Macrobiotic Waffle.......YUM!

So you thought this was a "real" waffle....I mean a high-fat, calorie loaded waffle? Know way...this is a yummy, delicious macrobiotic, vegan waffle! It even has yummy syrup.....give this one a try.....you'll never go back!

Mochi Waffle with Lemon-Walnut-Rice Syrup (thank you Alicia Silverstone "The Kind Diet")

Makes 4-5 waffles

1 cup walnuts

1 package plain mochi 

1/2 cup brown rice syrup

juice of 1/2 lemon

Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until just starting to turn golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes (be careful....any kind of nut burns easily), stirring often. Transfer to a bowl to cool, chop coarsely. Set aside.

Preheat a waffle iron. Cut a package of mochi into 3 orange pieces, width wise. Slice each piece into long fingerlike pieces, about 1/4" wide. Using 6 to 8 strips for each waffle, place the mochi strips on the hot, ungreased waffle iron and close the top. Cook until puffed and slightly crispy but not too hard and dry, about 3 minutes, or until your waffle iron signals that it's done. Remove the waffle and place on a plate. Do not stack the waffles because they will stick together. Serve and eat waffles as soon as possible.

While the waffles cook, combine the rice syrup with 3 tablespoons of water, lemon juice and toasted walnuts in a saucepan. Stir together over medium heat until warmed. Pour over the waffles.

If you don't have brown rice syrup, just go ahead and use maple syrup...but definitely add the walnuts...it gives it that extra yum factor!

You may be wondering what mochi is....I never heard of it before myself. You can purchase mochi in the refrigerated section of your health food market. Mochi is made of sweet brown rice steamed and then pounded into a glutenous "cake". Brown rice isn't really sweet, it's just a richer and higher in fat and protein than regular brown rice. Only eat mochi once or twice a week if your on a true macrobiotic diet but definately give it a try......ENJOY!