Instructions: Making the Sponge: This first step is best done the night before you want to serve the waffles. First, remove your starter from the refrigerator, stir it together with a spoon or whisk and pour out a cup. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours and sugar. Pour in the [warmed] buttermilk and the sourdough starter. Stir this mixture until just combined. Cover loosely and let this sit on your counter until the next morning.

Feeding the Starter: Add to the remaining starter a cup of water and a cup of flour. Stir, cover loosely and let it sit out on your counter until the next morning to let it work and grow. Then refrigerate it until you want to use it again.

Creating the Batter: Next morning, complete the batter while you preheat your waffle iron. In a small mixing bowl, beat together the egg [yokes], oil or butter, salt and baking soda. [In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until almost stiff.] Let the children (of any age) blend [the egg yoke mixture and then the beaten egg whites] into the sponge you made the night before. (Watch what happens; its neat.) Grease your iron (a pastry brush makes this easy) and pour on to 1/2 cup of batter. Close the iron. A waffle usually cooks in 2 to 4 minutes. If you try to raise the lid and its reluctant to come, the waffle is probably not done. Waffles are best eaten right from the iron if you like them crisp, traditionally with butter and maple syrup.

YIELD: 8 Waffles.

Note: For a crowd, you can double this recipe.

Sourdough Waffles For Four

JONIS NOTES

Results: Excellent; the new standard.

Method: Follow recipe exactly except: beat egg yolks separately and add to oil, soda and salt. Beat egg whites until almost stiff. Mix egg yolk mixture into batter then fold beaten egg whites into all.

Comments: Easy recipe. Like idea of preparing most of the recipe the night before.

NOTES : Our weekend favorite is sourdough waffles. These beat baking powder waffles by a mile; if we cant make these, we dont eat waffles. When you have a starter to take care of, and you dont have time to make bread, waffles are the answer. You can make these a weekly ritual with very little effort, thus feeding the masses (and the sourdough starter at the same time). This also makes great pancake batter. Heres what we do:

Hope you guys enjoy this as much as our family does.

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