Nutella & Bacon Waffles

Bacon?, Yes! Siempre (always).....Nutella?....ummm not so much!......  Not really sure why?

Every since I can remember I've had a very strong aversion for Nutella. I guess I've just contributed it to my label as a very picky eater, who is super cautious about trying new things.

 It could also be that I have as strong allegiance to peanut butter, eating the creamy whipped version of another nut just never felt right.

After all peanut butter has been a good friend to my jam, el mejor amigo (the best friend )to my choco-la-tey  and it's never let me down!

That is until the day that mis dos chicas aventureras ( my two adventurous girls) arrived from school refusing their standard  pb &j

insisting that I slather Nutella on their afternoon sandwich.

Finally I was cara a cara (face to face) with the" something new" I had happily avoided for so long. And once I finally gave it a try....Que sorpresa! 


It was surprisingly pretty good!  ...........And just as I was just coming to terms with eating Nutella from my fingers, las chicas chimed in again with what they said was a " super delicious breakfast idea".

Grinning from the breakfast table they said....How about Nutella & Bacon Waffles?!......

I paused for a minute smiled at them and said "sounds good to me!"

Vamos a la cocina!

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt                                                                                                                                 

4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 eggs                                                                     
2 cups of all purpose flour1 1/2 cups warm milk                                 
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract  
7 crispy strips of maple bacon (crumbled)
1 jar of Nutella                                      
Directions                          

      1.In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside.  Also at this time you can combine your churro topping and set it aside. Preheat waffle iron
        
       2.In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture; 

       3.  Place 5 tablespoons of Nutella in a shallow microwable dish and heat until slightly pourable, just enough so that it will ease out the dish but not total liquid.
 
     4. Next generously spray your waffle iron with a non- stick cooking spray. Than ladle the batter into a preheated waffle iron. Allow the waffles to firm up in the iron for about 30 seconds with iron lid open, sprinkle on maple bacon crumbles, than swirl on melted Nutella. After approx. 30 seconds close lid and cook the waffles until golden and crisp (be careful not to let the Nutella burn).

      5. Optional :Once waffle is cooked and still warm slather on more Nutella from the jar.

Now it's time to enjoy la fruta (fruit) of your labor!

Mexican Chocolate Waffles & Mexican Chocolate Bacon

The definition of  in·ter·na·tion·al- involving several countries: involving two or more countries or their citizens.

The definition of waf·fle is-thick light crisp pancake: a thick light pancake, crisp on the outside, that is baked in a waff,   ........

umm let's forget about the formalities, the definition of a waffle is a buttery, sweet, pure bocadito ( mouthful) of heaven mixed with a forkful of deliciousness!

Anyway, for those of you who might not know March 25 is International Waffle Day!  And since I am in love with waffles and I adore International, ok well you can't actually adore "International" I know that.

However I do have a fascination with other countries and it's cultures, especially those countries in Latin America ( especially, Mexico).

So in honor of two my favorite things, coming together on one day I made you waffles to celebrate. 

Not just any plain old  waffles however, nope that's just not what I do.....

 I made you Mexican Chocolate waffles infused with rich cocoa and spicy cinnamon, and what would any extraordinary breakfast be without it's savory & rich meaty sidekick?!

So to feed the carnivorous, chocolate addict in you ( if there is such a thing)

I dipped crispy strips of hickory smoked bacon into chocolate that has been involved in a super secret cinnamon romance.

Better known as " Mexican Chocolate Bacon"

ohhh! yes I did!  Is your mouth watering yet?  I hope it's ready for some chocolate lovin! Because this is the true definition of

" International Breakfast Love"!

                                                          Mexican Chocolate Bacon

- 6 strips of hickory maple bacon ( or whichever you prefer)
-1/2 cup of chocolate chips
-1/2 tsp of cinnamon
 
1. In a skillet or on a microwave safe plate, cook your bacon until crispy and set aside;
 
2 .Melt your chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl on 70% power, stirring every 30 seconds until chocolate is completely melted.
 
3. Once chocolate is ready, take each of your crispy strips of bacon and dip them into your melted chocolate. Place them onto a piece of wax or parchment paper to allow the chocolate to harden. Get started on your waffles.

                                                                   Ingredients       

 1 1/2 cups of flour

 3 tablespoons of sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup of cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3 eggs, beaten

1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups of buttermilk, room temperature

3/4 cup of chocolate chips (optional)

 non-stick spray for your waffle iron

 

 

 

 

                                                                       Directions                                

 

 

yield-6-8 waffles, depending on waffle iron

 

1.Preheat waffle iron.

 
2.In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
 
3.In another bowl beat together the eggs and melted butter and vanilla, and then add the buttermilk.
 
4.Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir in the chocolate chips just until combined. Let waffle mix sit for 5 minutes.
 
5.Ladle waffle batter onto the center of the iron. Being very careful not to overfill the waffle well. Close the iron top and cook until the waffle is crispy on both sides and is easily removed from iron.
 
Once your waffles are ready, you can butter them up and pour on your syrup and get ready for a real chocolate fix.  I actually had some leftover chocolate and I mixed that with a 1/2 cup of maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon to take this whole Mexican chocolate waffle thing to an insane level.
 
Now it's time to grab your Mexican Chocolate Bacon, a great big glass of agua or orange juice. And let the chocolate fiesta begin!
 
Serve immediately or keep warm in a oven until ready to serve.

 

 

{Latin Elvis} - Peanut Butter, Banana & Dulce de Leche Waffles

It's kind of ironic that I absolutely adore making breakfast foods, but if there ever was a day that I would skip a meal breakfast would most likely be the one I'd miss. 

It's not that I haven't paid attention in health class or watched one of the many info/brainwash "mercials" that declares breakfast the most vital and important meal of the day!

Yes, I do get it......but it seems that so many things are jam- packed into my mornings, that by the time I have a chance to stop it's 11:30 already and the window of breakfast opportunity has passed me by. 

But on those easy breezy mornings when I am finally on relaxed mode, I like to do my breakfast right! 

And when I do make breakfast it's usually go big or go home, maybe because I am subconsciously making up for all my unredeemed syrup soaked breakfast food possibilities.

But these precious days almost always involve lots of butter syrup, a thick rich bread of some sort and of course crisp crunchy pieces of bacon heaven. 

 This particular breakfast is a little bit of an ode to the " King of Rock & Roll" Elvis Presley,  I've always been fascinated with his innovative food choices especially his ever popular romance with peanut butter and banana sandwiches. 

 Here I give my take on the peanut butter and banana sandwich........ except I'm trading the white bread for a thick banana &bacon infused Belgian waffle.

Swept with creamy peanut butter than swirled with dulce de leche, dulce de leche is a creamy milk based confection prepared by slowly heating sweetened condensed milk. 

 It's the Latin equivalent to American peanut butter and in my eyes it's dessert royalty! I'm pretty sure that if Elvis was born in Spain he'd be eating dulce  de leche and peanut butter sandwiches......

 But since he wasn't I figured I could just kick  he's version of the sandwich up a notch and give it a Latin flair!

             Ingredients

 

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups milk 2 eggs 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 ripe bananas 6 strips of crispy bacon ( you can cook extra strips to place on top of waffles if desired) peanut butter- just enough to spread on each waffle, I used about 1/2 cup for 3 large waffles dulce de leche- about 1/2 cup    Optional ( you can make homemade banana maple syrup, by simply cutting a few slices and sticking them in a jar of maple syrup overnight. It gives the syrup a discreet banana taste that adds a little something extra to each bite).                                                   Directions       1. Preheat your waffle iron, cook your desired amounts of crispy bacon and set aside.   2.Mash two of your ripe bananas and set aside, you can also chop the other two bananas that will act as toppings for your waffles and set those aside as well.   3.In large bowl mix together flour, baking soda, sugar and salt. Add milk, eggs and oil mix well;   4. Now add in your mashed bananas and 6 slices of bacon crumbled into small bits. Mix until both ingredients are well incorporated.   5. Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter onto hot waffle iron cook until golden brown.   6. Once all waffles are cooked stick your peanut butter and dulce de leche in the microwave for about 45 seconds each, until they are easier spread.   7. Spread each waffle with alternating layers of dulce de leche and peanut butter. You can put as much or as little as you like.   8. Layer each waffle with strips of crisp bacon and use your last banana and cut it into slices.  ( I sautéed a few slices of my bananas in butter, but later decided I preferred them as they were)   9. Finally if you are a real " hound dog" for the sweets you can swirl on a little homemade banana maple syrup.     And there you go breakfast fit for a " Latin King" !

 

Maple Bacon Honey Buns

Bacon.....ohhh Bacon, just the name alone is enough to get my taste buds tingling. I need to let you in on a little secret........ I am a breakfast meat snob. I attribute it to my teenage years when I almost went totally vegan.  It all started when I decided that I was over the whole idea of eating a sweet little brown cow( or even any animal for that matter), using him for his tender loins,  top round and skirt steak.

I even sent my mother to the store armed with a list of things from my new no egg, no meat, no dairy product diet. It took me about from the time she left, to the time she arrived with my value-sized box of Boca burgers to realize  all that becoming a vegan really entailed.

That meant no more honey-bbq chicken wings, pork fried rice, bye-bye to the sausage on my cheesy hot pizza, no more fluffy scrambled eggs with bright orange strips of Velveeta cheese ( I know half of this stuff is not even part of a solid food group, but hey I was a teenager I enjoyed it while I could!).....But the cosa mas importante ( the most important thing) was that I would no longer be able to enjoy my sweet, hot crispy strips of sizzling maple bacon with my fluffy stack of pancakes.

Like I said before I am an absolute breakfast meat snob...so no other sausage patty, ham slice, pork roll or canadian bacon would ever, ever do. My one and only, my numero uno breakfast meat is Bacon, sweet, crispy, lovable bacon!

And I honestly was not at all ready to sever my relationship with it, so I sent my mother back to the store with all my vegan requests,thankful that I had one of those extra-sweet mom's who was happy to support her teenage daughter during her moments of teenage angst! 

With that said these maple bacon honey buns remind me of the time that I had sworn off  all animal proteins, they are made with all things anti-vegan. They are syrupy sweet,crunchy crisp bites of cinnamony bacon heaven, puro deliciosoness ( not a real word in English or Spanish, but still appropriate for how good they taste)♥

If I were to ever have any doubts or trouble coming to terms with staying a card carrying meat eater,one bite of these honey buns would be enough to restore my faith that I made the right decision.

Ingredients
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6 slices maple bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 can   (16.3-ounce) refrigerated biscuits,  I used Pillsbury Honey Butter Flaky Golden Layers

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

One can makes 8 Maple Bacon Honey Buns

Directions

1.Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel–lined plate. Or you can also use the super easy way and place the bacon on a microwave safe plate lined with a paper towel. Cook for a minute per slice ( ex -4 min for 4 slices of bacon)


2.Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the maple syrup and brown sugar. Stir in the bacon and divide among 8 muffin cups ( my chica had a great idea of putting a little bacon on the inside of each biscuit before baking) I think that's a great idea too!

3.Place the biscuits on a sheet of wax paper and sprinkle both sides with the cinnamon. Place biscuits over the bacon mixture in each of the cups, gently pressing to fit.

4.Bake until the biscuits are golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately invert onto a baking sheet. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving