Sunday Morning Family Breakfast Meeting

On Sunday mornings during breakfast we have our weekly family meeting, something almost like a town hall meeting.  Basciallly, the idea is to come together to build social agreement as a family; it is a chance to make decisions all together.  We take turns discussing plans for the week, meals on the menu, what needs to get done and anything that needs problem solving.  I really like how these meetings allow for children to be heard and give everyone a chance to learn how to be a part of a team, in this case, the family is the team.  A close friend of mine, got me reading Alyson Schafer's books, I truly thank her for this! You can read all about why to have them and how to implement them in Alyson Schafer's: Honey I Wrecked The Kids. Big Brother's favorite part of the meeting is deciding what breakfast is going to be for the following Sunday family meeting.  Usually, he chooses waffles.  I am so happy to make them since they are way easier and less messy than pancakes.  They also freeze well, so I make a double batch to have extras during the upcoming week. Great for snacks and even sandwiches when I don't have time to make bread.  We have been trying out several gluten-free, nut-free, seed-free and dairy-free waffles. So far, we have these two favorites: Thermomix blender brown rice waffles and these gluten-free white rice, sorghum and buckwheat ones.  Both recipes call for soaking your grains overnight.  I prefer to soak and find that it is super easy to do before going to bed and actually easier to whip up the following morning.

Instead of wheat, we have been using a combination of rice, sorghum, buckwheat, oats and barley.  I get my grains either from Bob's Redmill on Vitacost, or I ask the guys in the bulk section at Whole Foods what grains they are putting out for the day and have them bag them before they reach the bins.  Attention, bulk bins are dangerous for me because I am allergic to nuts.  Have you seen how people take the scoop from one bin and put in in another!  This needs to stop! And have you seen how people sometimes stick their hand in to take a "sample".  This needs to stop too!  Anyway, too much risk of cross-contamination so just better not to take a chance.  

So, below is how we are making our waffles lately.  It is based on Quirky Cooking's awesome Thermomix blender brown rice waffles, linked above.  I'm sure I'll play with the grains regularly, swapping oats for sorghum, or switching buckwheat to quinoa. It's so easy to grind your own flour in the Thermomix, so no need to keep grain and flour in the pantry.  Just make flour as needed.  

sugar free waffles with maple syrup for dipping

What you need for one batch, we double this:
150 grams of brown rice 
80 grams of rolled oats
20 grams of buckwheat groats
330 g coconut milk, I use this kind (adding water=660 for doubling) if I haven't made in TM
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 egg (Quirky Cooking mentions that egg is not necessary)
1 tsp vanilla
30 grams melted coconut oil
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
*frozen blueberries/raspberries for either adding into batter or to saucepan after melting coconut oil to make maple syrup, cinnamon blueberry sauce

What to do: 
Place grains in TM bowl, grind speed 9 for 1 minute
Add coconut milk and 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar, mix 30 seconds on speed 9
Pour into glass bowl and top with kitchen towel and leave out overnight at room temperature
The following morning, weigh 30 grams of coconut oil in small saucepan on top of TM lid.  Melt coconut oil on stove top and then add to mixture in bowl.  
Add, one egg (which can be left out all together, or try flax egg)
Add in baking powder, baking soda and salt
Mix with wooden spoon, we have a specific spoons marked with washi tape to mark designated allergens
Drizzle with maple syrup and berry sauce.  How about some bacon or sausage?