In the spirit of practicing unconditional self-love, we recently came across a cute and affordable gift to give ourselves on Valentine’s Day that’s sure to fill our hearts (and bellies) with so much joy. Meet DASH’s 10-dollar heart-shaped waffle maker that’s available on Amazon… and fam, it makes the teeniest, most adorable waffles you’ve ever seen. I decided to give it a try before the big day (February 14) to see if it was really worth the 224,000 nearly five-star reviews.
Spoiler: It was worth every penny and was a simple reminder of how great it feels to do something for yourself every once in a while.
I treated myself to a stack of mini heart-shaped waffles as an act of self-love
Ever since I was little, I have had a fondness for everything mini (mini slinkies, Mini Coopers, mini poodles, you name it). Clearly nothing’s changed: The moment I laid my eyes on the DASH heart-shaped mini waffle maker, it was like love at first sight. What’s not to love about a mini bright cherry-red appliance that takes up virtually no room in my kitchen and costs less than ten bucks? To sweeten up the deal, it’s available for same-day Amazon Prime delivery in my area—making it the perfect excuse to treat myself to an impromptu stack of mini heart-shaped waffles midweek.
As an empath (yes, I’m a Pisces), being selfless and nurturing to others is simply in my nature. Meaning that, despite having a culinary school degree, I hardly ever spend more than a few minutes making a meal just for myself; the microwave is usually involved. But when it comes to cooking for others, I’ll devote hours crafting the perfect menu and bringing it to life, no matter how many dirty dishes I’ll need to clean up following.
So, when I decided to whip together a stack of mini-waffles for a party of moi, the thought initially perplexed me. Would I even enjoy eating something I put a little extra effort into making if I had no one to share it with? Guilty: In the past, I’ve conditioned myself into thinking that I must prove myself to others to feel a sense of purpose, belonging, and even acceptance—which is far from reality.
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Though it was a small, simple task, taking the time to cook something “special” for myself was far more symbolic than I could’ve imagined. As if the heart shape of the waffles wasn’t a sign in and of itself, it felt extremely rewarding to do something loving for myself, like a gentle pat on the back or a supportive hug.
There’s science to what occurred during my self-care experiment. On a psychological level, cooking for one can be extremely empowering, according to therapists. “[The act of cooking for yourself] is about what you can do now, rather than what you’re stuck with. You have the autonomy to make whatever you want when you want it. It’s what you feel like eating on your schedule. You can explore and experiment or stick to your favorites. There’s no compromise, you get to decide,” Amy Cirbus, PhD, a therapist at Talkspace, previously shared with Well+Good.
Though it was a small, simple task, taking the time to cook something “special” for myself was far more symbolic than I could’ve imagined. As if the heart shape of the waffles wasn’t a sign in and of itself, it felt extremely rewarding to do something loving for myself, like a gentle pat on the back or a supportive hug.
That’s to say, it wasn’t my duty to serve anyone but myself. And interestingly enough, the act of cooking has also been scientifically proven to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Pair the two together, and it was a self-care match made in heaven.
My review of the DASH heart-shaped mini waffle maker
To get to the point, the DASH heart-shaped mini waffle maker is a 10 out of 10 for me in more than just the self-care department: It’s exactly as advertised. The appliance is compact, lightweight, heats evenly, and is perfect for a party of one.
When making the waffles, I decided to add an even more festive Valentine’s Day twist by mixing in a few tablespoons of beetroot powder with my favorite gluten-free waffle mix by Bob’s Red Mill for a vibrant reddish-pink hue. I can’t recommend this ingredient upgrade enough, because aside from the perky pink color the beetroot powder adds, it’s also packed with health benefits. For starters, beets are a vegan-friendly veggie filled with bone-building calcium, electrolyte-regulating potassium, and immunity-boosting vitamin C. Additionally, they’re a great source of folate, which is good for heart health and hair growth, and are loaded with magnesium, aka a stress-reducing, sleep-promoting rockstar. Magnesium is also beneficial for muscle soreness and recovery—making these hearty waffles ideal for a post-workout snack or, frankly, any time of day.
A de-stressing raspberry mocktail for a super chill happy hour:
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