Bacon Cornmeal Softies Food

CORNMEAL WAFFLES WITH BACON, EGGS AND CREAMY RICOTTA

Steps:

• For the bacon: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Lay bacon on a sheet pan in an even layer, not touching. Bake until golden brown and crispy, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the maple syrup, mustard and some pepper in a bowl.
• Remove the pan to a baking rack, then liberally brush the top of the bacon with the maple syrup mixture and let sit for 8 minutes.
• For the creamy ricotta: Whisk together the ricotta, orange zest, 1 tablespoon heavy cream and some salt and pepper in a bowl until smooth and creamy. If too thick and dry, add 1 to 2 more tablespoons heavy cream.
• For the waffles: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Put the butter in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until deep golden brown. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Mix together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, sea salt and baking soda in a large bowl until combined.
• Put the yolks in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the buttermilk and vanilla extract to the yolks and whisk to combine.
• Put the egg whites in a medium bowl and beat until soft peaks form.
• Add the yolk mixture to the dry mixture, along with the butter, then whisk until the batter just comes together. Fold in the egg whites.
• Heat a waffle iron and brush the grates with butter. Spoon about 1/2 cup batter into each waffle well and cook until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Keep warm on a rack set on top of a baking sheet in the oven while you cook the remaining waffles and the eggs.
• For the eggs: Add 2 tablespoons butter to a nonstick pan over medium-high heat and let melt. Carefully crack 3 eggs into the pan and cook until set on the bottom, 1 to 2 minutes. Carefully flip the eggs with a spatula so that you don't break the yolks. Cook until just set, an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove from the pan and set aside. Repeat the process using the remaining butter and eggs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Top each waffle with some creamy ricotta, an egg and some bacon.

SKILLET CORNBREAD WITH BACON FAT AND BROWN SUGAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Whisk the cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and brown sugar in another bowl until smooth.
• Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
• Heat the bacon fat in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet until liquid. Swirl it around to coat the bottom and sides of the skillet, then pour the rest into the batter.
• Whisk the batter until smooth, then pour into the hot skillet. Immediately transfer to the oven.
• Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Serve warm.

BACON-CORNMEAL SOFTIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
• In another bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs, maple syrup, and melted butter together; blend well.
• Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix with the whisk, stopping when everything is just combined (don't worry if batter is a bit lumpy).
• With a rubber spatula, gently fold in the bacon.
• Lightly butter, oil, or spray your griddle or skillet; preheat over medium heat (if using an electric skillet, set to 350°).
• Preheat oven to 200°, if you are going to hold pancakes until serving time.
• Spoon 1/4 cup batter onto the griddle for each pancake, allowing space for spreading.
• When the undersides of the pancakes are golden and the tops are speckled with bubbles that pop and stay open, flip the pancakes over with a wide spatula; cook until the other sides are light brown.
• Serve immediately, or keep the finished pancakes in the preheated oven while you make the rest of the batch.
• Serve--plain or with maple syrup and butter.

BACON CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Grease 9-inch round pan or 8-inch square pan.
• Stir together all ingredients; beat vigorously 30 seconds. Pour into pan.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

CORNMEAL BACON BISCUITS

Steps:

• Stir together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar and salt.
• Melt shortening and butter together and add to flour mixture.
• Stir in crumbled bacon and add milk gradually.
• (Consistency needs to be just thick enough to spoon out easily) Drop batter from tablespoon onto vegetable oil sprayed baking sheets.
• Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.