you don't have to stand in front of the pan and watch them cook forever. The machine does it all for you! Or maybe it's because of the little squares that perfectly hold the maple syrup and other toppings... Not quite sure, but every time we have waffles, everyone in my family is super excited! One of the multiple joys that comes from being a stay at home mom is having the freedom to do my own daily schedule. Priceless. If we feel like having waffles for breakfast, waffles it is!