Waffles for a Back-Yard Brunch

In the last lazy days of summer, it’s fun to relax on weekends and take advantage of the warm weather by entertaining outside. Sunday brunch in the back yard or on the patio can be as elegant or as casual as you want to make it. Whether guests are dropping by after church or on their way to the beach, they are sure to love Spiced Banana Waffles.

These waffles are also good served cold. You can make them ahead of time and pack them for brunch, picnics or camping trips to surprise family and friends with a delicious and different extravagant-looking meal that is as good for you as it is beautiful. The waffles are made with my Magic Biscuit Mix, so once you have the mix on hand, they are just as easy as using a packaged mix.

BANANA WAFFLES

2 cups Magic Biscuit Mix

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 banana, mashed until smooth

Spiced Bananas

Combine Magic Biscuit Mix, buttermilk, egg, baking soda and banana in large bowl and mix until smooth with wire whisk or rotary beater.

Using 1/2 cup per waffle, bake in preheated waffle iron that has been sprayed with non-stick vegetable coating. Waffles are done when golden brown or waffle iron no longer steams. Serve with Spiced Bananas. Makes 6 (8-inch) waffles.

Magic Biscuit Mix

3 cups calcium-enriched all-purpose or unbleached flour

1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder

2 tablespoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup corn oil

Combine flour, dry milk powder, baking powder and salt in food processor or with electric mixer. Slowly pour in oil as machine is running. Scrape sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Mix thoroughly again.

Store in cool place in tightly covered container. Use mix as any commercial biscuit mix. Makes 5 loosely packed cups mix.

One cup contains approximately:

Calories: 375

Cholesterol: 1 mg.

Fat: 15 gm.

Sodium: 745 mg.

Spiced Bananas

1/2 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, undiluted

3 bananas, sliced crosswise

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Dash ground cloves

Heat apple juice concentrate in skillet. Add banana slices and cook over medium heat until tender. Sprinkle with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves.

Divide bananas and sauce into 6 portions and spoon portion over each waffle. Makes 6 servings.

Each waffle with bananas and sauce contains approximately:

Calories: 255

Cholesterol: 48 mg.

Fat: 7 gm.

Sodium: 400 mg.