Belgian waffles

Do you prepare this fragrant delicacy of dough ?

Culinary history is in its large pot mix a number of specialties, one of the most popular are certainly waffles , pastries whose odor olfactory associations in Belgium and the elegant streets of Brussels and Liège .

Throughout the world famous waffles , Belgian culinary specialty are cute and associations in this European kingdom . This delicacy of dough prepared in a recognizable slatted mold , alone or with a variety of attachments, won their fragrance and flavor .
Culinary history is in its large pot mix a number of specialties, one of the most popular are certainly waffles , pastries whose odor olfactory associations in Belgium and the elegant streets of Brussels and Liège .

Waffles are an integral part of the millennial European culinary traditions but though the origin of this sweet delicacy made of flour , milk and eggs , which resembles a honeycomb unknown , the story of her evolution from thin crispy wafers to the generous cake of puff pastry is very interesting .

Even the ancient Greeks prepare the extruded precursor , so-called . obelios between two hot metal plates . This tradition continued in the north of Europe in the Middle Ages when they served in their original form or rolled in sleeve. This ancestor wafers prepared in two types of mold , " fer à hosties " ( mold wafers ) and " Moule à oublies " ( mold oubliee - precursor wafer ) . The molds were made of two metal plates connected hinged , with long handles to make it easier to hold over the fire . Originally flat panels soon began to decorate a variety of motives , the wafer images of Christ and his crucifixion , and the latter various biblical motifs .

The first recipe back to the 14th century

Oublie it was like wafers made of flour and water but only to be later this mixture begin opemenjivati exotic ingredients that have been brought to Europe by the Crusaders , like eg orange blossom water . In the following centuries obelios or double . oublie becomes gaufre , which comes from the old French word wafl ( " piece počelinje hives " ) . The first is a recipe for waffles recorded at the end of the 14th century , but only one hundred years later, the difference between oubliea and wafer starts to evolve . Wafers that are eating commoners worked from barley and oats and were sweetening . But soon they began to add a mixture of eggs , milk and honey , sugar later .

This version was only available to the highest ranks , and then , with the molds with family crests and landscapes for the first time appear and molds characteristic lattice pattern . The wafers are then usually consumed during religious celebrations , and besides the church were sold by street vendors which was so that in the 16th century French King Charles IX law regulating the sale of wafers , each declaring that the sellers must be located at least two meters .

And the Dutch were consumed in large quantities , and it was their pilgrims made waffles in the New World , in New Amsterdam , which would later become New York .

During his ministerial mandate in France in the twilight of the ancien regime , Thomas Jefferson loved the waffles , and the United States issued a mold for their preparation . After becoming president , he served them at a party at the White House starting so real craze for this delicacy in fashionable circles . " Waffle frolics " ( Wafer fun ) then became a big fashion, and today is one of the desserts favorite delicacy and an indispensable part of American breakfast .

First American mold wafers that could be used on the stove patented by Cornelius Swarthout . Electric molds have appeared only in 1918 , when the General Electric produced its first model, the 30 years began manufacturing and selling frozen waffles .

There are a lot of varieties of wafers , and are among the most famous Brussels waffles , square-shaped and made of dough with yeast and egg white , lighter , more crunchy . Versions of Brussels waffles ( " Gaufres de Bruxelles " ) originated in the 18 th century but the merit of their formation is attributed to Florian Dacher , šivicarskom bakery of Ghent .

Waffles from Liège ( known also as " Gaufres de chasse " - hunting wafers ) are small , elongated and curved shape , and batter them thicker and sweeter . Most are consumed in Belgium . According to legend , created by the chef prince - bishop of Liège to whose desire to put the dough pieces of coarse sugar . The smell of vanilla during preparation so thrilled prince and the successful recipe soon became an intrinsic part of the culinary traditions of the region of Wallonia . However , the big sugar used initially only as a decoration , but first it as an ingredient for the dough used the famous Parisian pastry chef Antonin Carême .

They love them in the U.S.

Belgian waffles , despite the title of the most popular in America . This larger version of the Brussels waffle dough easier to be working with baking powder instead of yeast , presented the Belgian restaurateur Maurice Vermersch in Brussels at Expo 1958 years . But only after six years later their " Bel - Gem " waffles presented at the World Fair in New York achieved great success .

Wafers can be enjoyed alone , sprinkle with powdered sugar or with attachments such as honey , whipped cream , jam , maple syrup , a variety of fruit , chocolate toppings , ice cream ... There are many variations of the salt with exotic enclosures , and America 's favorite and users with chicken which was first served at Wells Supper Club in Harlem around 1938 years .

The new century has brought a kind of renaissance consumption of sweets whose popularity is greater than ever . With many variations around the world , this delicacy is still one of my favorite sweet pleasures , and blue Waffles frolics mode once again .