Chapter 10
From the pages of Josie’s Recipe Book
Waffles with Strawberries May Lead to Unexpected Moments
Ingredients
⒈／⒉ cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
⒈／⒋ teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat your waffle maker according to its instruction manual. C’mon, you know you have the manual. This is the first time you’re making waffles from scratch. Admit it.
2. While it is heating, prepare your batter. Add one cup of strawberries to your blender. Puree until smooth. Don’t get distracted by words in recipes like “smooth,” which is how you picture Chase’s chest.
3. Add the eggs, butter, milk, and vanilla extract to the strawberries, and blend until smooth.
Add half the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder, and do the same.
Add the remaining flour mixture and blend until well mixed.
Stir in the remaining strawberries. Funny thing.
Strawberries remind me of Chase’s favorite dessert—the yummy strawberry shortcake cupcakes I make for the Sunshine Bakery.
I should really make him some. I like the way his hazel eyes light up when he eats them, as if they’re the best thing he’s ever tasted.
4. When your waffle maker is preheated, spray with cooking spray and begin making your waffles.
Pour the batter into one corner and smooth into the other corners with a spatula.
Cook. Remove waffles from waffle maker and set aside.
Repeat until all waffles are made. Or until you decide to go out for waffles at one of the many amazing establishments in Manhattan that make way tastier waffles than even a baker can make.
Bonus—no clean-up or storage of a ridiculously heavy object.
Besides, having waffles with Chase is more proof of how well we fit as roomies, especially since I want to talk to him about that bizarre date that just ended.