I thought a nice breakfast worthy of company would be apropos at this time of year when guests come to stay.  These cinnamon spiced, apple diced waffles are perfection. Their flavor is full of fall and coziness and their nice texture is tender inside but crisp outside (if you play by the rules and whip the egg whites).

Ok, I haven’t been single for 20 years so this post isn’t what it seems from the title. Sorry if you were expecting some lament on how I don’t like to share my bed. Infact, I like to share my bed just fine with my hubby and sometimes my Golden Retriever curled up at my feet.

And before I confess to my mega impoliteness and social ineptitude, let me tell you that I am a people person through and through; an extrovert to the nth degree, and I treasure my family and friends immensely.  But, I am NOT an overnight guest kind of gal.

Thankfully, my aversion to over night guests does NOT include children. I love having my nieces and nephews to stay over, and my kids’ friends now and then so at least you can breath a sigh of relief that I am not a total recluse or heartless fiend.

When people hint that they might like to stay with us while they are in town, I explain that we just don’t have a guest room, which is true, but actually I ripped that sucker right out of there with my first remodel thirteen years ago. We HAD a guestroom and instead we now have a wonderfully large great room where I love to entertain friends and family.  We do have a couple of sofas but unfortunately, honestly, they aren’t up for the offering.

You see, I like my privacy, and typically go to bed while most of you are just finishing dinner, and I get up at the crack of dawn. I begin to feel utterly claustrophobic at 6:00 am if I am banned by “overnight guest” etiquette from my main rooms downstairs where I can normally be free to make noise, bake and not worry about disturbing my guests.

I am just too antsy a person to lie in bed, listening to my husband snore peacefully,  and wait for everyone to awake. Not to mention Sadie, my goofy Golden Retriever, has been known to wake-up guests by licking them on the lips while they slumber.  I think that is a big faux “paw”. Get it. I am nothing if not generous with my puns.

This is not a very warm and fuzzy approach to life, I am aware. I’d love to have you over for parties, dinner, drinks, and any kind of entertainment you can imagine, but  I really like at the end of the night for you to go home. OK? I believe I have offered to put up Aimee from Clever Muffin a few times but since she lives across the globe and we don’t actually know each other beyond blogging, I wasn’t too worried. Sorry Aimee.

Anyhow, now that we have that out of the way and have cleared the air a bit, I do want you to make these hearty cinnamon spiced, apple studded waffles for your guests over the long weekend. Because you, my friend are a giver and really don’t have the odd social phobia of over night guests that I do. Good for you!

—Although aren’t you a little bit jealous that I am not pulling out air matresses and extra sheets and pillows and will have no extra laundry to do next weekend?

Cinnamon Apple Waffles with Toasted Pecans
Recipe is all mine.
Makes about 8-10 Belgian Waffles
1 3/4 c. All Purpose Flour
1/2 c. Whole wheat flour
3 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. cloves
2 T. brown sugar
1 c. low-fat buttermilk
1/2 c. low-fat milk
1/2 c. Canola oil
2 eggs, separated
1 c. diced Granny Smith apples
toasted chopped pecans and chopped fresh apples for garnish

To make the waffles: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients, flour through brown sugar.  Turn on the waffle iron to get nice and hot.  Separate your eggs and place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a balloon whip attachment (the wire whisk attachment).   Whip your eggs until stiff peaks form.

In a large liquid measuring cup (like a 16 oz+ one) or a medium-sized bowl, pour in the milks, egg yolks and Canola oil.  Beat together with a wire whisk. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together until barely combined. Add your apples and stir with a rubber spatula. Finally, fold in your egg whites, gently so as not to force the air out of the whites.

Into a very hot and adequately ready waffle iron, scoop using  1/3 – 1/2 c. of batter into each waffle space on the iron or if you have a large waffle iron, I will let you be the judge as to how much batter to ladle in.  Most waffle irons DO NOT require greasing. Never spray your waffle iron with nonstick spray. They usually become gummy if you do this.  When your waffle iron shows they are ready, take them out.

While the waffles are cooking, chop your pecans and toast in a small saute pan over a medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, never walking away.  They burn easily.  Chop some more fresh apples for garnishing and serve with warmed natural Maple Syrup.