Corn Cakes With Goat Cheese Food

FRESH CORN CAKES

Steps:

• Whisk 1/2 cup each flour and cornmeal, 1 1/2 teaspoons turbinado sugar, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon each baking powder and baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk 1 cup buttermilk, 1 egg and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then fold in 1 cup corn kernels and 1/4 cup chopped chives. Cook 1/4 cupfuls of batter in an oiled nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Serve with hot honey.

CORN CAKES TOPPED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND BACON

Steps:

• Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels and drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings from skillet. Add 1 tablespoon oil to drippings in skillet. Add corn and onion; sauté over medium heat until onion is golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Combine buttermilk, egg and 1/4 cup goat cheese in large bowl; whisk to blend. Add cornmeal, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cayenne and mix well. Stir in corn mixture. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, drop batter by generous tablespoonfuls into skillet. Cook until bottom of each corn cake is brown, about 1 minute. Turn corn cakes and cook until second side is brown, about 1 minute. Transfer to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more oil to skillet as needed. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let corn cakes and bacon stand at room temperature. Before serving, rewarm cakes on baking sheet in 400°F oven until heated through, about 5 minutes.)
• Arrange corn cakes on platter. Top each with generous 1/2 teaspoon goat cheese. Sprinkle with bacon and green onions and serve.

MINI CORN CAKES WITH GOAT CHEESE AND PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, oil, and butter until smooth and combined. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, and stir just until the batter is combined; fold in corn kernels.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, and rub it with enough oil to coat the surface. Drop batter by the tablespoon to make 2-inch cakes. Cook until undersides are golden brown, 45 to 60 seconds; turn over, and continue cooking until other sides are browned and cakes are heated through, about 1 minute. To serve, top each cake with a slice of goat cheese and a dollop of pepper jelly.

MINI CORN CAKES WITH GOAT CHEESE AND PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, oil, and butter until smooth and combined. Add milk mixture to flour mixture, and stir just until batter is combined; fold in corn kernels.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, and rub with enough oil to coat surface. Drop batter by the tablespoon to make 2-inch cakes. Cook until underside is golden brown, 45 to 60 seconds; turn over, and continue cooking until other side is browned and cake is heated through, about 1 minute. To serve, top each cake with a slice of goat cheese and a dollop of pepper jelly.

MEXICAN CORN PANCAKES WITH WHIPPED GOAT CHEESE, PILONCILO CARAMELIZED BANANAS AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• For the pancakes: Heat a large saute pan over medium heat; add the corn and dry toast until lightly golden brown. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, vanilla extract and eggs. Add the wet ingredients all at once to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, being careful not to over mix. Fold in the corn kernels and melted butter. Rest the batter for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Add a few tablespoons of the clarified butter to a large cast-iron skillet or cast-iron griddle set over 2 burners, and heat over medium heat. Use a 1/4-cup measuring cup and spoon a scant 1/4 cup into the hot skillet. Cook until small bubbles form on the surface of the pancakes, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until golden on both sides. Transfer the cooked pancakes to a prepared oven-proof plate and cover with a towel. Place in the oven to keep warm until all of the pancakes are cooked and ready to serve. Repeat for the remaining batter.
• For the goat cheese: Put the goat cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk and mix until smooth. Add the cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla, and whip until soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• For the bananas and walnuts: Combine the piloncillo and butter in a high-sided saute pan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar begins to melt. Add the cream and whisk until you have a uniform mixture. Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and salt. Then add the bananas and cook until slightly softened, about 1 minute. Stir in the walnuts.
• Serve 3 pancakes per person. Top with a dollop of whipped goat cheese and spoon the caramelized banana mixture over each plate. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and top with fresh mint.