National Waffle Day is Friday, commemorating the day in 1869 when the first American-made waffle iron, created by Cornelius Swartwout of Troy, N.Y., received its patent, according to online sources.

Waffle House restaurants nationwide will pay homage to their namesake the week of Sept. 2-8, with each store offering a variety of enticing waffle ideas.

"It's a fun way to honor our most popular menu item -- waffles," said spokeswoman Kelly Thrasher, adding that a new limited-time waffle is introduced during the celebration each year. This year, she said, it will be a cinnamon-praline waffle.

In the past 57 years, Waffle House stores have sold more than 800 million waffles, so I would imagine they may add another million to their total during Waffle Week.

Or you can celebrate by making your own. There are scores of recipes for waffles, both sweet and savory, on the Internet and in cookbooks.

This recipe for Key Lime Waffle Pie came with my new Chef's Choice waffle iron, replacing one my mother-in-law got in the 1960s before nonstick cookware was around. I have nothing but my old one to compare it to, but the nonstick surface is amazing and it heats evenly, cooking the waffles perfectly. Can't go wrong for under 50 bucks.

The recipe is a perfect example of how waffles can be served from breakfast through dinner and even for dessert.

Key Lime Waffle Pie

Key Lime Mousse:

3/4 cup Key lime juice

1 packet gelatin

7 ounces sweetened condensed milk

10 ounces white chocolate

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups heavy whipping cream

Dark brown sugar, for garnish

Key lime, for garnish

Graham Cracker Waffles:

3 cups premixed baking product (such as Bisquick)

1 cup whole milk

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

5 tablespoons buttermilk

2 eggs

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 stick butter (4 tablespoons)

1 pack of graham crackers, plus other pieces for garnish

Key Lime Mousse: Put lime juice in bowl, and sprinkle in gelatin, stirring lightly. Let sit for 2 minutes. Heat lime juice mixture over low heat, until hot but not boiling.

Take lime juice mixture off heat and set aside. Heat sweetened condensed milk over medium heat, and add white chocolate and vanilla. Stir until chocolate is melted.

Whip heavy cream on high speed just until stiff, about two minutes. Add the lime juice mixture to whipped cream, and beat with electric mixer until ingredients are blended together.

Add white chocolate mixture to the whipped cream, and beat until blended. Refrigerate mixture for four hours or overnight to stiffen.

Graham Cracker Waffles: Mix together baking product, milk, brown sugar, honey, buttermilk, eggs and cinnamon in bowl. Melt butter, and add to mixture.

Crush graham crackers until crumb size and add to mix. Mix all ingredients with electric mixture. Place 1/4 cup of batter on your waffle maker and bake for 21/2 minutes or until waffles are done. Serve immediately with a dollop of Key lime mousse. Garnish with sugar, lime and graham cracker pieces.

For a tasty frozen dessert, spread mousse over the top of a waffle, cover in wax paper, and freeze overnight before serving.

Email Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com.