Chocolate Waffle Bar

When I told my brother about having friends over for a "ladies lunch for (birthday) dinner," he commented on what a "crazy party" a salad party would be. And crazy it was with a special kind of bar, a chocoholic's dream.

A waffle filled with cocoa and chocolate chips tastes like warm dark chocolate cake and begs for a lighter sweetness to top its holey surface.

The bar: fresh whipping cream, chocolate chips, pecans, sprinkles (it was a birthday!), strawberries, the best chocolate sauce (a Lebovitz recipe), caramel banana topping. 

Not pictured above is the crown jewel: Cinnamon Ice Cream homemade in brilliance by Hannah. Really, you didn't even need the other toppings once you marry dark chocolate waffle cake with creamy spiced ice cream. Oooh.

Also, there was singing and other beauty of gathering the ladies who are a constant source of encouragement, inspiration and companionship to me. The only thing that tops that is presents of snickers salad (only really!), caprese salad, oriental slaw, chicken salad, fruit salad, potato salad, strawberry-pretzel salad, green salad with yogurt ranch dressing, vino, and, of course, cinnamon ice cream! (And lots of other sweet people thinking of me on my birthday, including (home) blog love from Amy.) Thanks, birthday crew. Y'all rock.

Chocolate Waffles
Adapted from Cuisinart recipe booklet

1 cup cocoa
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons espresso powder (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ cup butter, melted
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups plain yogurt
2 cups mini chocolate chips

Whisk together cocoa, flour, baking powder, sugar, espresso powder, and salt. Mix in eggs through yogurt until all ingredients are incorporated well. Fold in mini chocolate chips. Cook in a preheated waffle iron until firm.