Kris, to me, is the “godfather” of blogging in my world. I found SpaBettie over a year ago {I know, I know, I am slow!} and Fell. In. Love. She claims we met via Vegan MoFo, but the truth really is I had my eye on her long before then. Initially she was just a girl who had a fabulously beautiful and inviting blog that I loved to follow, but the more I got to know her, the more I realized that I found a lost-lost friend that I never even knew I lost. Despite the wild success of SpaBettie, Kris still maintains the level of “coziness” that always makes you feel welcomed into. I cannot say enough good things about this girl–she is full of beauty, strength and talent–I guarantee that if you don’t already love her, you will after reading this. So give yourself the gift of Christmas early this year and make your way over to her!
Hello, Friends of Cara!
(hmm, we should start a group?)
I cannot adequately express how thrilled I am to be here today, on one of my favorite blogs that is among the very first I check each morning. Like many of you, Cara and I met while participating in last year’s Vegan MoFo, and I have been in awe of her talents ever since.
Equal to her amazingness here, is how grateful I am to call her a friend. Long emails and chats have turned into a genuine friendship with someone I know I could (will) spend hours talking and laughing with one day! We have many similarities in our lives and our outlook, and I always know I’ve found a true friend in someone who loves Wheel of Fortune as much as I do…
In planning what to make for Cara, my ideas were many but kept coming back to one thing —waffles!
After:
an initial *ahem* attempt, three more tries resulted in a waffle worthy of Cara. A slight sweetness coming only from the fresh carrot juice, these waffles could easily go savory or sweet. I have topped them with many sweet toppings, and once made a TLT – tempeh bacon, lettuce and tomato waffle-wich. It was heaven.
Utilizing fresh juice in baking generally produces a result that is more dense than fluffy. A fluffy waffle is a good waffle, but these stick with you longer, ya know? They are substantial, they are vibrantly bright, and they improve your eyesight.
What? It’s not true?!
Pshh. Anyway. Cara’s Carrot Waffles are tasty, this much I know.
carrot juice waffles
dairy, egg, soy and gluten free, vegan
makes 4-6 waffles, depending on iron
3/4 cup fresh carrot juice (4-5 large carrots)*
1/4 cup fresh carrot pulp (or grated fine)
1 1/4 cups milk (almond, coconut)
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour (gluten free)
1 1/4 cups sweet rice flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
pinch sea salt
*May substitute store bought carrot juice
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together carrot juice, pulp, milk and coconut oil. Add flours on top of wet ingredients, do not mix in. Stir baking powder and sea salt into the flour, then fold flour mixture into the carrot milk mixture. Pour batter** onto prepared (oiled, sprayed) hot waffle iron, cook per iron instructions.
**My iron makes a 6 inch Belgian waffle, and I use just under a 1/2 cup for each waffle (I like the edges rustic, not a full pour all the way to the smooth edge).
Nothing better than a big platter of waffle wedges… right, Cara? Thank you so much for having me!
katie d
July 8, 2012 at 1:05 amhello beauties…. the carrot waffles look incredible.. do you have a recipe for the pecan looking sauce? also– saw your pizza juice- will try tmrr (on a juice cleanse) any ideas on diff kindsa yummy foods? ..nacho juice? lol loaded veggie burger juice?
Bee
April 27, 2012 at 4:15 amWhat is the topping on those waffles?
Cara
April 27, 2012 at 6:55 amCan you believe that she made us wait for that? Bee, go over to SpaBettie and stalk Kris. She said she will be sharing that recipe soon, if not already (I have been rather absent this week so it’s possible she has already shared).
Lou
April 21, 2012 at 6:24 pm2 of my all time favourite blogs… all in one convenient delicious pack 🙂 LOVE this… I have a slight problem with carrots… for the last 10 years I have gone through about 5kgs of the darn things EVERY week. Carrot Eaters Annon?
spabettie
April 21, 2012 at 7:18 pmhaa – “in one convenient delicious pack” I love it.
oh, Lou, if you find that CEA meeting, I’ll be skulking in the back row, a cup of carrot juice instead of coffee, a baby carrot between my fingers instead of a cigarette.
(can you tell my only knowledge of any “anon” meeting is from movies?)
Ashlae W. | oh, ladycakes
April 21, 2012 at 6:58 amCarrots in waffles? HOLY $#!% – I just might be able to get the little lady I nanny to eat a vegetable! HURRAH! Except.. I’m sure coating them in Aunt Jemima’s syrup will offset the nutritional content of the carrots, but.. who cares. If I can get this child to unknowingly eat carrots, I will. I may even throw in a little sweet potato, for giggles. Great recipe, Kris!
HI CARA 🙂 <3 :-* :-* :-*
Cara
April 21, 2012 at 10:41 pmYou should add some carrot juice into the Jemima syrup too 🙂
HI ASHLAE!
Christina
April 22, 2012 at 3:40 pmI use dark amber agave nectar in place of syrup, due to its lower glycemic index. Depending on the age of the child, she might not notice the difference since the appearance is the same. 🙂
Richa@HobbyandMore
April 20, 2012 at 6:49 pmI love that color! those spinach pancakes are still in my to make list.. now this in there tooo! I think orange and green will make a great combinatios.. i should just make a tower of spinach and carrot things!
I totally agree, she is totally sweet and approachable! I love sweet and nice people! We need more of her around.
have a great Friday!
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 9:49 pmha, Richa, I love the idea of an orange and green alternating waffle – pancake stack… there has to be a sports team with those colors, yes? it could be their official breakfast, Sponsored by Spabettie. 😉
thank you for your continued support and friendship – you are one of my favorites too!
healthfulpursuit
April 20, 2012 at 11:54 am“but the truth really is I had my eye on her long before then” Cara – you are too awesome for words. I love this new series you have going on, how perfect.
Kris – you and your colorful creations! I just love your spinach pancakes and now bright orange waffles? Can you please make pretty pink muffins, too? That would be ridiculous awesome, just saying.
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:07 pmyes, Leanne, for you? yes! 😀 hmm, beets? raspberries? yeah, raspberries.
Cara
April 21, 2012 at 10:42 pmI always get so happy to see your name over here, Leanne 🙂 HI!!
Caitlin
April 20, 2012 at 10:22 amwow- these are beautiful! i would have never thought to make waffles with carrots, so innovative 😉
i love spabetty! beautiful photos and a beautiful person! cheers to kris!
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:08 pmgosh, I need to come here and make breakfast for Cara more often, warm fuzzies over here making me smile! thank you Caitlin! XO
Cara
April 21, 2012 at 10:43 pmYes you do!!
Brooke
April 20, 2012 at 7:38 amAwwww man! Now I have to buy a juicer!! Dangit. What a spectacularly great idea! I am in love with the idea of savory waffles and pancakes. These made my day!
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 8:18 amI love how your kitchen gadgets list keeps growing and growing. You and me both 🙂
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:09 pmwell, I happen to love people that use the word spectacular. It’s a good one. and you just made MY day, Brooke! XO
greenveganliving
April 20, 2012 at 7:26 amYay, thank you for featuring Kristina. She really is a wonderful person (I was lucky enough to meet her last summer and then find out she lives in my city!!), and the food she makes is great – this seems like the perfect union for this blog!
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 7:28 amLUCKY! Have you two met yet? If I were you, I’d stalk her on her way to work every morning {in the most non-creepy way ever, if that’s possible}… 🙂
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:11 pmYES, Cara, I was lucky enough to meet Geanna in person last summer, and we were pals for a whole weekend! 😀 Such a fun weekend… (hi Geanna, we REALLY need to get together soon!) XO
naturalnoshing
April 20, 2012 at 7:05 amWoohoo!!!!! Two of my absolute favorite people in one post! I love you both so much…so you know im thrilled to see some collaboration going on this Friday to kickoff the weekend!
These waffles look INCREDIBLE! Totally making these, as early as this weekend maybe! Brilliant, just brilliant! Xo
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 7:06 amThese totally seem right up your alley, Nora, with inventiveness, health and downright gorgeous looking food 🙂 I’m wishing I had my juice out right this second…
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:14 pmawww, Nora! you took the words right off my keyboard 😉 YOU and Cara are two of MY favorites… happy waffle weekend!
Laurel
April 20, 2012 at 6:58 amOK here’s the plan. Purchase a body slave. Have slave make carrot juice. Have slave purchase waffle iron. Make sure slave is classically trained French Chef. Hmm… that should have come before carrot juice. Well, it’s just that they’re so pretty I want breakfast in bed on china with fresh flowers. 🙂 They really are gorgeous. Can I fill all those lovely holes with Bailey’s?
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 7:01 amDo they have to be French classically trained? Because that seems that you are getting a wee bit picky on your slave requirements, wouldn’t you say so Laurel?
Laurel
April 20, 2012 at 7:09 amYou must be forgetting the croissant requirement.
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 7:11 am*Slapping my face* You are right. How could I forget that??! Classically trained in French cuisine is a non-negotiable!
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:23 pmthis is a sound plan, I like it. especially the Baileys.
also, thanks for the reminder – I have been neglecting the croissant requirement.
jess
April 20, 2012 at 6:20 amthanks cara for asking kris to share one of her creations with us all – these are GORGEOUS kris! i think i might finally be ready to splurge on a waffle iron – these are too cute with their orange hue to pass up! i’m also dying to know what you’ve drenched them with in that photograph…
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 6:22 amMUAH ah ah… my secret topping will be revealed soon! 😉
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 7:02 amI was wondering that too! What a tease 🙂
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:24 pmheh heh. it is AMAZING. I just dipped a date into it for a snack. 😉
Heather Iacobacci (@hriacobacci)
April 20, 2012 at 5:16 amKris is just amazing – I need to figure out how to get her to be my personal chef!
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 6:28 amI think you just have to land on her doorstep one day, really. In fact, all of us should and demand for her to make us waffles…and homemade Bailey’s…and jalapeno margaritas…and everything else 🙂
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:25 pmnow THAT sounds like a fun breakfast! 😉
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 5:14 amoh my… OF COURSE we knew each other before VMF… geez I feel like a heel 😉 I remember now, all of our early conversations and then how you said I was the only one who answered your questions and helped you. <3 <3
thank you again, dear friend, it is a spectacular gift to be your friend!
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 7:03 amIt’s the candy bars, isn’t it? That is when you took notice when I started making them. It’s okay, I get that okay *tearing up*. I’ll be fine.
hahaha!! xoxo. You really did help me, in all seriousness. I’m forever grateful!
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:33 pmanytime, friend!
mmm, candy bars… 😀
Heather
April 20, 2012 at 4:48 amHow awesome are these! Perfect first post of the morning has me craving carrot juice spiked waffles….I must be really slow on the uptake, how did I miss Kris’s Blog SpaBettie, obvisouly I need to get myself over to check it out!
Cara
April 20, 2012 at 7:05 amGo now!! I won’t even waste your time with a long reply other than to say checking out Kris’ SpaBettie is a MUST!
*Good morning, Heather* 🙂
spabettie
April 20, 2012 at 4:32 pmhi Heather, great to “meet” you! 😀