Waffles and Random Thoughts

I decided the other day to make some waffles. I usually use the old standby, Bisquick and it does make a good waffle but decided this time to make them from scratch..I will say I think they're a tad better. Lighter and fluffy inside. Here's the recipe in case you want to try them...

 Waffles (The Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook, 1970)
 1 3/4 cup flour
 1 T. baking powder
 2 egg yolks
1 3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. cooking oil or melted shortening, cooled.
2 egg whites
 In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and 1/2 t. salt. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg yolks with a fork.
 Beat in milk and oil or melted shortening. Add to flour mixture all at once. Stir mixture til blended but still slightly lumpy. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold beaten egg whites into flour mixture, leaving a few fluffs of egg whites. Do not over mix! over mixing will make them tough.
 Pour batter onto grids of a preheated waffle iron. And bake as directed. Makes 3 9 inch waffles.
 We love waffles and sometimes have them for dinner. Just have to balance the carbs for the day.

 Thanks for the kind comments on my last post. Like many, we fell on hard times about 8 years ago now, my husband lost his job of 25+ years and with it, his health insurance. We both tried for a year to find work to no avail. Evidently no one wants to hire older workers, even with much experience. So we started our own locksmith company which was very successful for over 5 years, but has since been going down hill. Thankfully, it lasted until we were old enough for SSI. We're still in business and it does  help supplement our income. We figure we make about what we did when we first got married 40 years ago. Sigh. It was fine then as prices were alot less than they are now. Our first little place was a guest house and we paid a whopping $110 a month. Later, we rented a beach cabin and paid  $200 a month. Groceries for the week were about $25. Gas was .39 cents a gal. A first class stamp was 8 cents! Those were the days! In many ways, it was a better time. No internet, no cell phones, no digital anything. People actually talked to each other. Wow, imagine that!

I'm very thankful I learned how to live frugally as I was born into a military family. My parents and grandparents lived during the Depression. I learned how to make do, do without, and live happily. I had to save for anything I wanted. No charge cards, ever. I did eventually get a charge card and learned how to use it wisely. But that was later, when I had a part time job. I set my own personal limit and paid it off monthly. Hence, I've always appreciated everything I bought and took care of it.

We tried to raise our children like that also.  When the other kids were getting fabulous expensive gifts and the latest electronic gadget. We gave our kids our time.  They went on train trips with us and played Little League with Dad being the coach and Mom working in the snack bar. They only got presents on their birthday and Christmas. If they wanted something, they had to save for it, both the boys started working early. From coaching soccer to mowing lawns, they found things to do to earn $. They're both in their 20s now and are excellent employees. They've always been able to find work.

So I guess God was preparing me for this time in our lives, less is more!