Living the Justopian Life

NOTE:  It has been brought to my attention that I left out the amount of milk to add to the wet ingredients.  My apologies.  I’ve corrected it below.  The addition of milk is 1 3/4 cups as is now noted.

Waiting for the Star

It’s snowing outside and while it doesn’t look like it’s going to result in the major storm I’ve been waiting for, the morning called for a soul warming breakfast and we know what that means to me … Thomas Keller’s Cornmeal Waffles!

I did a Twitter search for Williams-Sonoma today and came across a Tweet asking what our favorite W-S sold gadgets are. My response was the All Clad Deluxe Slow Cooker. I love it for it’s versatility. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert can all be made in the 7 quart pot, but while I was using my All Clad Waffle Maker I realized that I use this device more than any other in my kitchen. It’s probably worth a follow up Tweet.

Anyway, I had been craving waffles for a few days and since I didn’t have to be anywhere this morning I decided to get out the waffle iron and whip up a fresh batch. I always have plenty left over to freeze for future breakfasts or for dessert treats. Now all I need is some ice cream and hot fudge.

The recipe is easy. I like it so much more than packaged mixes, but in reality, they are pretty close, but it’s the process of playing with food in the kitchen that I like best. I like the ability to take ingredients and creating something edible. Instant gratification is what I aim for.

We’ve made these before. Hell, we seem to make the at least once a month. I am here to convert all of you to cooking from scratch like this. I know. Store bought mixes are so easy and frozen waffles are a miracle to some of you and they have a place in our busy lives. When you’re trying to get the kids out the door to the bus for school or you’ve been up late preparing for an important presentation and spending time in the kitchen is just not happening, a mix or frozen waffles can be a life saver. I understand that. I do. Really.

So … here’s your answer. On your next day off pick up the ingredients you need to make these waffles and whip up a batch for the freezer. They can be put in the toaster or oven and served in minutes. I don’t recommend the microwave because the beauty of these treats is that they’re crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Just

Like

This!!

Recipe — Adapted from the Thomas Keller booklet from the Williams-Sonoma Waffle Feature

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup water
• 1 3/4 cups whole milk
• 8 tabelspoons (4 ounces) unsalted butter, melted

Preheat the waffle maker on setting 6. Preheat an oven to 200ºF. Place a large wire rack in a sheet pan and keep it warm in the oven. I place a baker’s rack in a jelly roll pan to keep the waffles from getting soggy when cooling or when putting into the oven.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt and granulated sugar. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine the cornmeal, water and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the cornmeal is cooked. Like polenta, once cooked, as the cornmeal is whisked, the mixture will come off the bottom of the pot. Immediately, whisk in the milk and the butter and pour into the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir to combine well.

Ladle a generous 1/3 cup of batter into each well of the waffle maker and close the lid. I pour the waffle mixture into a bowl or measuring cup with a lip to make pouring easier and less “drippy.

Cook the waffles on setting 6 for 5 minutes. Lift the lid and check the waffle. It should be golden brown and crisp. Serve immediately, or keep war on the rack set up in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter.

This waffle maker is a great tool. It has an overflow tray on the back that keeps any extra batter from ending up on your counter and all you need to do to clean the device is wipe it out with a damp cloth once it’s cool.

Filed under: Food, How To