Sweet Potato Waffles — Dale Knows How To Host

This photo absolutely breaks my heart. It was taken at a Mother's Day party at my sister’s kindergarten [gan yeladim] in Jerusalem in 1974. Mom noted that they were singing a song with the words "at sheli," which means "You are mine".

This photo perfectly illustrates the sacrifice that is motherhood! Look at my chic momma with a baby and a tired 4 year old! I’m so impressed that my parents didn’t let us hinder their adventures. My mom’s brother, my uncle Robert, is on the right.

Mom with baby Elisabeth. Being a second child, I’m miffed that there’s no similar photo of me. Ha ha.

Mom absolutely ADORED her granddaughters. She would refer to them as “my little girls”. Here she is with my daughter, Luca in Austin around 2006 or so.

Mom was a surrogate mother to many. Here she is with my sister’s friend, Krista, who would often spend her school vacations at our house.

Four generations of Volberg women! The portrait behind us is of my maternal grandmother, Phyllis (my Nonnie). It was painted by *her* painting teacher, Philip Cheasley. This photo was taken during our last Christmas vacation with Mom in December 2017.

Mother’s Day. Mom used to tell us not to do anything. “You’re just going to use my money to buy me something I don’t want,” she’d say. And, she was not wrong! I used to spend a lot of time wandering around downtown Chapel Hill when I was in grade school (we lived within walking distance and it was the 1970s). One day, I came home and said to Mom, “I need you to trust me. And, I need your credit card.” Bless her heart, she handed it over and what was she surprised with on Mother’s Day? A home delivery of tacky blue carnations! I had visited the downtown florist on one of my walkabouts and thought that this would be a sophisticated gesture. I was maybe ten. Another Mother’s Day, even earlier when I was perhaps eight years old, I scrounged up enough money to buy a dozen doughnuts at Dunkin’ Donuts. I walked there all by myself, carefully selected the flavors, and then realized that a gift should be wrapped, so I strolled up and down Franklin St. trying to find wrapping paper. I ended up in the old drug store on West Franklin and the lady took kindly to me and wrapped the Dunkin’ Donuts box for free. She let me pick the paper and OF COURSE I went for the shiny silver one with bells on it, she didn’t have the heart to tell me that it was wedding paper. Mom actually liked this Mother’s Day gift! Who wouldn’t? I mean, doughnuts?! Those are honestly the only two Mother’s Days that stand out. When I was older I would call Mom and say, “Happy Mother’s Day” and she would say, “oh, is it?!”. How cool to not care.

Mom was not only *our* mother, she was a surrogate parent to a lot of our friends and various wayward souls. We were always bringing friends home from boarding school for weekends and holidays. My sister’s friend Krista spent a lot of time at 126 Mallette, as she was from Milwaukee and couldn’t easily get there. My friend Sean would always stop by at Christmas, whether I was home or not! Mom would have hot scones and homemade raspberry jam at the ready, or an extravagant cheese spread on our old 500 pound butcher block. That was my favorite kind of lunch. My sister and I were both insane for Brie, so much so that Mom would give us our own little Bries for our birthdays. I told this to a boyfriend once (and promptly forgot I had), so it was a funny surprise when he gave me a wheel of Brie for my 24th birthday. Initially, I was like, “what the hell kind of gift is this?!” but then he reminded me and I changed my tune, touched that he remembered.

When rollerblades first came out, I remember Mom telling me a story about how she came across a little kid sitting on the curb wearing a pair and crying. She stopped her minivan and got out to check on him, he had clearly sprained his ankle or something. She said, “Now, I know that your Mom probably told you not to get in the car with strangers but you are hurt and we need to get you home.” The kid complied and was taken home to a very grateful mother. I have to say that if you are sitting somewhere hurt, the person you would want to run across you is Dale Reed. Her bedside manner was remarkable! She was kind and patient, just really soothing, so much so that I used to fake wetting the bed just to get to spend some quality time with her. What a jerk! I remember doing it one night (I would spill a little water from my cup on the bed). I called out for her, she came in to my room, was sweet to me, and moved me into my sister’s room. I liked the attention so much that I waited a few minutes and then did it again on my sister’s bed. I cried, “Mom! I did it again!”. She came back in, still calm but less thrilled, and rotated me so my face was directly at my sister’s feet. I guess that’s what I deserved.

Do you know what you deserve this Mother’s Day? Sweet Potato Waffles! Pass this recipe along so that someone will get the hint and make them for you.

SWEET POTATO WAFFLES

makes about four 8”

1 1/2 cups peeled and cubed sweet potatoes
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 egg whites, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
Vegetable spray, for waffle iron

Special equipment: steamer basket and waffle iron

Put cubed sweet potatoes in a steamer basket. Place the basket in a large pot of simmering water that is no closer than 2 inches from the bottom of steamer. Allow potatoes to steam for 20 minutes of until fork tender. Mash cooked potatoes and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.

In another bowl combine the sweet potatoes, milk, brown sugar, butter, and grated orange rind. Stir the sweet potato mixture into the flour mixture and thoroughly combine. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold egg whites into batter 1/3 at a time. The batter will be thick. Using a No. 20 disher (scoop), place 2 scoops of batter onto a preheated, oiled waffle iron, and cook until lightly browned, about 5 to 6 minutes.

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