My husband says I have two superpowers—one is a canine-like sense of smell and the other is the ability to take any food and make it as delicious (and caloric) humanly possible. I have to admit that I am not a fan of no-fat and low-fat preparations. I think of someone like Paula Deen who has an unabashed love of butter, and I think I am not exactly that enthusiastic about my particular predilections, but I at least acknowledge them.
So, I love that Halloween is on a Saturday this year because it offers an opportunity to celebrate the day in a way that time will allow us to indulge, rather than on a school or work day. For me, when I try to think creatively about food, there are no no-fat, low-fat boundaries that I feel like I can’t traverse. I really didn’t eat too healthily as a child, so I don’t immediately think about eating for nutrition rather than pleasure. But, on holidays, I let the tension between eating well and having fun slide. In thinking about Halloween and some fun ideas, one of my happiest memories of my dad came into my mind. My parents were traditional in their division of labor and my dad rarely cooked, so I am not surprised that one of my earliest memories of him is in the kitchen since it was so unusual. I remember that my dad made my older sister and I pancakes, but he put M&Ms candies in them. It isn’t healthy. It isn’t conventional. But it was fun and memorable.
And now, my big Halloween breakfast breakthrough: Candy Corn Waffles. I am going to mince a bit of candy corn and sprinkle it on the batter when I fill the waffle wells. When I serve the waffles, I plan to sprinkle them with powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream and a single candy corn. If putting candy in waffles is wrong, I gather that I don't want to be right. If Halloween is all about tricks and treats, I guess the trick is to realize it is a once a year treat.
Happy Halloween!