The Hairy Cow

Guess what today is?

I’ll give you a few clues...

Head to ancient Greece... 

The Athenians cooked flat cakes

 between two metal plates,

over embers. 

Here’s a religious connection... 

waffles refer to wafers

(the communion wafer).

(Almost sounds like waffles

should become a regular Sunday brunch!)

 When fasting, Catholics could

eat wafers, as they contained

no animal fats, eggs

or dairy products.  

Historical background:

During the Middle Ages,

bakeries competed against

the monasteries...

added a few ingredients

to the wafer –

and the waffle came to be!

 

It’s International Waffle Day.

The waffle iron was also important.  While the crosses look good – they did represent religious crosses.  Other religious symbols were also used.  In France, the waffle was a staple food – with flour and water the only ingredients.  Wealthy people started adding honey, eggs and wine... Waffles even made it into Chaucer’s seductive and romantic poetry: “he sent her sweetened wine and well-spiced ale/ And waffles piping hot out of the fire”. (The Canterbury Tales)

Holland welcomed the waffle... and in 1620, the waffle arrived in America.  By 1803, the waffle had taken Britain by storm.

Belgian waffles were introduced in America in 1964.

While you can eat waffles with stews and soups, the most popular way of eating waffles is with heaps of melting butter and layers of sugary syrup!  Even if you’re dieting... it is Waffle Day – what better excuse could there be?

Photos from here, here, here and here.

Information from here.