Oliphest 2016 kicks off!

Today was the first full day of Oliphest 2016, the first annual Oliphant Festival. Originally conceived as a pottery-and-book exchange gathering of friends in Portland, other elements quickly emerged (such as the desire to have a conferences completely full of the hallway conversations that are "the best part" of larger conferences). Everyone quickly volunteered different events to have, and soon we realized we had our conference. The schedule is fluid, with a few fixed by external factors, such as another conference held in Portland the same weekend (which is to say, XOXO).

First up on the Oliphest schedule was waffles. I've been on a huge waffle kick, ever since having Saturday morning breakfast over at Shirley, Chris, and Penelope's house. Shirley has an adorable waffle maker, which I just lurve. It's smaller and easier to wield than my farm animals waffle maker (which I also simply lurrrrve), and so, more likely to be pulled out for quick meals.

I bought one for Mom and made waffles during my month and a half at Mom's, and, well, left it there (over Mom's initially strong and quickly waning objections). I ordered another one (at $20 a pop, these things should be in every house!), had it delivered in time for Oliphest, and brought over a mix (easiest way to make them), strawberries, and whipped cream in a can.

While I was mixing up the batter and adding the wrong ingredients, Matthew was busy slicing up the strawberries. I swear, his knife skills are worth watching. sliceslicesliceslicesliceslice done!

Despite washing the waffle plates, I never quite trust the first anything on brand new cooking implements. Yes, I also wash my clothes before using them the first time. As a result, the very first waffles off the griddle were sacrificed to the Waffle Gods, and tossed.

But not before the beautiful picture of them and the strawberries was taken. Of course.

We made two batches of batter. The first with blueberries, which I learned just today, that MATTHEW CANNOT STAND. I did not know. Matthew made the second batch of batter much differently than I did, a process I found fascinating. He didn't mix the batter completely, and let it rest. And used the full eggs. I really like the Klondike Flapjack mix I use (just add milk!), but didn't find any here (didn't look hard, to be honest), so had to add eggs to the mix we did have. I didn't have a waffle from the second batch, so am unable to comment on its superior texture.

I can, however, comment on the first batch.

They were delicious.

Though, I have to admit, my waffle decorating skills are really lacking behind Sagan's skills:

In the end, we ended up sacrificing another two waffles to the Waffle Gods, as I forgot I had waffles in the maker, and became distracted by Pokémon Go and the lack of pokémons in the area. Yes, yes, I know, how shameful to lose two waffles because of a game. Meh, I'm not so sure it's such a bad sacrifice.

First Oliphest 2016 event?

A success!