As a minimalist I struggle with my love for small kitchen appliances. I own a waffle maker, panini maker, ice cream maker, pizzelle maker and two different table top grills [one for sukiyaki and korean stews and the other for grilling meat]. I try to limit my visits to Williams-Sonoma because they always have the latest and greatest small kitchen appliances. Just the other day, Jen turned me on to this amazing frozen pop maker. Yes, of course my current popsicle molds are just fine but it does not make popsicles in 7 minutes!!
My love for small kitchen appliances is balanced with my obsession with uncluttered counter tops. [You will only find a toaster and rice cooker on our counter tops.] So although I am often tempted by pretty small kitchen appliances I know that if I don't have room to store it I won't purchase it.
Which brings me back to my beloved pizzelle maker. I don't make them as often as I should, but they are so simple to make. I use variations of this recipe, which is the recipe that came with our pizzelle maker. I sometimes add lemon zest or substitute the vanilla extract with almond extract. After taking them off the iron I use a large circle cookie cutter to make them all uniform [perfect for ice cream sandwiches]. You can eat them plain, roll them into cones, sprinkle with powdered sugar or dip them in chocolate. I love to eat them with a scoop of ice cream and berries, a perfect mid-afternoon treat!
