Saying Goodbye to One of My Oldest Friends

     Saying "goodbye" is never easy, especially if it is a "forever" goodbye. 

     I'm very loyal to my close friends.  I don't like saying goodbye, probably because I moved quite a few times in my childhood, and it was never easy for me to do this when I knew or was fairly certain that I'd never see those friends again.

     I've struggled with saying goodbye to my 1975 waffle iron. 

     I don't normally form emotional attachments to "things."  I probably would have not become such close friends with my waffle iron if I hadn't helped my dad pick it out at the store when I was in the second or third grade, as a gift for my mom.  I was so  excited!

     You're probably laughing at me - my daughter says that I'm crazy - because it took me so long to rid myself of this waffle iron.

     After Elmer and I had been married for a year or two, my mom gave me a Belgian waffle iron that cooked two waffles at a time.  While I was pleased to receive a waffle iron as a gift, I mentioned to Mom that since she didn't have a Belgian waffle iron of her own, and she really liked that style of waffle, I could trade her my new Belgian waffle iron for her 20-year-old traditional-style waffle iron.

     I was pleasantly surprised to see her agree to this swap!  We didn't yet have children, but I figured it would be easier when children came along to use a waffle iron that cooked four waffles at a time vs. the new Belgian waffle iron that only cooked two at once.   

     Almost every time I have made waffles over the years, I've doubled the recipe so that I'd have extra waffles I could freeze and put away for future breakfasts.  Yum!  If you choose to make extra waffles for later on, you will probably want to lay them out to "dry" on a baking grid.  If you place very soft waffles into a ziplock bag without airing them for maybe 30-60 minutes, you'll end up with waffles that are a bit on the squishy side.  My family doesn't think that's all that appealing to them.  In fact, they think it's a bit on the "gross" side of things.

     So, back to getting rid of the 1970s waffle iron I'd been using for so many years now.  It finally dawned on me last autumn that this waffle iron was probably coated with a very old, unsafe nonstick coating that we shouldn't be using. 

     Aha! 

     Lightbulb moment! 

     As I realized this, I knew I couldn't be making those scrumptious waffles anymore for my family.  The waffle iron sat on the kitchen counter for a few days while I mourned the thought of tossing it into the trash/recycle center.  I knew that it wasn't safe for anyone else to use, even though it still worked.  Finally, I got brave enough to take it out to the trash/recycle area outside our home. 

     Sigh.

     More thinking about family breakfasts over the years with that little waffle iron.

     Finally deciding that I'd get over it.  Come on - it's not like a best friend or favorite relative, right?

     Well, when Christmas rolled around, my hubby and daughters knew right away what to buy me for my gift...drumroll, please...a brand new waffle iron!

     I was thrilled!  It is a reliable brand, although my 1970s waffle iron did perform slightly better than my brand new waffle iron, even after all these years. 

     Since Christmas, we've made waffles once or twice a month for breakfast.  The recipe booklet that came with the new waffle iron actually has some decent waffle recipes to try!  I was surprised.  The girls have made chocolate waffles with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and strawberries.  I've made whole grain waffles which were delicious!  We've also made regular waffles and have sprinkled the batter with chopped nuts or bacon bits or grated cheese after pouring batter onto the waffle iron. 

     While I'll think about my old waffle iron with fondness, it's time to move on.  Bigger and better things await!  And being sentimental is okay for an hour or two.  I'm thankful for the new waffle iron in our home, and how we are creating more fun family memories by eating waffles together on Saturday mornings!

     I doubt that this waffle iron will last 35 years like the last one did.  It may be wishful thinking that it will last 3-5 years.  Electronic kitchen items just don't typically last that long anymore.  But I like to think that maybe one day, one of my girls will be using this same waffle iron for her own little family...some day.

     If you love making waffles for your own family, what recipe is your favorite to follow?  What toppings do you enjoy using on your own waffles?

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