Smitten Food: Gingerbread Waffles

I think I'm in love.

These homemade waffles are spicy, sweet, soft and just a bit crispy around the edges -- perfect for my mouth; less so for my hips.

I'm clinging to the last vestiges of the holiday season. I think my favorite part is the build-up --- the lights, the decorations, the music --- and it's a little depressing when it's all over. We'll soon haul the Christmas tree out to the curb and pack away all the lights and wreaths and garland. Christmas stuff has been replaced with Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day merchandise in stores. And almost immediately after Christmas Day, Starbucks unceremoniously switched from their cheery red cups back to the white-and-green ones. Making these waffles made my kitchen smell gingery and warm and wonderful.

The recipe comes from one of my favorite food blogs, The Kitchn, and originates from another one of my favorite food blogs, Tea & Cookies. Here's the link to the waffle recipe.

Don't Mind If I Do

I was reading an article in this month's In Style magazine about retro holiday cocktails. Since my darling husband came home from the grocery store yesterday with a surprise carton of eggnog, I thought I'd go ahead and add a splash of spiced rum and a sprinkle of nutmeg and have my own cocktail last evening after our young lad toddled off (OK, was carried) to bed. It was even tastier because I drank it out of a martini glass.

I got inspired to create a vintage-y spiked 'nog photo. Cheers!