Issue Date: September 7, 2008
Let's do brunch -- 2 ways
Sweet or savory? You make the call with toppings for crisp cornmeal waffles.
September, when we have one foot in summer and the other in the coming fall, seems to be the right time to host a carefree brunch. And the following meal is sure to please several tastes. The centerpiece is light, crispy cornmeal waffles which, depending on the topping, can steer the meal toward breakfast or lunch. The sweet version uses the last of summer's fresh peaches topped with crunchy candied pecans. The savory topping calls for a black bean chili with ham.
Add a fruit salad, brew a pot of good coffee and offer zingy bloody marys or pomegranate Pomosas. Now, how easy is that?
Contributing Editor Pam Anderson is the author of five cookbooks. Her latest is "The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great" (Houghton Mifflin, $27).
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Crisp Cornmeal Waffles
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs, yolks separated
1 Tb. sugar
Heat oven to 200 degrees. Mix flour, cornmeal, cornstarch, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. Measure buttermilk, milk and oil in a large Pyrex measuring cup; whisk in egg yolks and set aside.
Place egg whites in mixing bowl. With a mixer, beat egg whites to almost soft peaks. Sprinkle in sugar and beat until whites are firm and glossy.
Pour buttermilk mixture into flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Add egg whites to batter in dollops and gently fold in with a spatula until the whites are just incorporated.
Add batter to a hot waffle iron (1/2 to 2/3 cup for a round waffle maker) and cook until golden brown. As each waffle finishes, set on warm oven rack. (Waffles can be left on rack for 30 to 45 minutes -- the longer they sit, the crispier they get.)
MAKES 8 7 1/2-INCH ROUND WAFFLES OR 14 4 1/2-INCH SQUARE WAFFLES
1 ROUND WAFFLE: 382 calories, 7g protein, 38g carbohydrates, 23g fat (2g saturated), 55mg cholesterol, 2g fiber,493mg sodium
1 SQUARE WAFFLE: 218 calories, 4g protein, 22g carbohydrates, 13g fat (1g saturated), 31mg cholesterol, 1g fiber,282 mg sodium
OPTION #1: Savory brunch
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Cornmeal Waffles With Black Bean Chili
2 Tbs. vegetable or canola oil
1 8-ounce ham steak, trimmed of visible fat and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1 1/2 cups)
1 medium-large onion, cut into medium dice
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsps. ground cumin
2 16-ounce cans black beans, undrained
1 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes
1 14.5-ounce can creamed corn
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 recipe Crisp Cornmeal Waffles
Sour cream and extra cilantro sprigs (optional garnishes)
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ham; cook until lightly brown, about 3 minutes. Add onions; cook until softened and brown, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder and cumin; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute longer. Add beans, tomatoes and corn; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, partially covered, to blend flavors, about15 minutes. Take off heat, then stir in cilantro; cover and set aside.
Make Crisp Cornmeal Waffles.
When ready to serve, reheat chili; add a generous 1/2 cup over each waffle. Top with a dollop of sour cream and a sprig of cilantro,if desired.
MAKES ABOUT 10 CUPS CHILI (leftovers can be frozen)
1 ROUND WAFFLE WITH 1/2 CUP CHILI: 474 calories, 12g protein,50g carbohydrates, 26g fat (2g saturated), 60mg cholesterol, 5g fiber, 881mg sodium
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Zippy Bloody Marys
2 quarts (8 cups) tomato juice
1 cup vodka (optional for Virgin Marys)
1/4 cup juice from a large lemon
1/4 cup prepared bottled horseradish
2 Tbs. rice wine vinegar
2 tsps. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsps. hot red pepper sauce*
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. celery seed
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Celery stalks (optional garnish)
*If not using a potent hot red pepper sauce, like Tabasco brand, you may want to use a little more sauce. Taste and see.
Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Pour into glasses and add a celery stalk, if desired.
MAKES ABOUT 12 DRINKS
PER DRINK WITH VODKA: 83 calories,2g protein, 8g carbohydrates, 0g fat,0mg cholesterol, 2g fiber,743mg sodium
PER DRINK, NO VODKA: 40 calories,2g protein, 8g carbohydrates, 0g fat,0mg cholesterol, 2g fiber,743 mg sodium
OPTION #2: Sweet brunch
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Cornmeal Waffles With Warm Peach Sauce
8 large fresh peaches,peeled and pitted, then cut into 1/2-inch slices (or 6 cups thawed frozen peaches)
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 Tb. corn starch dissolved in 1 Tb.cold water
1/2 tsp. almondextract
1 recipe Crisp Cornmeal Waffles
1 5-ouncepackageof glazedor candied pecans
Bring peaches, sugar and cloves to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until peaches are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cornstarch mixture; simmer until mixture thickens slightly, a minute or so longer. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract. Cover and set aside.
Make Crisp Cornmeal Waffles.
Rewarm peaches; top each waffle with 3/4 cup of peach sauce and sprinkle with some of the glazed or candied pecans.
MAKES ABOUT 6 CUPS SAUCE, SERVING 8
1 ROUND WAFFLE WITH 3/4 CUP TOPPING: 545 calories, 8g protein, 79g carbohydrates, 24g fat (2g saturated), 55mg cholesterol, 4g fiber, 493mg sodium
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Sparkling Pomosas
1 lime
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
1 bottle sparkling wine or sparkling water
Remove 6 strips of lime zest with a vegetable peeler and set aside. Juice the lime so that you have 2 Tbs. of fresh juice.
Line up six all-purpose wine glasses and pour 1/4 cup pomegranate juice and 1 tsp. lime juice into each. Rub lime zest around each glass's rim, then drop into drink.
Top off with sparkling wine or sparkling water.
MAKES 6 DRINKS
PER DRINK WITH WINE: 126 calories, 0g protein, 11g carbohydrates, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 0g fiber, 9mg sodium
PER DRINK WITHOUT WINE: 41 calories, 0g protein, 10g carbohydrates, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 0g fiber, 3mg sodium
For more of Pam Anderson's brunch and breakfast ideas, go to CookSmart Archives.
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