Cornmeal Waffles with Peaches and Toasted Pecans

One of my favorite things about living in lower haight is that there are a handful of parks within walking distance from where I live....I really like to go on walks along the pan handle, but smack dab in the middle of my path to getting to the park is this amazing little haven called Delissio Market & Bakery (at Divisadero & Oak) and I always drop by just to gawk at the spread even if I am not even remotely hungry. It's the perfect place to go when you cannot decide what to eat because it is one big hot and cold buffet filled with amazing goodies...and oh, my...the bakery section is wonderful. One time, a stranger caught me staring way too long at the beautiful peaks of meringue on some yummy dessert...only slightly awkward...one of my favorite items (that they vary by changing up the fruits) are these upside down sticky cornmeal cakes. Any mention of cornmeal and I am SOLD. Cornmeal muffins. Cornbread. Cornmeal Pancakes (uh....Kate's Kitchen!). gimme gimme gimme.

And on those deliciously lazy sunday mornings, if you are in the mood to spoil yourself, then this is what you want...no, need!
INGREDIENTS:

* 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
* 1/2 cup cornmeal
* 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
* 1 Tbsp. baking powder
* 1/2 tsp. baking soda
* 1 Tbsp. wheat germ
* 1 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
* 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
* 1 egg plus 1 egg white (separate the egg yolk and put egg whites together)
* 3/4 cup buttermilk (or you can do soymilk or milk mixed with 1 Tbsp. lemon juice)
* 1/4 cup applesauce (all natural! no corn syrup!)
* 1/2 cup plain yogurt
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 1 fresh ripe peach, peeled and sliced
* 1/4 cup pecans, toasted
* maple syrup
* powdered sugar (optional garnish)

DIRECTIONS:

* Heat up your waffle iron!
* Mix the dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, wheat germ, flax and cinnamon) in a large mixing bowl.
* In a separate mixing bowl, combine the egg yolk, buttermilk (or substitute mixture), applesauce, yogurt and vanilla in a bowl.
* Combine the egg yolk mixture with the dry ingredients, whisking constantly until well mixed (but do not overmix!)
* In another mixing bowl, whip the two egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
* Gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
* Use about 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of batter for each waffle, depending on the size of your iron.
* Make yourself some waffles! Garnish with sliced peaches, toasted pecans, powdered sugar and maple syrup!

Happy weekend, dear reader....I hope you enjoy these as much as I do...