Because it is the Feast of the Annunciation (known as "Our Lady's Day" or Varfrudagen).
Truly!
Isn't that just the best? When you discover a holiday's holy origins!
Now, if you didn't know this tidbit of information in time to make waffles for breakfast, don't worry. According to this website, Swedish waffles are closer to their Belgian cousins and are often served as afternoon treats or for dessert. And since it is a solemnity and we are "fairly commanded to celebrate" my kids say...break out the whipped cream!
Here is a recipe for traditional Swedish crisp waffles or Frasvafflor which is another variation of the one Jenn posted below:
Frasvafflor (Swedish Crisp Waffles)
(from Emma Olsson)
about 10 waffles
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup water
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
3 T. butter, melted and cooled
(from Emma Olsson)
about 10 waffles
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup water
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
3 T. butter, melted and cooled
Stir together flour, water and salt. Let rest at room temperature for about an hour. Add the butter and mix well. Whip the cream and fold into the batter.
Give the waffle iron plenty of time to warm up before you pour in the first waffle. Be prepared to spoil the first one. Think of it as priming the pump or firing a test shot, and you won't be as anxious. The reliable key to when the waffle is done is not when the iron's light goes out, but when steam stops emerging from it. Heat your regular oven to 200 degrees F and set a rack inside. As the waffles are baked, lay each one on the rack in a single layer to keep them warm while you cook the rest.
For a Swedish presentation, serve with more whipped cream, perhaps with some blueberries stirred in, or with lingonberry jam.
Give the waffle iron plenty of time to warm up before you pour in the first waffle. Be prepared to spoil the first one. Think of it as priming the pump or firing a test shot, and you won't be as anxious. The reliable key to when the waffle is done is not when the iron's light goes out, but when steam stops emerging from it. Heat your regular oven to 200 degrees F and set a rack inside. As the waffles are baked, lay each one on the rack in a single layer to keep them warm while you cook the rest.
For a Swedish presentation, serve with more whipped cream, perhaps with some blueberries stirred in, or with lingonberry jam.
* I wasn't going to post this here when I saw that Jenn had already covered waffles in her Annunciation post, but Jessica thought that the posts were different enough to be distinct. I had never heard of the tradition of eating waffles today until my kids pointed it out. Our learning experience went from there!
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Thanks for the waffle recipes! They sound delicious. I had no idea that Annunciation Day was traditionally a day that waffles were eaten, and I've never thought to make them with whipping cream. I planned to serve them for dinner tonight; unfortunately my kids have evening activities back-to-back so we'll postpone the feast until tomorrow. (I will also need to make a dairy- and egg-free version for my youngest son's allergies.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the confirmation of what these look like. We made them last night to prep for this morning. I used the recipe in The Continual Feast. But we didn't know they were supposed to be flat and the liquid fat from the whipped cream and the butter was spilling over the waffle iron. They looked like your picture. But we thought we messed up the recipe.
ReplyDeleteWe always learn from our children, about love, about simple things in life and even about the existence of the International Waffle Day :)
ReplyDeletePray with us
Wow!Tell your children thank you for teaching me that waffles are served for Annubciation Day! Thanks for the recipes and the pictures. Both recipes look so good. I'm going to give this one a try over the weekend. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteJiffy corn muffin mix can be made in the waffle iron as waffles.
ReplyDelete