And a happy National Waffle Day to you. If you didn’t know, March 25th is one of the two days on the calendar dedicated to waffles (the other is August 24). Despite it being National Waffle Day, the holiday, or “holiday” if you prefer, actually originated in Sweden as Våffeldagen. But today we in the US get to celebrate the waffle too. As Leslie Knope said, “We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third.”
But on this National Waffle Day it’s important to remember that the humble waffle iron is good for so much more than the simple breakfast dish it was created to produce.
To wit, “Will It Waffle.” That was the blog that became a book from waffle iron enthusiast Dan Shumski who set out seven years ago to figure out how far he could push the bounds of what counts as a “waffle.” What he discovered was that he could push them pretty far.
The advantages of waffling foods besides, well, waffles, should be obvious: you get all those crispy pockets perfect for catching hot sauce or cheese or syrup or whatever condiment your craving. Even better, making non-waffle food in your waffle iron is pretty easy. Mostly you just take whatever you were going to make in the oven or in a pan on the stove and put it in the waffle iron. All that means the options are almost endless. Just make sure you use plenty of non-stick spray—you don’t want a cornucopia of random ingredients sticking to your iron.
On this National Waffle Day, here are some other things try and waffle.
Pop Tarts
Bibimbap
Grilled Cheese
Hash Browns
Stuffing
Mac and Cheese
Squid (because why not?)