Crispy Spiced Waffles with Caramelized Apples

I had a day off!  No school and no work…so I made waffles.

But now I am back in school and taking Costing and Purchasing.  This recipe yield 4 servings, which is more then enough for hubby and I.

The recipe requires 2 large eggs to make the 4 servings.  But what if you’re having some awesome breakfast buffet for 350 people?  Because these waffles are da bomb and should be shared with 350 of your closest friends and family.  How many eggs would you need then?

Well first we need to have a RCF or Recipe Conversion Factor by dividing the amount we need by the amount we are given.

Need / Given = RCF or 350 / 4 = 87.5

Now multiply the RCF by the amount of eggs in the recipe.

87.5 x 2 = 175

You will need 175 eggs to make these waffles for 350 people.  That is a crazy amount of eggs!

But eggs are sold by your vender for $44.50 for 30 dzn, that is $1.48 a dzn.

175 eggs = about 15 dzn eggs

It will cost you $22.20 in eggs to make waffles for 350 people.

Now you know how to easily convert a recipe.  Need / Given = RCF then multiply the RCF by the quantity of each ingredient.

Eight fat and crispy waffles was more then enough for OB and I.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, chinese five spice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl to blend.  I forgot the Chinese 5 spice at first, so it will make a later more fashionable appearance.

Whisk whole milk, 2 large eggs, and melted butter in medium bowl to blend. Add milk mixture to dry ingredients in large bowl.

Now you maybe thinking…Chinese 5 Spice?  Isn’t that for Chinese food?  But it is so much more then that.

A true Chinese 5 spice has star anise, cloves, cinnamon, huajiao (Sichuan pepper) and ground fennel seeds in equal quantities, but most local supermarket brands replace the sichuan pepper with ginger.  It’s an incredibly flexible spice blend, you can use it on proteins just as easily as you can use it in a cake.

Whisk until batter is smooth, set aside till ready to use.

Peel, core and slice 3 apples into 8 wedges.

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat; sprinkle sugar over. Stir until sugar begins to melt, about 1 minute. Add apples. Sauté until apples are brown and tender and juices form, about 10 minutes.

Sprinkle with toasted chopped pecans.

Add cream and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.  Set aside until ready to use.  Oh and run your finger over the spoon and lick it….Mmmmm!

Heat waffle iron, spray grids with non-stick spray. Pour enough batter onto each waffle grid to cover generously.

Close waffle iron and cook until waffles are golden brown and crisp on both sides, 5 to 6 minutes.

Serve waffles and spoon caramelized apples over waffles and a side of bacon.  Because bacon makes everything better.

Who doesn’t like a warm crispy waffle on a weekend morning…on any morning for that matter?   These waffles have a lovely crispy outside, fluffy inside and the spices in combination with the tender caramelized apples make them lick your plate, end up with caramel on your nose good!

Your children will cheer and your husband will hit the floor on one knee and ask you to marry him all over again.  What are you making for breakfast this weekend?

Crispy Spiced Waffles with Caramelized Apples (adapted from Bon Appetit May 2010) Serves 4

Waffles

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tsp chinese five spice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted, slightly cooled
• 1 tsp vanilla

Topping

• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 pounds Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2/3 cup whipping cream

For waffles:

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, chinese five spice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl to blend. Whisk whole milk, 2 large eggs, and melted butter in medium bowl to blend. Add milk mixture to dry ingredients in large bowl and whisk until batter is smooth, set aside till ready to use.

Caramelized Apples:

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat; sprinkle sugar over. Stir until sugar begins to melt, about 1 minute. Add apples. Sauté until apples are brown and tender and juices form, about 10 minutes. Add cream and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. (Can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm apples over medium heat.)

Heat waffle iron according to manufacturer’s instructions (medium-high heat). Spray grids with non-stick spray. Pour enough batter onto each waffle grid to cover generously. Close waffle iron and cook until waffles are golden brown and crisp on both sides, 5 to 6 minutes.

Serve waffles and spoon caramelized apples over waffles.