What is a Jaffle Maker?

Perhaps more fundamentally, what is a jaffle? For some, the answer to this is obvious but to many (esp Americans), probably less so.

In Australia, a Jaffle is a type of sandwich. Specifically, it is a pressed, sealed, and toasted sandwich. A Jaffle Maker is the machine that presses, seals, and toasts the sandwich. I suppose one can think of it as a higher evolved grilled cheese sandwich. Or perhaps like a panini of sorts.

I love Jaffles because you can put almost anything inside them. Years ago, my school tuck shop (read cafeteria) made delicious Spaghetti Jaffles, which were nothing more than canned spaghetti toasted between two pieces of bread. They were good. Observe, no cheese!

I believe the English call these sandwiches them toasties, which sounds wonderfully English. "Would you like some tea with your toasties?". What do Americans call them? Beats me.

Why did I title this blog Jaffle Maker? Well, I had one for lunch today and thought it sounded nice. I actually made a pepperoni-pizza jaffle, which is nothing more than tomato paste, cheese and pepperoni toasted between two slices of bread. Yum.