Basic Waffles

2 cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
Pinch of salt
3 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups milk, room temperature

Preheat waffle iron.
In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, butter, vanilla and milk.
Add liquid ingredients all at once to dry and stir just until mixed and still lumpy.
Lightly grease or spray waffle iron as recommended by manufacturer.
Spoon batter (use the amount recommended by manufacturer) onto middle of iron and spread to 1/4" from edges, using the back of a ladle or spoon.
Close the lid and let bake until steam starts to subside, about 3 minutes.
Serve immediately or cool on racks and reheat in warm oven or pop into the toaster.

Makes about 12 - 6" waffles

Variations: Banana: substitute 3/4 cup milk with 3/4 cup mashed banana. Add more milk if batter is too thick

Apple-cinnamon: add 1/2 tsp. cinnamon to dry ingredients and 3/4 cup finely diced, peeled apple to the liquid ingredients. These waffles may need to bake longer

Nut: add 1/2 cup toasted and finely chopped nuts. Walnut waffles are tasty, especially with maple syrup

Blueberry-lemon: add 1 tsp. grated lemon rind to the liquid ingredients. After mixing dry and liquid ingredients, fold in 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Cheese: fold in 1 cup shredded old cheddar or swiss. Serve with warm apple sauce or apple compote