Breakfast, Recipes, Waffles

SRC: Loaded Cornbread Waffles

Cornbread waffles filled with cheese, peppers, and onions are loaded with sausage, tomatoes, a creamy avocado spread, and a fried egg for an impressive brunch like no other! This is a fantastic restaurant-worthy dish that’s easy to make at home. You’ll be sure to love it!

Cornbread waffles filled with cheese, peppers, and onions are loaded with sausage, tomatoes, a creamy avocado spread, and a fried egg for an impressive brunch like no other! This is a fantastic restaurant-worthy dish that's easy to make at home. You'll be sure to love it! #secretrecipeclub

I can’t believe I’m writing my LAST Secret Recipe Club post! So sad. But I’m glad the club is going out on a good note…it was a good run, guys! And this month, I had a GREAT SRC assignment. I was assigned to choose and make a recipe from April’s blog, Home Sweet Homestead. April lives in the great state of Indiana [YAY I still love Indiana even though I now live in Tennessee]. She always is making lots of delicious recipes that her carnivore husband loves while still accomodating her food allergies. I’m always impressed by her creativity and innovation in the kitchen. It was hard to narrow down the list, but I eventually decided to choose between the following: Swedish Meatballs, Fish & Chips, Peanut Butter Quinoa Protein Balls, Chicken Fried Chicken, Apple Pie Breakfast Quinoa, or Loaded Cornbread Waffles. I think by the title of this post you can figure out what recipe I chose, but MAN was it hard to decide. I guess I had frying things [even though I rarely do that] and quinoa on the brain when I browsed her blog… and I chose neither, ha.

Cornbread waffles filled with cheese, peppers, and onions are loaded with sausage, tomatoes, a creamy avocado spread, and a fried egg for an impressive brunch like no other! This is a fantastic restaurant-worthy dish that's easy to make at home. You'll be sure to love it! #secretrecipeclub

For those of you who know me, you know I’m a breakfast fiend so when I saw loaded waffles I said, “sign me up!” April’s original recipe is gluten and egg-free, but I just used my regular all-purpose flour and an egg because that’s what I had on hand. I’m sure the original recipe is wonderful too! It’s been a long time since I’ve made waffles so I was glad to dust off my waffle iron for this delectable meal! It is absolutely perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. No matter when you serve it, everyone is bound to enjoy this savory take on waffles. [Unless you don’t let them, like poor #BabyVolde below.]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM_3wzvAdMr/

There is so much good stuff in and on these cornbread waffles. Though loaded dishes are super popular at restaurants, I rarely order them because usually the base [fries, tortilla chips, potato soup, etc.] is soggy and/or bland and the dish itself isn’t very healthy. While I won’t say this is the healthiesbreakfast or brunch on the planet, it’s better than some–and these waffles are certainly NOT bland or soggy. 🙂

Cornbread waffles filled with cheese, peppers, and onions are loaded with sausage, tomatoes, a creamy avocado spread, and a fried egg for an impressive brunch like no other! This is a fantastic restaurant-worthy dish that's easy to make at home. You'll be sure to love it! #secretrecipeclub

The waffles are filled with peppers, onions, cheese, and garlic and are the crispiest, heartiest waffles I’ve ever made at home! That’s the cornmeal for you! They truly DO deserve that cornbread title. These aren’t cornmeal waffles; they are cornbread in waffle form. Yum. In terms of toppings, I took a slightly different route than April–I added some ground sausage and a fried egg to the mix. But don’t forget April’s fresh toppings! These waffles wouldn’t be the same without the creamy avocado spread, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, or sour cream. I suggest using all these toppings but feel free to use what your family will enjoy. 🙂 No matter how you make them, they are sure to be great!

Cornbread waffles filled with cheese, peppers, and onions are loaded with sausage, tomatoes, a creamy avocado spread, and a fried egg for an impressive brunch like no other! This is a fantastic restaurant-worthy dish that's easy to make at home. You'll be sure to love it! #secretrecipeclub

Thanks, April, for a great recipe. And thank you to everyone who has been a part of the Secret Recipe Club–it’s been fun and tasty, guys! 🙂 I’ll miss checking out posts every Monday but look forward to other blogging events in the future.

one year ago: Simple Teriyaki Chicken
two years ago: Chaider
three years ago: Pizza Frittata 
four years ago: Lemon Herb Eggs in Ciabatta 
five years ago: Honey Whole Wheat English Muffins
six years ago: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Loaded Cornbread Waffles

  • Servings: 3
  • Print

adapted from Home Sweet Homestead

Ingredients:

for avocado spread

  • 1 avocado
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro
  • juice of 1/2 a lime
  • salt

for waffles and toppings

  • 1/3 to 1 pound ground sausage
  • 1/2 bell pepper – approximately 3/4 cup, finely diced
  • 1/4 onion – approximately 1/4 cup, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornmeal
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • chopped tomato, for topping
  • cilantro, for topping
  • sour cream, for topping
  • 1 egg per person, for topping
  • shredded cheddar cheese, for topping

Directions:

In a bowl, mash avocado. Mix in cilantro, lime juice, and a sprinkle of salt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

In a large skillet, brown ground sausage. You’ll only need about 1/3 pound for 3 servings, but you could make a whole pound and have leftovers–this is what I did!

When cooked through, remove sausage to a bowl and cover to keep warm.

In the same skillet, add peppers, onions, and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened.

Meanwhile, prepare waffle batter. In a medium bowl, stir togehter flour, cornmeal, and baking powder. In a measuring cup, whisk together milk, cheese, egg, and butter. Pour wet ingredients into the dry and stir gently to combine. Fold in softened vegetables and a healthy amount of freshly ground black pepper. Batter should be thick but still able to be poured, so add a little extra milk if its too thick. I ended up adding a bit TOO much milk so I had to add another tablespoon of cornmeal too.

Cook batter in your waffle iron according to manufacturer instructions, until crisp and golden brown. Batter should yield about 3 waffles.

While waffles are cooking, fry one egg per person using, you guessed it, the same skillet as before! Scrambled eggs would also be delicious–or no eggs too if that’s what you prefer.

Top each waffle with a smear of avocado spread, sausage, chopped tomatoes, chopped cilantro, cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and a fried egg. Enjoy!


Be sure to check out all the other SRC recipes linked up today below!

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Breakfast, Recipes, Waffles

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Waffles with Caramelized Bananas

Sweet and fluffy buttermilk waffles are topped with plenty of my favorite things…including caramelized bananas… to make my ultimate waffles!

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Waffles with Caramelized Bananas | thepajamachef.com

How about a yummy breakfast for Monday morning? These waffles are my ULTIMATE breakfast, you guys. Seriously. They’re light and fluffy and full of my favorite flavors: chocolate and coconut. But they don’t stop there. No, they’re topped with sweet brown sugar caramelized bananas, peanut butter, maple syrup, more chocolate chips, and creamy vanilla yogurt [though if you’re a whipped cream fan, that would probably suit you better]. See? Yum!

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Waffles with Caramelized Bananas | thepajamachef.com

Before making these waffles, I had never caramelized bananas before, but now that I know how to do it, I probably will never stop. It’s crazy how something so easy can totally transform something I love into something I love even more! And it was super fast to do, too. I realize by saying that it means I probably didn’t use the right technique, but they tasted good… so, oh well! 🙂 Breakfast of champions, right here! Enjoy your day. 🙂

one year ago: Creamy Shells and Yogurt
two years ago: Strawberry Muffins
three years ago: Watermelon Coolers
four years ago: Brown Sugar Bacon Twists

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Waffles with Caramelized Bananas

  • Servings: 2-3
  • Print

Ingredients:

for waffles [adapted from allrecipes.com]

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour [can use white whole wheat or more all-purpose flour]
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup buttermilk [can use 1 tablespoon lemon juice/vinegar + enough milk to fill 1 cup]
  • 1/4 cup milk [can use half and half or heavy cream]
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract [can use vanilla or almond extract]
  • mini chocolate chips
  • peanut butter, vanilla yogurt, maple syrup, additional mini chocolate chips

for bananas [from Food.com]

  • 2 teaspoons butter or oil
  • 2-3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 bananas, sliced into coins [bananas shouldn’t be too soft/ripe to begin with]
  • cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat waffle iron.

In a large bowl, stir together flours, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. In a smaller bowl, whisk together milks, butter, eggs, and coconut extract. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients gradually, carefully whisking together.

Spoon batter into hot waffle iron. About 1/3 cup is right for my waffle iron. Top batter with about a tablespoon of mini chocolate chips, then cook until steam isn’t coming out of the waffle iron and the waffle is golden brown.

Continue cooking until batter is gone; this should be about 6 waffles.

While waffles are cooking, prepare bananas. Heat butter in a small skillet set over medium heat. Sprinkle sugar on a small plate or bowl and roll bananas in sugar until coated. Place bananas in hot skillet and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cook for a minute or so until golden brown. Flip and sprinkle other side with cinnamon, then cook for another minute and remove from heat.

Top waffles with peanut butter, vanilla yogurt, bananas, and mini chocolate chips or other toppings as desired.

Breakfast, Recipes, Waffles

Ginger Banana Waffles

Can I let you in on a little secret? I have a love/hate relationship with ginger. It’s good… but can be juuuust a bit overwhelming. Before I got married, I was kind of ambivalent about ginger. Sure, it went well in cookies but anything else? Cinnamon was my sweet spice of choice. But I married a ginger fiend, and branched out into the world of crystallized ginger and fresh ginger. Pretty scary times, I tell ya. Especially when you add a little too much to a smoothie. Holy spice! In these waffles though, I embraced my [warm] spicy side and invited ginger to join banana in a tasty breakfast treat. These waffles have just the right amount of flavor to satisfy ginger lovers and ginger tolerators alike. 🙂 The perfect compromise! [Now, if we could just agree on movies…]

Ginger Banana Waffles | thepajamachef.com

As much as I loooove pancakes, some days, only a nice crisp, airy waffle will do. While I can practically make pancakes blindfolded [I should totally try that sometime], waffles can be a little more complex. The batter has to have just the right amount of flour and liquid and fat [yup–I said it] to cook properly in the iron and not stick or ooze out the sides or any equally unpleasant thing. And I’ve had some waffle DISASTERS before, so I know the importance of a good recipe. Trying out a new one is always a little scary, but I’m glad I took the risk, because Ben says they’re some of the best waffles he’s ever had. With banana and ginger, how can you go wrong? Plus, with this recipe, even cranking up the heat on the waffle iron doesn’t make them burn so you can enjoy all the crisp airiness of waffles without losing the flavor.

Ginger Banana Waffles | thepajamachef.com

These Ginger Banana Waffles bake up easy and delicious–perfect for a lazy weekend morning, or a quick weeknight dinner. The recipe only makes 6, which is great for the two of us, but you might want to double it for a family–or for leftovers. A couple years ago, I went through a huge waffle phase where I’d cook up big batches and then cool and freeze ’em in those large gallon-size ziploc bags. Then in the morning, I’d pop out a waffle and voila! Instant breakfast. It was great. I should do that again. But in the meantime, totally try these waffles this weekend–you can’t go wrong with the taste of sweet banana and warm spice. Enjoy!

Ginger Banana Waffles | thepajamachef.com

Ginger Banana Waffles

  • Servings: 6 waffles
  • Print

Ginger Banana Waffles | thepajamachef.comadapted from Cooks.com

Ingredients:

  • 2 bananas, mashed
  • 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • up to 1/4 cup skim milk [if necessary]

Directions:

Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer directions.

In a small bowl, stir together the bananas, buttermilk, egg, and oil. In a separate, large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, ginger, and cinnamon. Fold wet ingredients into the dry ones, stirring until just blended together. Add more milk if batter is too thick–it should be somewhat easy to pour.

Cook on preheated waffle iron until golden brown. Serve with sliced bananas and maple syrup.

 

Linked up with: Weekend Potluck and Foodie Friday.

Breakfast, Recipes, Waffles

SRC: Club Soda Waffles

I love breakfast food! So much in fact, that we had breakfast for dinner at our wedding. True story, one I’ve told too many times on this blog. It should come as no surprise then I immediately look at breakfast recipes on whatever blog I am assigned to for the Secret Recipe Club each month. If a good looking breakfast recipe is there, you can bet I’ll make it!! Okay, that’s not always true… there are so many good recipes on SRC blogs these days! But I do try my best to find yummy breakfast recipes whenever I can.

Club Soda Waffles | The Pajama Chef

If you’re new, you might be a bit confused. SRC? What’s that? Let me explain. It’s a pretty amazing blogging club. Basically, the premise is this: you’re assigned a different member’s blog every month. You visit their blog, choose any recipe you want, then make it and share it on your blog… all while keeping your assignment a secret! Everyone else posts about their secret blog the same day. It’s fabulously fun to try out new blogs. If you have a blog, definitely check it out and consider joining! I highly recommend it.

This month I was assigned to The Keenan Cookbook, a fun husband and wife food blogging team. They have a great system down: he cooks, she photographs, they enjoy. Love it!! Chris and Rachel seem like such a fun couple, and they have the most adorable little boy. Seriously… he’s so cute! I first “met” them in SRC awhile ago, and I loved that they chose one of my favorite desserts when they had my blog back in November. 🙂

Club Soda Waffles | The Pajama Chef

I was really torn between three recipes–these waffles, Mint Orange Couscous Salad [ultimately nixed because my mint hasn’t grown enough yet… and I didn’t want to pay $5 for some at the grocery store], and Chocolate Coffee Cake. Though I’m sure all those recipes are great, these waffles are incredible!

Club Soda Waffles | The Pajama Chef

Ben though they were the best waffles I ever have made, and I must say I was pretty impressed myself. They are crispy and light and airy all at once. It’s a miracle! A carbonated miracle! Apparently it’s an old-timey recipe… I did a little google-investigation and saw that it might have originally been featured in the Hints from Heloise newspaper column. But I’m not an expert on the history… have you ever heard of these waffles? I am so glad that Chris and Rachel introduced me to them… they are perfect for those times when you’re out of milk but still want waffles, or need to be dairy-free [obviously taking the butter into account too]. Delicious! Be sure to check out The Keenan Cookbook for more great recipes! Thanks guys. 🙂

Club Soda Waffles | The Pajama Chef

Club Soda Waffles [waffles from The Keenan Cookbook, Bisquick substitute from Unsophisticook]

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 1/3 cups club soda

Directions:

Preheat waffle maker.

In a large bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. Add cubed butter and cut in with two knives or a pastry cutter until fully incorporated. Then add egg, oil, and club soda and stir gently until combined. Do not overmix!

Spoon batter into hot waffle maker in ~ 1/2 cup* increments. Cook until crisp.

Serve with powdered sugar, fruit, and yogurt, or your desired toppings!

Time: 20 minutes.

Yield: 6 waffles [may vary based on your waffle maker].

Notes:

Can substitute 2 cups Bisquick mix or the like for the flour, baking powder, and butter. The original recipe advises that uncooked batter does not keep because of the club soda, so make all the waffles at one and then reheat if necessary. I always use my toaster or toaster oven to do this.

Check out other SRC recipes here! 🙂


Breakfast, Recipes, Waffles

Spiced Waffles

Today, I am among the walking wounded. 😦
sore arm
My once slender forearm had an unfortunate meet-up with a wasp at the recycling center in our apartment complex and has now swollen larger than my upper arm and is quite itchy, red, and sore. It feels like a football is under my skin… ouch! Who knew recycling could be dangerous?
I was only trying to be good to the earth, and this is how I was repaid. Oh well, at least my arm has met its new BFFs: an ice pack, Benadryl cream, and Advil PM.

my poor arm
my poor arm 😦

But one thing–and one thing only– can make today better: Spiced Waffles. Won’t you indulge me?
Spiced Waffles - an easy make-ahead #breakfast you can enjoy all week long with fresh fruit via thepajamachef.com
These waffles are a delightful blend of simple and classy in one tender package. The familiar home style taste of fresh waffles shines through despite a plethora of rich, hearty spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. This typical fall-blend of spices works in the summer when paired with a topping of sweet, plump, and juicy berries and provides a window into the comfort food of cooler weather. Oh, how refreshing such a thought is in this heat wave!

Now, I might normally suggest to enjoy these precious treats leisurely on a breezy patio with a tall glass of iced coffee at hand to capture the essence of summer… but I dare say that all that sugar and sweetness might invite some unwelcome friends company to your door… the vicious, hideous, rude, ugly wasp that must die [ oh, sorry, did that slip out? Ooops.] So, I won’t suggest anything of the like, but what I will suggest is to make these, stat. You’ll be glad you did!

Spiced Waffles - an easy make-ahead #breakfast you can enjoy all week long with fresh fruit via thepajamachef.com

Spiced Waffles [simplified from Dorie Greenspan]
printable version

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup + 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  • 1 1/2 cups milk, at room temperature
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

Directions:

Preheat waffle iron. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and slowly incorporate milk, vanilla, and melted coconut oil. [Try to have milk at room temperature or at least let coconut oil cool a little so it doesn’t seize up.] Pour liquids into dry ingredients and fold together until everything is just mixed. Scoop out onto hot waffle iron in 1/2-2/3 cup increments and cook until golden brown. Serve with butter, berries, and brown sugar or your favorite toppings. Enjoy–and try to eat just one! 🙂