By Amy Story

Chicken ‘n Waffle Sliders

INGREDIENTS

4 frozen chicken fingers

32 frozen mini-waffles

1 cup prepared coleslaw

toothpicks

2 Tbsp.  maple syrup

PREPARATION

> Cook chicken fingers and frozen mini-waffles as per instructions.

> Cut each of the cooked chicken pieces into 3-4 smaller pieces.

> Break toasted mini-waffles apart.

> Place a tablespoon of coleslaw atop each of the toasted mini-waffles.

> Top the coleslaw with a chicken piece.

> Top with remaining waffles and secure with toothpicks. Drizzle over all with maple syrup.

> Serve ASAP.

Note: I held out for many years before trying chicken and waffles, which I had been hearing about for a good decade. My chance came this last September, in Whitefish, Montana, at a café called The Last Chair. My entree, devoured for dinner, not brunch, had some elegant yet deliciously devilish twists: buttermilk fried chicken, savory herbed waffles, huckleberry-Gorgonzola cream, and maple balsamic vinegar.

These are not those. These are the handy little snacks you serve up when your adult kids pop by, or you’re feeding a group of ever-hungry teenagers. But there’s nothing stopping those with finer palates from creating the refined version, when not feeding the madding crowd,  who simply want to carb up for a day of spring skiing.

Brunchy Carrot Oatmeal Cake

INGREDIENTS

2 carrots, shredded

2 eggs

1/2 c. honey

1 c. oats

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Pinch of black pepper

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 c. butter

PREPARATION

> Preheat oven to 350F or 180C. 

> Put all ingredients except carrots into bowl and thoroughly combine.

> Stir in the carrots, line a 7”x 7”baking pan with parchment paper and spread batter inside.

> Bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clear after inserted into the cake.

Note: This simple recipe has just four steps, making it a good candidate for an activity with my four-year-old granddaughter, DeeDee, who loves to help and is super task-oriented, as is her younger brother, Tel. They like to keep busy when they come to their Oma’s house, and I’ll often give one a cleaning towel and spray bottle, and the other a broom.

I’m pretty certain they’d both go nuts with glee if I handed them a vacuum with the motor on. Their little sister Cozi will most likely get a small duster to hold when she learns to walk.  I can think of worse things than having grandkids who like to help out. They also like to eat, and this recipe will be perfect for the next afternoon at Oma’s.