Oatmeal Pecan Waffles (or Pancakes)

Your children will jump right out of bed for this delicious meal

Ingredients

For waffles:

• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted pecans, chopped
• 2 large eggs, separated (for pancakes, see note)
• 1 and 1/2 cup fat-free (skim) milk
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil

For fruit topping:

• 2 cups fresh strawberries, rinsed, stems removed, and cut in half (or substitute frozen strawberries, thawed)
• 1 cup fresh blackberries, rinsed (or substitute frozen blackberries, thawed)
• 1 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed (or substitute frozen blueberries, thawed)
• 1 tsp powdered sugar

Directions

1. Preheat waffle iron.
2. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, sugar, and pecans in a large bowl.
3. Combine egg yolks, milk, and vegetable oil in a separate bowl, and mix well.
4. Add liquid mixture to the dry ingredients, and stir together.  Do not overmix; mixture should be a bit lumpy.
5. Whip egg whites to medium peaks. Gently fold egg whites into batter (for pancakes, see note below).
6. Pour batter into preheated waffle iron, and cook until the waffle iron light signals it's done or steam stops coming out of the iron. (A waffle is perfect when it is crisp and well-browned on the outside with a moist, light, airy and fluffy inside.) (Or make pancakes.)
7. Add fresh fruit and a light dusting of powdered sugar to each waffle, and serve.

Note: For pancakes, do not separate eggs. Mix whole eggs with milk and oil, and eliminate steps 4 and 5.