I needed breakfast and answers. More specifically, I needed to know if this new Nordic Ware Belgian Waffler was going to live up to the hype. The box promised greatness. My stomach seconded the motion. And I was out of milk. So I reached for the coconut creamer meant for my coffee, cracked an egg, and decided to go rogue. I swapped in coconut extract for vanilla, sprinkled in a little hope and a bit of sugar, and whispered a prayer over the batter.

This wasn’t just a test drive for my new pan (though spoiler: it passed with flying, golden-brown colors). It was also a quiet act of reclamation. For years I’ve had ideas: half-started blogs, Google Docs full of dreams, The Jeanie Jo & Joanna Project, Meal & Grace. But I often stopped short, tangled in perfectionism and performance.

This waffle was perfect! Warm, crisp, coconut-kissed. A bite-sized reminder that beautiful things happen when you just begin.

Coconut Cream Waffles

adapted from Magnolia Table Vol. 2 Waffles

What You Will Need:

• Cooking spray
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2½ tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, separated
• 1 cup coconut creamer
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• Optional: shredded coconut & sliced almonds

What You Will Need To Do:

1. Spray your waffle iron (Nordic Ware Belgian Waffler for me!) with cooking spray and preheat to medium-high.
2. Sift 1 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and 2½ tablespoons granulated sugar into a medium bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat 1 egg white until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes..
4. In a large bowl, stir together 1 egg yolk, 1 cup coconut creamer, ¼ cup vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon coconut extract. Add the flour mixture and stir just until fully incorporated. Gently fold in the beaten egg whites.
5. For each waffle, spoon ½ cup to a cup of batter into the waffle iron and cook until golden and crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes.
6. Serve warm with shredded coconut, sliced almonds, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

The best part? It worked. The waffle pan was a dream and so was the breakfast. But more than that, I remembered that single focus doesn’t always look like hustle. Sometimes it’s standing over the stove, testing something new, daring to believe it might be good.

There’s beauty in going off script. In using what you have. In listening to what brings light and leaning all the way in. I’m learning that writing and cooking; these ordinary acts are where I feel most like myself.

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And yes, the pan is absolutely the best one I’ve ever owned. But the real win? I showed up. I kept going. One coconut waffle at a time.

What has brought you beauty and light lately?
What in your life would benefit from single focus?

Gracefully yours,

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Reference
Niequist, S. (2024). Celebrate Every Day. Zondervan.