A locally famous chicken ‘n waffles recipe has jumped from relative obscurity to grocery store shelves nationwide.
Nationally-known fitness guru and Carrollton resident Donna Richardson usually helps clients get fit. But when she is not training celebrities, presidents, or other VIPs, she caves into her weakness: her mother’s chicken ‘n waffles.
Richardson is not alone in her craving for the sweet and savory meal. “My mom would get on flights and travel all over this country, cooking chicken and waffles for family, for friends, for celebrities,” Richardson told WFAA. “And then the pandemic hit.”
At the age of 82, Mama LaVerne stayed home like most people. Requests for the comfort dish flooded Laverne.
“Demand kept growing, so we started mixing it and putting it in a Ziploc bag with the recipe and mailing it out to our family and friends,” Richardson said.
The idea of sharing LaVerne’s recipe was born. “Mama LaVerne’s Chicken Seasoning Waffle and Pancake Mix” is now available at multiple grocers, online, and through Amazon.
Waffle mix and chicken seasoning are within the box, so chicken ‘n waffle lovers can prepare Mama LaVerne’s creation at home. Not sure you like chicken and waffles? Mama LaVerne’s recipe is on the menu at Al Biernat’s steakhouse in Dallas.
For Mama LaVerne, making the chicken seasoning and waffle mix commercially available was not about selling and making money; LaVerne said there was more to it.
“It really was just about her spreading love,” Richardson said.
“That was enough,” said Mama LaVerne. “Just the enjoyment of seeing people enjoy it.”
At first, LaVerne received love through the chicken and waffle recipe passed down from her mother; now, LaVerne wants to spread that love throughout the world.
“I know she’s looking down on me,” said LaVerne as she looked up, “And I’m looking up. Thank you, Mom.”