One Hungry Mama

June 6th, 2012

The Tastes of Summer: Strawberry Coconut Waffles

It takes a lot of restraint to save peak season strawberries for a recipe. The hungry kids and I nearly always eat ripe berries straight out of their iconic green basket. They are irresistible—it’s that simple. That and there’s something overwhelmingly joyful about nibbling all the way to the dusty, green stem, ruby colored juice dripping down your chin and, in the case of the hungry baby, into the soon-to-be-gone folds of his chubby neck. Strawberry season marks the first time in nearly a year when we east coasters get the chance to let sweet nectar from fresh fruit drip down our face. It marks the beginning of summer.

There’s nothing better.

But I did it: I recently managed to save one (of many!) pints of strawberries to use in my cooking. The result is these Caribbean inspired Strawberry Coconut Waffles. If strawberries mean the start of summer, I figured why not take it all the way and go island with my berries.

Turns out, it was a good thought. These naturally sweet waffles will charge you up to hit the beach (or lake, or river) and celebrate the warm summer sun, just the way strawberries should. They are also a reminder that it isn’t about whether you enjoy your strawberries raw or cooked, made into fresh jam or churned into ice cream. It’s about the natural, warm, sweet taste of summer—and getting it any way that you can. These waffles qualify, for sure.

Strawberry Coconut Waffles (can be shared with kids 8+ mos)* on Momtastic

What’s your favorite taste of summer?!

*Note: Cut into age appropriate bite sizes, these waffles can be shared with any child 8+ months already managing soft finger foods. Though strawberries are considered a highly allergenic food, current food introduction guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicate that there is no health benefit to holding off on high allergen foods beyond 4- to 6-months-old. Any child without a personal or family history of food allergies is likely to tolerate strawberries just fine. That said, while I encourage parents to introduce all foods early, even ones that are highly allergenic, do so carefully. Here are some tips on introducing high allergen foods safely.