Pecan Waffles With Sautéed Bananas And Cinnamon Honey Food

ALMOST-FAMOUS PECAN WAFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet; bake until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool, then chop. Reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees F.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Whisk the egg, milk, buttermilk and vanilla in a separate bowl until combined. Stir the egg mixture, melted butter and shortening into the dry ingredients until just combined. (The batter will be lumpy.)
• Preheat a waffle iron and brush with melted butter. Ladle some batter into the iron (about 1/2 cup, depending on your waffle iron); sprinkle with 2 tablespoons toasted pecans. Cook until golden brown, then transfer the waffle to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. Top the waffles with butter and maple syrup.

PECAN WAFFLES WITH SAUTéED BANANAS AND CINNAMON HONEY

Steps:

• To Make The Waffles
• Preheat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's directions. Preheat the oven to 200°F.
• In a food processor, pulverize the pecans until finely ground. Add the eggs, butter, honey, vanilla, baking soda, and salt, and blend well.
• Grease the waffle iron using a partially wrapped stick of cold butter. Hold the butter by its wrapped end and rub the other end all over the waffle iron's cooking surface. Add 1/4 cup batter and cook for a few minutes, until golden brown. Set right on the oven rack to crisp up and keep warm while you cook more.
• To Prepare The Bananas
• Melt the butter with the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the bananas and cook for about 6 minutes, turning once, until golden brown. Set aside.
• Mix the honey and cinnamon until well blended.
• Place the waffles on warmed plates, top with the bananas, honey, and serve.

BANANA WAFFLES WITH PECAN MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• In a small saucepan bring maple syrup and pecans to a boil and stir in juice. Remove syrup from heat and keep warm, covered.
• In a bowl whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Quarter banana and in a blender purée with water. Transfer purée to another bowl and whisk in eggs and melted butter. Add flour mixture and stir until combined well.
• Heat a well-seasoned or non-stick waffle iron until hot and brush lightly with oil. Pour half of batter into iron and cook waffle according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer waffle to a baking sheet and keep warm, uncovered, in oven. Make another waffle with remaining batter in same manner.
• Serve waffles with syrup.

BANANA WAFFLES WITH TOASTED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° and preheat waffle iron.
• Place pecans in a pie plate or on a baking sheet and spread out so that they are not touching. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted and golden. Remove from oven and let cool. Coarsely chop and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 225°.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, mix milk, melted butter and egg yolks. Slowly stir the liquid into the dry ingredients until JUST moistened - lumps are okay. Fold the 1/2" banana pieces into the batter.
• In a clean bowl with a hand mixer, beat or whisk the egg whites at medium speed until frothy. Increase the speed to high and beat or whisk until firm peaks form and hold their shape. Sprinkle both sugars in bowl and beat or whisk until the whites are stiff and glossy. Fold the whites into the batter until no streaks remain.
• Oil, spray or butter the waffle iron. Ladle batter onto each section of the grid rather than placing it in the middle. The grids should be full but not overflowing, or the batter will seep out the sides of the iron when the top is closed. Bake until the waffle is golden, about 6 minutes, depending on the iron. Carefully lift the lid; if the waffles resist at all, they need a bit more cooking time. Transfer the waffle to an oven rack to keep warm. Continue to cook the remaining batter in 3 batches. There should be no need to re-grease the iron between waffles.
• Place waffles on plates and serve with the toasted pecans, banana slices and warmed maple syrup.

PECAN WAFFLES WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F and preheat waffle iron. Whisk together flour, pecans, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in buttermilk, 6 tablespoons butter, and egg until smooth (batter will be thick). Spoon batter into waffle iron, using half of batter for 4 (4-inch) standard waffles and spreading batter evenly, and cook according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer waffles to a baking sheet and keep warm, uncovered, in middle of oven. Make more waffles in same manner.
• Halve bananas crosswise and then lengthwise. Roll bananas in sugar to coat. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then saut bananas, starting with cut sides down and turning once, until golden brown. Transfer bananas with a spatula to an oiled baking sheet and cool slightly.
• Put 4 waffles on 4 plates and divide bananas among them. Top bananas with remaining waffles.