Dark Chocolate Waffles & the Art of Conversation

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Dark Chocolate Waffles by I bake he shoots: a chocolate alternative for breakfast that's not overly sweet. | ibakeheshoots.com

I’m a people person.

Man, that sounds corny, but it’s true. I’m one of those people who draws energy from other people. Good lord, I’m starting to sound like someone who worked at the Psychic Friends Network. The truth of the matter is that if you’re sitting next to me at a cafe, I’ll just start talking to you like we’re old friends-I’m that chick. I mean, why not? Spread the joy…that’s my policy.

Usually, when this happens, I meet some interesting people. Or, at least have some fun and airy banter. Our conversation doesn’t have to be anything deep over a hot cuppa and biscotti. Let’s keep it light. Shall we?

And yet…

Sometimes it goes all wrong. On occasion, I choose the worst person with whom to start a chat. You know, that one dude who’s waiting desperately for someone, anyone to say anything to him, but doesn’t understand the art of conversation.

Check it out…

Dave and I went to Starbucks the other day for a coffee and a tea. I was in a mood and just wanted to get out of the house. We grabbed our drinks and sat down next to a guy working on his laptop.

“Let’s be friends.” I said.

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me in weeks,” he replied, which of course, made me feel wonderful. I was all set to exchange pleasantries and then this happened.

“Usually, it’s white people telling me to go back to my own country.” Wow, um…that’s a bit much, but ok.

Dave tried to keep it light and said, “We usually try to keep that to ourselves.” Fantastic, I thought. Let’s laugh this away and get to talking about something else.

“I don’t consider you white. You’re too nice to be white.”

Ugh, I had chosen wrong. I chose to sit next to some nut job with an axe to grind. I wanted to scream at him “No! Keep it light, dumbass! You’re supposed to keep it light!” Instead, he unleashed upon us an endless stream of bullshit comprised of titles like Why Siri Sucks and My Healthcare Situation.

I guess I should’ve stayed at home. If I had I could’ve whipped up a batch of waffles and drank my tea in peace.

Dark Chocolate Waffles by I bake he shoots: a chocolate alternative for breakfast that's not overly sweet | ibakeheshoots.com

Typically, I reach for a golden, crispy waffle, but not today. Today, I took a trip to the dark side.

These dark chocolate waffles are serious…not see-me-after-class serious, but are-you-really-trying to-have-this-for-breakfast serious. The answer is ‘yes’. Yes, I am and I did.

Dark Chocolate Waffles by I bake he shoots: a chocolate alternative for breakfast that's not overly sweet | ibakeheshoots.com

The kiddies probably won’t like this one. This breakfast is on the adult-side: super-rich, dark chocolate waffles that aren’t too sweet. Perhaps, that’s why I drizzled them with melted peanut butter. What?

Dark Chocolate Waffles by I bake he shoots: a chocolate alternative for breakfast that's not overly sweet | ibakeheshoots.com

Don’t wait for a special occasion. Make them today. Invite me over for breakfast and make them for me. If you do, I promise to be on my best behavior…and keep the conversation nice and breezy.

 

Dark Chocolate Waffles Recipe

Dark Chocolate Waffles Recipe from Bon Appetit

Dark Chocolate Waffles
 
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Author:
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup (packed) brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 large eggs, separated
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate (at least 70% cacao), finely chopped
  • Nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • Unsalted butter, warm pure maple syrup and peanut butter (for serving)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 250°.
  2. Whisk flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Make a well in the center and add egg yolks, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
  4. Blend with a fork, then gradually incorporate dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.
  5. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat egg whites in a small bowl until soft peaks form.(It took about 6 min)
  6. Working in 2 batches, fold egg whites into batter just until combined. Fold in chocolate.
  7. Heat a waffle iron until very hot; lightly coat with nonstick spray. Working in batches, cook waffles until cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack and keep warm in oven until ready to serve.
  8. Serve waffles with butter, syrup and peanut butter.

 

Grilled Cheese Egg in the Hole

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Grilled Cheese Egg in the Hole: a simple but impressive breakfast sandwich by I bake he shoots | ibakeheshoots.com

I don’t like eggs.

Yes, I’m crazy about breakfast, but not if it includes something scrambled. I guess I’ll eat them if:

  1. The doctor says “Do it!”
  2. They’re hard boiled.
  3. There’s a bowl of Sriracha nearby(seriously, gotta mask that eggy taste).

Don’t get me wrong, eggs are amazing and extremely versatile. Wanna make a custard? Yolks are your best friend. Meringue for my pie? Hand me those egg whites. Need a lift for your cake? You get the picture.

And let us not forget cookies. I make a lot cookies. Sometimes they’re of the sugar cookie variety. On occasion, they’re of the brown butter pumpkin shortbread variety. Needless to write, I always have a lot eggs hanging around. Yesterday, I used a couple to make a Grilled Cheese Egg in the Hole. What?

Grilled Cheese Egg in the Hole: a simple but impressive breakfast sandwich by I bake he shoots | ibakeheshoots.com

If you are an egg fan and a grilled cheese fan, you need to make this sandwich. Trust. They’re very impressive, equally simplistic, and go from kitchen to table in less than 10 minutes. Plus, if you’re like me, you’ll be the lucky one eating all the leftover holes of grilled cheese. Now, that’s what I’m talking about!

 

Grilled Cheese Egg in the Hole Recipe

Grilled Cheese Egg in the Hole
 
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Makes 1 sandwich
Author:
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 2 slices of sourdough or your favorite bread
  • 2 slices white cheddar cheese. about 2 ounces
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 pad of butter, plus more for the pan(optional)
  • olive oil or spray
  • salt and pepper
  • 2½ round cookie cutter
Instructions
  1. Put pan on medium heat.
  2. Add oil or spray
  3. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
  4. Lay cheese on one buttered side.
  5. Place other slice on top to make a sandwich.
  6. Use cookie cutter to make a hole in the middle.
  7. Add a little butter to the pan, if using. make sure the oil/butter is distributed evenly.
  8. Place sandwich in pan and press with a spatula.
  9. Crack 2 eggs in center of sandwich. Salt and pepper eggs.
  10. Cover pan.
  11. Cook for 2 min.
  12. Remove cover and carefully flip sandwich.
  13. Cook for another 2 min for over easy eggs.
  14. Serve with fresh fruit or hash browns.

 

 

Reduced Fat Buffalo Wings

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Reduced Fat Buffalo Wings by I bake he shoots. Be kind to your waistline. Enjoy these hot wings with 50% less fat and over 45% less calories.

The Super Bowl is almost here!

Are you excited? Are you ready to stuff your face with super-fatty, artery-clogging, crazy delicious food?

I’m assuming that you’re nodding your head excitedly and thinking about the many beers you will drink with a mountain of spicy, buttery, this-is-what-I-was-really-waiting-for chicken wings.

This year I want you to take it in a different direction. I’m thinking…yes, to delicious, mouth watering buffalo wings, but no to the deep fryer and expanding your jeans 2 sizes.

Let’s make some reduced fat buffalo wings.

Reduced Fat Buffalo Wings by I bake he shoots. Be kind to your waistline. Enjoy these hot wings with 50% less fat and over 45% less calories.

Stop laughing! I’m serious.

America’s Test Kitchen came up with a recipe that’s so crazy-good, I called my mom and told her she could still have buffalo wings on her diet. After she blew my eardrums with screams of joy, I went back to the recipe. Compared to a typical serving of Buffalo Wings, these wings have 50% less fat and 45% less calories per serving. Wtf?

I’m thinking…if I’m saving calories on wings, I can drink way more beer, right? Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Happy Super Bowl!

 

Recipe for Reduced Fat Buffalo Wings

Recipe from America’s Test Kitchen: Best Recipes and Reviews 2014

Reduced Fat Buffalo Wings
 
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Note: Use a mild flavored hot sauce or it will be very spicy. Make sure your wings are dry before coating with salt and baking powder.
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 3 lbs chicken wings, cut at joints, wingtips discarded, trimmed (I used 2¾ lbs)
  • 1 T baking powder
  • ½ t salt
  • ⅔ c Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
  • 1 T unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 T molasses
Instructions
  1. Adjust rack to middle position.
  2. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
  3. Set metal rack in aluminum foil lined rimmed baking sheet.
  4. Pat wings dry with paper towels.
  5. Toss wings with salt and baking powder.
  6. Arrange wings in single layer on rack.
  7. Roast wings for about 40 minutes or until golden on both sides, flipping halfway through. (I did 45 minutes)
  8. Meanwhile, whisk hot sauce, butter, and molasses in large bowl. ( I used a measuring cup)
  9. Remove wings. Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element.
  10. Broil for 6-8 minutes until golden on both sides, flipping halfway through. (I did 6 minutes)
  11. Add wings to sauce and toss to coat. ( I poured sauce directly onto wings and tossed to coat)
  12. Serve.

Reduced Fat Buffalo Wings: Behind the Scenes

buffalo-wings-bts-featuredTo find out how this was photographed, check out Dave’s post – Reduced Fat Buffalo Wings: Behind the Scenes 

 

French Toast Sausages & One New Year’s Resolution

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Want to upgrade your boyfriend's breakfast in bed? Bring him French Toast Sausages dusted with powdered sugar | ibakeheshoots.comOh my goodness! The new year is here! Are you ready for it? I’m not sure if I am, but that is of no consequence. It’s here, so I better get it together.

Around this time everybody starts making resolutions for themselves and their families. I get it. You want to better yourself and your situation. Usually, I promise myself the same things: lose weight, better hair care(gotta keep my ‘fro tight), get myself organized, blah, blah, blah.

Things have changed this time around. This past year I’ve embarked upon an adventure called I bake he shoots and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the level of enthusiasm that I feel for the work that Dave and I have begun.

So this year…I’m making one New Year’s Resolution:

To fully commit myself to this project, this joint adventure, this endeavor. This year will be dedicated to great food + great photography.

…and better hair care. Seriously, I never kid about my ‘fro.

Alright…enough about ‘fros and revolutions resolutions. Let’s talk food. More importantly, breakfast.

The latest issue of Food Network Magazine has a beautiful cover of Christmas cookies, but inside you’ll find a nice spread dedicated to pigs in a blanket. But not any old pigs in a blanket…french toast sausages. What?

Want to upgrade your boyfriend's breakfast in bed? Bring him French Toast Sausages dusted with powdered sugar| ibakeheshoots.com

Normally, I’m not really into french toast. I’m a waffle girl. On occasion, I’m a buttermilk-pancakes-with-a-side-of-bacon girl, but when I saw those sausages wrapped up in french toast? I was a changed girl.

Now, I’m not gonna lie to you. These babies take a little bit of work. This isn’t a everyday recipe. I’d file this under special occasions, like the Breakfast in Bed category. Or, the Mother’s Day Brunch category. Or, the I’m-sorry-I-didn’t-pick-you-up-from-the-hospital category. Well, you might need to dig a little deeper for that one.

Want to upgrade your boyfriend's breakfast in bed? Bring him French Toast Sausages dusted with powdered sugar | ibakeheshoots.com

French Toast Sausages Recipe

Recipe adapted from Food Network Magazine

French Toast Sausages and One New Year's Resolution
 
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Makes 14 french toast sausages
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 14 breakfast sausages links, about 14 ounces
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk(I used vanilla almond milk)
  • 1 heaping T granulated sugar
  • ¼ t cinnamon
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 7 slices of white sandwich bread
  • 4 T butter, divided
  • Maple syrup, for dipping
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil.
  2. Arrange sausages on sheet and spray with Pam or oil.
  3. Bake for 10 min.
  4. If sausages aren't brown, broil for an additional 4-5 minutes.
  5. Remove from oven and set aside.
  6. Reduce oven temp. to 200 degrees F.
  7. Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a small bowl.
  8. Pour into shallow pan, like a 9 x 9 baking pan.
  9. With Kitchen scissors, trim the crust from each slice of bread and cut in half, from top to bottom.
  10. Flatten each piece with your hand and starting with the short end roll around sausage.
  11. Press to seal and set in the egg mixture to soak for 5 minutes.
  12. Melt 2 T of butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat. When butter foams add 7 of the wrapped sausages and cook, turning occasionally, for 4-5 minutes.
  13. When golden brown on each side remove to a paper towel lined baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
  14. Add the rest of the butter and repeat with the remaining wrapped sausages.
  15. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup.

Note: I had a lot of egg mixture left over. You could double the amount of sausages and bread slices and dip them in the remaining egg mixture, but you’ll need an additional 4 T butter for frying.

Check out Dave’s photography technique at French Toast Sausages: Behind the Scenes