Weekend Brunch

Yes, two Brunch Posts in a row. But yesterday's was about a fancy schmancy brunch at a Thai restaurant. Today's is fancy, easy brunch right at home!

Cornmeal chive waffles with super eggs and thick bacon. Butterscotch apple breakfast cake. We've got salty/corny/bacony/egg and sweet/buttery/apply/cake. We've got yummm. I made these at the same time, and it takes an hour. Just warning you, but it's brunch and a treat, so turn on a record or your favorite morning show, and Let's get started. 

cornmeal chive waffles with super eggs and thick bacon

4-6 servings, but easily doubles

This dish is hearty, delicious, and beautiful brunch on a plate. Serve with orange juice or strong coffee. If you have room, add a sweet pastry on the side, or maybe just some fruit.

adapted from Joy the Baker

12 slices of bacon (2 for each person)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup cornmeal (fine cornmeal is good, but I love a coarse grind for this recipe)

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

1/2 cup melted unsalted butter

4-6 large eggs (one for each person) + salt/pepper/dried rosemary

2 1/2 cups buttermilk

4 tablespoons chopped chives

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup salsa

4 additional eggs

Step one: Preheat your oven to 350. Preheat your waffle iron. Once the oven is preheated, lay bacon on a cooking rack, which is rested on a jellyroll pan. (This cooking rack--most can be put in the oven--allows the bacon grease to drip down into the walled pan, instead of just letting the bacon soak up grease while it cooks on the pan.) Set the timer for 25 minutes for the bacon.

Step two: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, baking soda,  and salt.In a second bowl, whisk together 4 eggs, butter, and buttermilk.  Add the wet ingredients, all at once to the dry ingredients.  Add the chives.  Stir until just incorporated; there may be a few lumps, which is a-ok.

Step three: Cook waffles according to your waffle iron instructions. While the waffles cook, fry up some sunny side up eggs in a nonstick frying pan, one egg for each person eating. Season eggs with a bit of salt, pepper, and dried rosemary.

Serve waffles warm with hot fried eggs and then topped with fresh cilantro and salsa on top.  Top with extra chives and shredded cheese (optional).  Serve crispy bacon on the side. Waffles are best served immediately.

Now on to the sweet treat...

butterscotch apple breakfast cake
serves 6--8
This breakfast cake is a mix of scone and bread, with apple bits baked right in and creamy/crunchy butterscotch in each bite. It is buttery, hearty, and real comfort food. Not for the faint of heart.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup butterscotch chips (next to chocolate chips in the store)
3/4 cup chopped apple bits (I used pink lady)
1 stick of butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 slices of apple (to garnish on top)

Step one: Preheat the oven to 350 (or add a rack on top of where you're cooking bacon for the waffle dish).


Step two: Two bowls, one large and one medium. In the large bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flours, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butterscotch chips). In the medium bowl, combine the apple bits, butter, milk, egg, milk and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and combine until just moistened. It will be lumpy.

Step three: Line a jellyroll pan with parchment paper (or foil, if you must). Roll the dough onto the pan and spread into a disc shape, with about 1/3 inch thickness. Bake for 30--35 minutes, adding the apple slices on top halfway through the baking. Remove after cake is firm in the middle and baked throughout. Eat warm and love it.


I do hope you like the cake. It is pretty and imperfect and sweet. Hmm, that's actually a good describer of a person, too. Anyhow, I hope you do enjoy these two recipes. My waffle iron is at my parents' house, so we enjoyed this brunch together at their casa. I hope your weekend (tomorrow) is full of food and happiness.

Happy eating!
Laurel