Sunday, June 1, 2014

Im Back, and.... Brunch Right Episode 1

Hello Out There,


I have been absent for quite some time. This does not mean I have not been cooking, eating, traveling and enjoying the company around me, I have, but a new job opportunity has given me less time and energy to record these experiences.

But I have settled in to this new life style and am ready to come back, slow down and document the recipes I have been enjoying, the places I have been going and the people I have been experiencing them with.  

On this note, lets slow down, wake up with a warm cup of coffee, and have some Sunday morning waffles.


                                          Our Lazy Sunday Brunch (Waffles, Maple Syrup,
                                          Butter, Turkey Bacon, Fruit, Yogurt, Coffee,
                                                        Don't Forget the Mimosas)


These waffles are good, I mean crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, perfectly slightly sweet with a strong smell of vanilla. There are two secrets for these super great waffles; cake flour and egg whites.

This recipe is adapted from Emeril Lagasse's Classic Belgian Waffles.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/classic-belgian-waffles-recipe.html

This is a no fail recipe, very few ingredients, and a great base to add your own flair, you could add anything into these waffles you wanted, blueberries, chocolate chips, bacon perhaps....its up to you.

Any way, the secrets that I previously mentioned:

1. Cake Flour : You can find this in your normal grocery store, it is basically a ultra ground flour, which makes pastries lighter, versus regular bread flour. Using this in your waffles gives them the ultra light and fluffy inside, with the thin crispy crust that we all picture when we think Belgian Waffles. If you do not have or do not want to buy Cake Flour, don't be worried, these will still turn out darn good with regular flour.

2. Egg Whites : Not solely egg whites, because there are yolks in this recipe as well, but the fact that we whip these egg whites into stiff peaks and then fold them into the batter at the very end. This is also crucial to the lightness of these waffles, with out this step, your waffles will be chewy, very doughy and heavy, to do not skip this step.


Belgian Waffles : 

Makes 4 Waffles (double for company) 

You will need : A Waffle Maker 

1. Mix in one bowl dry ingredients : 

1 cup cake flour (or regular flour if you do not feel like going to the store)

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder 

1/4 Teaspoon Salt 

2. Mix in a different bowl 

2 Egg yolks (save whites)  

1 Tablespoon sugar. 

1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract (I always like to add a splash more... Vanilla is just good) 

2 Tablespoons melted butter 

1 Cup of milk

3. With an electric Mixer, mix your 2 egg whites on high until they are stiff peaks. 

4. Now mix the egg yolk mix into the dry ingredients, whisk until combined. 

5. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter, do this in two steps, half the egg whites first then the rest second, as to try not to deflate the gentile peaks. Its okay if there are still little bits of fluffy white bits not totally combined into the batter. 

6. Use a scoop to place about 1/2 a cup into the Waffle maker at a time. Cook according to waffle maker instructions. 

7. I always heat the oven to about 250 degrees F, and set each waffle in after it made to keep them all warm and crispy until the batch is complete. 

Enjoy these with family, Friends or your loved one. Pair with Maple Syrup, Strawberries, Yogurt, Butter, or any thing else you are feeling, Oh and don't forget the Mimosas. 

Brunch is a time that day drinking is appropriate, time is forgotten, food is savored, and you can really enjoy the company you are with. 

So Brunch right, be happy, and then get on with your day, or take a nap, whatever... Its Sunday.