Within the spirit of practicing unconditional self-love, we just lately got here throughout a cute and reasonably priced present to provide ourselves on Valentine’s Day that’s certain to fill our hearts (and bellies) with a lot pleasure. Meet DASH’s 10-dollar heart-shaped waffle maker that’s out there on Amazon… and fam, it makes the teeniest, most endearing waffles you’ve ever seen. I made a decision to provide it a attempt earlier than the massive day (February 14) to see if it was actually definitely worth the 224,000 almost five-star opinions.
Spoiler: It was value each penny and was a easy reminder of how great it feels to do something for yourself each now and again.
I handled myself to a stack of mini heart-shaped waffles as an act of self-love
Ever since I used to be little, I’ve had a keenness for all the things mini (mini slinkies, Mini Coopers, mini poodles, you title it). Clearly nothing’s modified: The second I laid my eyes on the DASH heart-shaped mini waffle maker, it was like love at first sight. What’s to not love a couple of mini brilliant cherry-red equipment that takes up just about no room in my kitchen and prices lower than ten bucks? To sweeten up the deal, it’s out there for same-day Amazon Prime supply in my space—making it the proper excuse to deal with myself to an impromptu stack of mini heart-shaped waffles midweek.
As an empath (sure, I’m a Pisces), being selfless and nurturing to others is solely in my nature. That means that, regardless of having a culinary college diploma, I rarely spend various minutes making a meal only for myself; the microwave is normally concerned. However relating to cooking for others, I’ll commit hours crafting the proper menu and bringing it to life, irrespective of what number of soiled dishes I’ll want to scrub up following.
So, once I determined to whip collectively a stack of mini-waffles for a celebration of moi, the thought initially perplexed me. Would I even take pleasure in consuming one thing I put just a little additional effort into making if I had nobody to share it with? Responsible: Prior to now, I’ve conditioned myself into pondering that I need to show myself to others to really feel a way of function, belonging, and even acceptance—which is much from actuality.
Although it was a small, easy process, taking the time to prepare dinner one thing “particular” for myself was way more symbolic than I may’ve imagined. As if the center form of the waffles wasn’t an indication in and of itself, it felt extraordinarily rewarding to do one thing loving for myself, like a delicate pat on the again or a supportive hug.
There’s science to what occurred throughout my self-care experiment. On a psychological stage, cooking for one could be extraordinarily empowering, in line with therapists. “[The act of cooking for yourself] is about what you are able to do now, fairly than what you’re caught with. You have got the autonomy to make no matter you need while you need it. It is what you’re feeling like consuming in your schedule. You possibly can discover and experiment or follow your favorites. There’s no compromise, you get to resolve,” Amy Cirbus, PhD, a therapist at Talkspace, previously shared with Well+Good.
Although it was a small, easy process, taking the time to prepare dinner one thing “particular” for myself was way more symbolic than I may’ve imagined. As if the center form of the waffles wasn’t an indication in and of itself, it felt extraordinarily rewarding to do one thing loving for myself, like a delicate pat on the again or a supportive hug.
That’s to say, it wasn’t my obligation to serve anybody however myself. And curiously sufficient, the act of cooking has additionally been scientifically proven to have a optimistic affect on psychological well being and well-being. Pair the 2 collectively, and it was a self-care match made in heaven.
My assessment of the DASH heart-shaped mini waffle maker
To get to the purpose, the DASH heart-shaped mini waffle maker is a ten out of 10 for me in additional than simply the self-care division: It’s precisely as marketed. The equipment is compact, light-weight, heats evenly, and is ideal for a celebration of 1.
When making the waffles, I made a decision so as to add an much more festive Valentine’s Day twist by mixing in a couple of tablespoons of beetroot powder with my favourite gluten-free waffle mix by Bob’s Red Mill for a vibrant reddish-pink hue. I can not suggest this ingredient improve sufficient, as a result of except for the perky pink colour the beetroot powder provides, it’s additionally packed with health benefits. For starters, beets are a vegan-friendly veggie stuffed with bone-building calcium, electrolyte-regulating potassium, and immunity-boosting vitamin C. Moreover, they’re an excellent supply of folate, which is sweet for coronary heart well being and hair progress, and are loaded with magnesium, aka a stress-reducing, sleep-promoting rockstar. Magnesium can also be useful for muscle soreness and restoration—making these hearty waffles supreme for a post-workout snack or, frankly, any time of day.
A de-stressing raspberry mocktail for a brilliant chill completely happy hour:
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