During the winter, we eat about 1/3 of our meals at the casinos, so if I don't know what to cook, that's an easy solution. We never, ever order pizza delivery, but I'm sure a lot of people see that as a fall-back for those uninspired days.

In the summer we are several miles from any kind of restaurant. I have yet to find one that gives good value for the money (or serves good food, never mind the cost) in the resort town of Estes Park, and Mr. CheapTales only likes to eat at the Chinese buffet when we get to Loveland, which is 30 minutes away.

So it's home cooking or nothing. I get spoiled from being here alone for months at a time. I can eat an orange and call that dinner, but I don't feel right asking the mister to eat that way very often. And of course, we have to have some decent leftovers for the fox. He can get a look in his eye that says 'Can't you do any better than that?'



I thought he'd eat just about anything, but apparently not strawberries or corn. He likes pasta a lot, as long as it has sauce or gravy of some kind.

Well, now I've got a frozen turkey, so when it finally thaws out, we'll have some good meals for all.

Meanwhile, I've got to come up with something tasty for supper tonight.

Waffles. Even the fox likes waffles. Many recipes call for folding in whipped egg whites to give more aeration to the batter, but this one from Martha Stewart is fine without it.

Waffles

1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted
Maple syrup and butter, as desired, for serving

Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer’s instructions. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk milk and eggs; pour over flour mixture, and whisk gently to combine (don’t over mix). Gently whisk in butter. Following manufacturer’s instructions, cook waffles until deep brown and crisp. (For a standard waffle iron, pour a generous 1/2 cup of batter into center, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edges, and close; waffle will cook in 2 to 3 minutes.) Serve warm, with maple syrup and butter, as desired.



If you just want plain waffles all the time, you don't need a waffle iron, just buy Eggo. Almost the whole reason I own a waffle iron is so I can make interesting recipes. I serve these chocolate waffles with a little whipped cream and maple syrup, and some sliced strawberries if I have them.

Chocolate Waffles

2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp cocoa
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
1/4 cup melted butter
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla

Sift dry ingredients together into a mixing bowl. Stir in the well-beaten egg yolks, butter, milk, and vanilla. Beat egg whites stiff and fold into the first mixture. Bake until browned.