Tomorrow is my birthday.

I will officially be one year away from turning the big 3-0.

bacon waffles with eggs and salsa

If you’re bad at math like yours truly here, that means I will be twenty-nine. It’s hard to believe that my twenties will soon be coming to an end. Strange? Do you want to know the truth? I’m actually looking forward to my thirties. Gasp!

Don’t get me wrong, I do understand that with age you must sacrifice beauty for wisdom. Or at least that’s what they say, right? But I figure with technology improving, I have a fighting chance at keeping wrinkles at bay so wisdom it is!

I look at my twenties as time spent training for the main event. You know, cutting through all the B-S. Realizing there’s more to life than ending your night praying to the porcelain god and buying foolish looking clothing that makes Julia Robert’s character in Pretty Woman look like a saint. All of that is training. It makes you appreciate that long conversations with your girlfriends over a glass of red wine is a far better way to spend the evening. It makes you appreciate that a simple handbag can take an outfit from drab to fab.

This is why I have decided to spend my last year in my twenties appreciating the small things. Like these bacon waffles, for example.

bacon waffles with eggs and salsa

Growing up, I would heat up Kellogg’s frozen waffles in the toaster everyday before school. I loved the smell of maple syrup being poured over the hot, golden brown waffles. It was the perfect way to start the day. But as time went on and I entered high school, I phased out waffles to a more appropriate breakfast choice – Zone granola bars to keep the figure looking lean. I dunno, I was a crazy teenager.

Thankfully, my palate improved and as I cooked my way through my twenties, I realized that I wanted to channel that inner waffle child once again. I wanted to celebrate this last year of “youth” by kicking things up a notch.

I took a basic waffle batter and threw in some bacon to the mix. Because what’s better than bacon for breakfast? Oh wait. More bacon.

I even took the grown-up route and bought a fancy waffle maker! (I’m loving the older me already.) You know the waffle drill. Mix up the batter, pour it into the waffle maker, and a minute later, voila! Golden, delicious waffles.

And because it’s my birthday tomorrow, I decided to get real wild and fry an egg and sprinkle chives and dollop the waffles with salsa. I like to party.

Like a book, life is getting to the good part, and it starts with these bacon waffles.

bacon waffles with eggs and salsa

Bacon Waffles with Eggs and Salsa (adapted from Joy the Baker)

Serves 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons chopped chives
3 to 4 pieces bacon, cooked, chopped
Eggs
Favorite kind of salsa
Directions:
Preheat your waffle maker. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, baking soda,  and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, butter, and buttermilk.  Add the wet ingredients, all at once to the dry ingredients.  Add the bacon. Stir until just incorporated.  Try not to over-mix the batter. 
Cook according to your waffle machine instructions. While the waffles cook, fry up some sunny side up eggs in a nonstick frying pan. Serve waffles with fresh salsa and hot fried eggs.  Top with extra chives.  Waffles are best served immediately.
Conclusion: Elevate your breakfast experience with bacon waffles with eggs and salsa, a flavorful combination that promises to satisfy your cravings and kickstart your day with deliciousness.