Horned Melon Waffles

Classic buttermilk waffles with a freaky fruit twist--horned melon in the batter. 

Happy Birthday, Dr Seuss!

Horned melon is not a fruit that was grown by the farmers in my community supported agriculture (CSA) farm share. In a G+ food bloggers group Melissa's Produce offered to send cases of FreakyFruits to anyone interested. I said yes. This is my second recipe from that case of fruit. Passionfruit Banana Muffins was the first. I think the next one will be pizza or curry.

When I lifted off the protective bubble wrap I had no clue what I wanted to do with these fruits--but I like that challenge just like I like the challenge to use the kohlrabi in the farm share! Inspiration struck one morning when I realized that those people who live with me remain keen on eating first thing in the morning and all day long. [I need to be up and about for several hours before I feel peckish.] I used one melon in the waffles and had my daughter use another in a smoothie with banana, vanilla yogurt, and ice.

Horned melon looks like something out of a Dr Seuss book. It makes me wonder about the first animal to eat it, because I'm sure the first human to try it did so because she saw a fellow animal chowing down. [I wonder the same about artichokes and several of the other FreakyFruits that Melissa's Produce sent me.]

I don't know what my deal is with Dr Seuss' birthday and breakfast. If you wanted to make a Dr Seuss themed brunch to celebrate his birthday, March 2nd, please consider these waffles with a side of Green Eggs No Ham [a vegetarian eggs Benedict with easy spinach Hollandaise--link]. For other recipes using FreakyFruits, please see my FreakyFruits Recipe Collection, part of the Visual Recipe Index by Ingredient.

Horned Melon Waffles (my classic waffle recipe is adapted from Alton Brown's FN one)

16 ounces (2 cups) buttermilk

3 eggs

2 ounces (¼ cup) vegetable oil or melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

flesh of 1 horned melon

4¼ ounces by weight (1 cup) unbleached all purpose flour

4 ounces by weight (1 cup) whole wheat flour

3 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, oil and vanilla until combined. Scoop out the pulpy flesh of the horned melon and whisk it in. You'll have strings hanging off the whisk, and that's OK.

Dump the dry ingredients on top and whisk until just combined. The set batter aside and walk away! [Walk a dog, start a load of laundry, sip some tea, check up on FB, whatev.] After a nice rest (15 - 30 minutes) preheat the waffle iron and bake according to manufacturer's instructions. Mine makes about 12 waffles (3 sheets of 4) in my square waffle maker (Amazon affiliate link).

The other day I was at Kroger buying the daily gallon of milk when I spotted horned melon across the produce section. The guy buying bananas probably thought I was a creeper when I whipped out my phone to take a photo, but I don't care. This fruit is available in stores, too!

This post is shared on What's Cookin' Wednesday