Jude and Ian Waffles

I meant to post this around Valentine's Day. It's not as relevant now as it was then, but I still want to put it out there.

The morning of Valentine's day I woke up extra early and made my husband a Valentine's Day breakfast of magical delight.

(Necessary back story: Right before Christmas break in 2009 we went with a bunch of law school peeps to Stacks in Menlo Park-- a scrumptulescent breakfast place. The current special was bacon waffles. Harry got them and we were both immediately smitten with them. Ever since then I've been searching for a good duplicate recipe. I finally found one on epicurious.com!)

That rainy Valentine's Day morning I made them secretly, while he slept (meaning, I banged around the kitchen with my pots and pans and electric whisk with frequent noisy cabinet squeaks).

They turned out to be everything I wanted them to be and just a little bit more. This commonly happens when bacon is involved.




An extra exciting and (fitting for Valentine's Day) LOVEly factoid is that my sister M's first baby (a boy!) was born that morning at 4:00 am! I got the fateful text as I was setting the table of bacony delectations.

My other sister E gave birth only 10 days prior to a boy. And the two baby cousins will be happy, roly poly chub monsters together and I'm so excited!

Since my newest nephews were on the brain while I was making waffles that will clog your heart and simultaneously make it swoon with delight, I have renamed them. They are Jude and Ian Waffles. Recipe is below.

Jude and Ian Waffles

(also known as Crispy Cornmeal-Bacon Waffles, Bon Appétit | February 2004)
Yield: Makes 6 servings

8 bacon slices
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs, separated
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled
Additional melted butter or nonstick vegetable oil spray
Additional pure maple syrup

1) Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer to paper towels. Crumble bacon.

2) Whisk flour and next 3 ingredients in large bowl to blend. Whisk buttermilk, egg yolks, and 3 tablespoons maple syrup in medium bowl to blend. Beat egg whites until they hold soft peaks.

3)Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients; stir just until blended. Fold in beaten egg whites. Fold in 1/4 cup melted butter and crumbled bacon.

4) Preheat waffle iron (medium heat). Lightly brush waffle iron with melted butter or spray with nonstick spray. Working in batches, spoon batter onto hot waffle iron, spreading evenly over grid. Close waffle iron and cook until waffle is brown, crisp, and set, about 6 minutes, depending on type of waffle iron. Transfer waffles to plates. Serve with maple syrup.

And, for those of you who like to know how many calories you're putting in your mouth:

Per serving:

370 calories
55 carbs
16 grams of fat
14 grams of protein

(this is including 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup drizzled on top of the finished waffles)

Happy Valentine's Day to all, and to all a good tummy full of Jude and Ian Waffles.