Ricotta Cornbread 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.

CHEESE-AND-CHIVE CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Whisk the flour, cornmeal, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Add the cheese, scallions and chives and beat until just combined.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish; smooth the surface. Bake until golden brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

RICOTTA-CORNMEAL PANCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until very well combined, about 30 seconds. In a large measuring cup, beat together buttermilk, ricotta, orange juice and zest, eggs, and butter. Make a well in dry ingredients; stir in wet mixture until lumpy and just combined. Let rest 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees and place a rimmed baking sheet fitted with a wire rack inside. Heat a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium; add oil, then wipe with a paper towel, leaving behind a thin film.
• Working in batches, add heaping quarter-cups of batter to skillet, spreading lightly with the bottom of the cup. Cook until bubbles form on surface, edges have set, and undersides are golden-brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook 2 minutes more. Transfer finished pancakes to oven to keep warm. Serve, topped with supremed oranges, warm honey, and a dollop of ricotta.

RICOTTA TOASTS WITH MELON, CORN AND SALAMI

Steps:

• Use the blunt edge of a knife to scrape any corn milk off the cobs into a medium bowl. Add the ricotta to the corn milk, season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• In a large bowl, stir together the corn kernels, cantaloupe, salami, cilantro, almonds and vinegar. Season generously with salt and pepper, then taste and adjust salt, pepper and vinegar until the flavors pop. (The salad will keep covered and refrigerated for up to 5 hours. Add the cilantro and almonds just before serving.)
• When ready to eat, cut or rip the baguette into 4 pieces crosswise, then cut or rip in half lengthwise through the middle (as if you're making a sandwich). Toast if you'd like. Spoon the ricotta onto the cut sides of the baguette, then top with the salad.

PEAR, RICOTTA AND ROSEMARY CORN MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine golden raisins, orange juice, butter and rosemary; microwave, covered, on high 1 minute. In a large bowl, whisk flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk eggs, ricotta and lemon zest until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Fold in raisin mixture. Gently stir in pears (batter will be thick). Divide batter among 12 greased muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-22 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.

APPLE CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients; set aside.
• In another bowl, combine milk, egg, and shortening (you may want to warm the milk slightly to keep the shortening from clumping back up, but not too much or you'll cook the egg).
• Add cornmeal mixture to wet ingredients.
• Add apple and stir gently; batter will be very thick.
• Pour into greased 9x9" pan and bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes.
• (To make sure it cooks through in the middle, since it is a heavier-than-usual cornbread batter, you may want to check about 20 min-- if the center still seems uncooked, cover with foil to prevent overbrowning and increase cook time as needed).