Bacon, Eggs and Waffles

When I'm getting to know somebody there's a good chance I'm going to ask what their favorite meal of the day is. (Wouldn't really be a strange question if you already knew me). I was introduced to a new friend who was visiting from out of town so I asked my usual.

Me: So what would you say your fave meal of the day is?

Him: Hmmm...(actually contemplating this) I'm going to say breakfast, oh or better yet, BRUNCH.

Me: You know that was a test right?

Him: Test? Did I pass?

Me: YEAH! We can be friends. :)

Brunch really is my favorite and also what this appetizer was inspired by.

Crispy Prosciutto, Free Range Egg and Sweet Potato Waffle bite with Lemon Dill Cream Cheese

or  "Essence of Breakfast" as my new friend called it.

Base of the bite, sweet and salty is where it's at. You can see the bits of sweet potato in the waffle which gave a nice sweet contrast to the salty prosciutto

I actually made this twice, first for a Christmas get together with Crossfit friends and the second time for my good friends surprise party.

For my Crossfit friends I asked a couple of them if I should do Paleo style food, they said, forget it! Make what you want, it's Christmas! For myself, finding Crossfit has been pretty life altering. When I walk into the gym my heart beats a little faster. Sometimes scared, but scared in the best way possible. I am physically and mentally challenged to a degree I never thought I could be and inspired and supported by some pretty incredible people! And to feel this every week? Hooked. So if that's what the kool aid is, yea I drink it. I don't talk much about Crossfit seeing as this is my food blog but I do have another not so updated blog that nobody ever sees because then you'd really think I'm crazy, as it logs my crazy thoughts during the crazy workouts for the crazy sport.

 Besides the breakfast waffle bite I also did parmesan tuiles with basil marinated flank steak, asparagus and roasted red pepper aioli and Paleo friendly pancetta wrapped prawns with avocado dip.

My good friend Jari was born the day nobody wants to, forgets to or is to hungover to celebrate. New Years Day. Which is exactly why a surprise party was needed! We planned everything out even before Christmas and I made sure to prep stuff the day before, knowing pretty well I would be slow movin the next day. And just in case you ever need to know, Organic Lives coconut water (elixir of life), beach run sweat and dim sum pork grease, just might be a cure all.

Jar's gf Kolika and Michelle explaining how it was planned. We made sure the guys kept him busy all day, with a supposed trip to the strippers. I think the only one who was actually disappointed in that not happening was our bud Brandon who was visiting from Calgary.

 He was so genuinely shocked, surprised and touched and kept saying he hadn't had a birthday party thrown for him since he was 10. I knew he liked carrot cake so I made toasted coconut carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese icing and fleur de sel toffee shards. Just as he was thinking of a wish, Biggie's Juicy came on and he blew out his candles. Classic!

Sweet Potato Waffles 

(Adapted from Martha Stewart's Potato Waffles)

Makes 10-12 waffles (depending on waffle maker)

1 large yam, roasted until soft (need 1 1/2 cups)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

2 cups flour

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3 large eggs, separated

2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup butter, melted

1. Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper.

2. In a separate bowl whisk together egg yolks, buttermilk and melted butter. Add dry mix to this, just until incorporated. Fold yams into this batter.

3. Preheat waffle iron.

4. In another bowl beat the egg whites until stiff peaks. Fold into batter.

5. Pour batter into waffle maker, cook as waffle maker instructs.

6. Cool on a rack, to reheat place in 350 degree oven for 7-12 minutes

*These can also be frozen and popped in the toaster or reheated in the oven*

Essence of Breakfast toppings

 -Prosciutto (10-15 paper thin slices), bake at 350 until crisp, approx 7-10 minutes

-Medium boiled eggs, sliced (if you don't have an egg slicer, for a clean cut use NON-mint flavored dental floss. (not kidding!)

-Lemon dill cream cheese ( 1 cup softened cream cheese, 1/2 clove minced garlic, fresh chopped dill, lemon zest, s+p, pinch of cayenne pepper, splash of whipping cream until it reaches a piping consistency)

-Fresh dill for garnish

Pancetta wrapped Prawns w/ Avocado Dip
Makes 24

24 prawns, deveined, shelled w/ the tail left on
24 slices pancetta, sliced paper thin, kept cold
olive oil

1. Wrap a slice of pancetta around each prawn, making sure to work quickly, as fat from pancetta can start to melt and be hard to work with.
2. Pan fry on med-high heat in oil until prawn curls up and turn pink, approx 2 minutes on each side.

Avocado Dip
3 ripe avocados
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1 lime, juice
1 cup fresh tomato salsa (see below)
1/2 tsp chili flakes
s+p

1. Combine all ingredients, taste and season as needed. Let chill in fridge.

Fresh Tomato Salsa
4 roma tomatoes, deseeded and diced
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped, *reserve some for garnish
squeeze of lime juice
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp raw honey
s+p

1. Combine all ingredients, taste and season as needed.
2. Set aside some to garnish on top of prawns

Home for the Holidays-Mom's Cookin

My House

A week before flying back to Calgary for the holidays I was asking my friends Tom and Soph, who moved out here from Calgs as well, what they were most looking forward to their Ma cookin for them. We all come from different backgrounds and after talking, we came up with a brilliant idea that we'd visit each other's houses and get our Mom's to cook for us.  Haha thanks Moms.

 First, my house for a snack. I'm 3rd generation Chinese and my Mom decided to whip up a batch of her fried wontons.Who else just happens to have these ingredients hangin around the house?

She can make about a hundred of these in minutes.
 

She's pretty particular about what goes in her filling. She grinds down the pork tenderloin herself and uses prawns, sweet Chinese pork sausage and fresh water chestnuts.

 

Crispy, golden brown. Instead of frying, she also cooks these in broth for her wonton soup.

 

Fried pork and prawn wontons with sweet chili dipping sauce. 

Tom's House

 

My friend Tom is Burmese and his family came over here from Burma when he was 12 years old.  

 I noticed this huge box of kleenex sitting on the dining room table and understood why they leave it out when I bit into one of those chili peppers. Damn HOT but sooo good. Spicy stir fried chicken and vegetables.

 Spicy Beef Masala. I was hangin around the kitchen next to Tom's mom as he explained to her "Laura loves to cook Mom...that's why she's asking you all these questions". She seemed pretty pleased because no one ever asks her about her cooking and she started to pull things out of her pantry to show me. I want to know everrrything!

 Crab egg drop soup.

 Red onion, lime, cilantro salad which was a perfect side dish to the spicy curry.

 Tom also seems to have a dozen cousins and friends who stop by like it's an open house to grab a bite to eat. Cousin Vic, Vic 1, Steve, Henry, John, I can't keep them straight.

Soph's House

 My friend Soph is Cambodian, but was born in Thailand and her family moved to Calgary when she was 3.

Tom was asking Soph's Ma how she makes her curry and got the same reply the rest of our Mom's gave " I don't know, I don't use a recipe, I just throw things together! "

Chicken curry with eggplant and potatoes. Served with vermicelli noodles and French baguette slices to dunk in the broth.
Tom was talking away to Soph's mom about how he'd move back to Calgary for an Engineering job and how he still loves Calgary, at the same time Soph's kicking him under the table and shaking her head at him. All our Mom's would love for us to move back.

 

Steamed crab legs with salty vinegar dipping sauce and salad rolls stuffed with pork and prawns served with a sweet, tangy fish sauce.

Sweet coconut milk rice ball soup

Soph and her dog Moleson! Sweetest pup I've ever met. He's also the size of a donkey.

I've eaten at some of the top restaurants but have to be honest in saying these meals right here, authentic, home cooked, made by Ma with all that love and care, are the meals that taste the best and are the most memorable to me.