I have this favorite pair of jeans that feel like magic. They’re a vintage pair of Levi’s with worn wallet cellphone marks in the back pocket and holes in the knees that I’ve actually earned and not overpaid for. I can dress them up. I can wear them with beat up Converse. I’ve even slept in these things.
I’ve lived in these pants for years and… realtalk: I can’t fit into them anymore. It feels like a shame. It feels unjust… but I know it’s just life (and butter). It also feels too hard to let them go. So I won’t. Maybe I’ll fit into them again. Maybe I just need to find the perfect pair of jeans for me to embrace my thirties. I’m not stressing it… everything will work itself out in the land of pants.
Why am I talking about jeans?
These waffles feel as classic as my favorite pair of jeans. They’re waffles so they’re inherently fancy and homey. They can be dressed up with sliced fruit and pure maple syrup… or they can be dressed down with spicy mustard and sliced ham. They’re an any-which-way situation. I’ve also packed these waffles with a major amount of seeds. Accessories are always nice. Let’s discuss.
I like this lot of goodness.
These waffles are based in whole wheat flour. I haven’t used nearly enough whole wheat in recent months. This Whole Wheat and Millet Banana Bread was made far too long ago.
I love the full nuttiness the whole wheat flour adds to the waffles.
I added all sorts of health and crunch to the whole wheat base: poppy seeds, roasted and salted sunflower seeds, uncooked millet for, and flax seeds whole and ground.
These waffles are stacked with health and goodness… but you best believe there’s a good dose of butter added too.
Balance friends… balance (and butter).
Waffles are a celebration of odd shapes. I embrace it.
These waffles are hearty: whole grain flavor with some serious support from seeds and millet. Standing in the kitchen with an open jar of spicy mustard and a few slices of ham, these waffles are country rustic. On vintage china with sliced berries and maple syrup, these waffles are classic health. They’re exactly what they need to be… whatever that may be.
Perfect jeans can’t last forever. A perfect waffle recipe stands the test of time.
(Right?)(Right…)
Whole Grain Waffles with Millet, Poppy, Sunflower, and Flax
recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour
makes four small, or two large portions
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 3/4 cups lukewarm milk (I used 2% milk)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons dry millet
3 tablespoons shelled roasted sunflower seeds (salted or unsalted)
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
1 tablespoons whole flax seeds
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
Add the wet ingredients, all at once, to the dry ingredients. Stir until all of the dry ingredients are moistened. The batter may be lumpy. That’s ok. Add millet, sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, flax seed meal, and whole flax seeds. Whisk to combine and try to beat most of the lumps out of the batter. Allow batter to rest for 10 minutes while the waffle iron preheats.
Cook waffles according to your waffle makers instructions. I like to make these as small waffles since they’re dense and seedy. These waffles are great fresh from the waffle maker, but they’re also great individually frozen and reheated in a toaster oven. I like to serve the fresh waffles with fruit and maple syrup. I like to serve the reheated waffles with peanut butter and jelly or ham and mustard.
Molly
I made your coffee cake french toast this morning – divine and a great way to use up old bread! How many servings is it supposed to be? Two of us polished of the whole dang thing :) oops.
susan
Am I the first one in 50 comments to actually make these? GO MAKE THEM!!!!!!!!!!! Amazingly hearty and good..They came out looking just like Joy’s. When I was putting them away after bfst I ate one like a cookie. OMG, so good!
Jayne
I just turned 27 like yesterday. Maybe that’s today for you. Is it the 31st there now? Anyway. I’ve long since given up on fitting into my old clothes. Most of them. Hand me these waffle, please.
Cookie and Kate
YES. These waffles are right up my alley, Joy. Two weeks ago, during a snow storm, I bent over and ripped the shoulder on my chambray shirt and later ripped the crotch area of my corduroys. I’m literally bursting out of my clothes! Spring could not come soon enough.
Lilly Sue
YUM! These look fabulous :) Sad about your jeans! I know how that goes…I wore cell phone holes into both pockets of my jeans one time…sad day.
Katie @ Oh Shine On
I love like totally woah love.
Hannah
That’s it. I need to get a waffle iron.
honeywhatscooking
wow, this looks delicious. love that you added all these healthy stuff… oh, how i remember Levis from back in the day… used to wear them.
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Love these waffles, a perfect weekend breakfast!
Nicole @ the Dirty oven
Sometimes jeans are over rated…. but waffles….never! Love you and your honesty. Every girl in the world has been there done that! Serious talk.
Love.
Maria
The pictures stopped me dead in my trakcs- gorgeous and delicious. I love your work, your candid sense of humor, and of course the food! You manage to encompass life, photography, food in a realistic and approachable way that I love. Thank you!
Rohma
I am loving the look and feel of your waffles! Craving them suddenly, in fact, for dinner. I was wondering what waffle maker you have because its giving them such delicious character and I haven’t seen this particular style before, You’re such an inspiration Joy! Thank you so much, I’m always so excited to see new posts of yours.
Richard
Joy,
Check this recipe out for tomorrow or isn’t it sweet enough?
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2011/04/08/easter-pie-a-tradition-worth-savoring/
Richard (Dad)
Jayne
As in Joy the baker’s dad?
Annie
These waffles look great and your photos are beautiful!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
These sound wonderfully delicious!