Spicy Barbecue Bucatini with Caramelized Red Onions, Pulled Pork, + Smoked Cheddar Cheese

 

I realize that the recipe I am posting today sounds a little bit off and a little bit crazy, but doesn't some things that are called crazy, some of the best stuff? A lot of you pasta fanatics/lovers of food will turn your nose up or scoff at me for mixing Southern BBQ or Italian, but y'all, it totally works. Better yet, it is easy-peasy and the perfect meal to use leftover pork or any kind of BBQ meat (smoked chicken, brisket, etc). I started off by using some Bucatini Pasta, it's like spaghetti, but like on steroids. It is a little bit thicker, but the glorious part, by far, is that it has a hole through the middle. This is beneficial for many, many reasons, but mainly it rocks because the pasta sauce goes into the center and with every bite, you get the perfect ratio of pasta to sauce. Um, yum. But it's not just like you are going to throw in a pound of pasta, a shit ton of pork, and a bottle of BBQ sauce, it's more complex than that. I started off by caramelizing sliced red onions, which gives the pasta a nice, unctuous bite to the entire dish. The flavor is then boosted with other aromatics like fresh garlic and green onions before it is mellowed out with some crushed San Marzano tomatoes + tomato paste. After that mixture cooks down, it is then when you stir in your favorite BBQ sauce and some seasonings, to finish it off. I wouldn't recommend using any vinegar based sauces (like a North Carolina style) because the flavor might be slightly astringent and sinus-burning, so go with a sauce that is on the sweeter side because with the addition of the tomatoes, it will be much yummier. Now my Mountain Man + I obviously like to bring the heat when it comes to any recipe we make, so I added in one of my favorite condiments, Candied Jalapenos. These are literally the best little morsels you will ever put in your mouth... I know I've said that time + time again, but it is oh-so-true. Not only is this an easy leftover meal, but you can really make it all in just ONE pot, which doesn't happen around this joint often. SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT :) Once you've finished the Barbecue Bucatini, place it into a serving bowl, drizzle it with some extra BBQ sauce, top it with a blanket of smoked cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, and a few extra candied jalapeno rounds... and dinner is served!! I hope y'all enjoy it as much as our whole family did :)

For the Barbecue Bucatini:

1lb Bucatini Noodles (or spaghetti noodles if you can’t find those)

4T Unsalted Butter

2 Red Onions, Thinly Sliced

1lb Pulled Pork

6 Cloves of Garlic, Finely Diced

1 Bunch of Green Onions, Sliced

8oz Whole, Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes (crushed into smaller pieces by hand or diced)

3T Tomato Paste

¼C Candied Jalapenos, Finely Diced in a Food Processor (almost to a puree)

2-3C Homemade BBQ Sauce (or you can substitute in your favorite store-bought sauce)

½t Red Pepper Flakes

¼C Minced Fresh Cilantro, Divided (half will be put into the pasta, half will be used to garnished)

Smoked Cheddar Cheese, For Garnishing

Whole Candied Jalapenos, For Garnishing

BBQ Sauce, For Drizzling

Kosher Salt + Fresh Cracked Pepper, To Taste

Directions:

1. For the Pasta: In a large stockpot, bring water to a boil, making sure to add a good bit of salt to the water and a touch of olive oil. Cook the noodles according the package until they reach al dente. Strain the pasta and let them sit while you make the remainder of the dish.

2. Beginning the Dish: In the same stockpot that used to cook the pasta, add the 4T of butter and melt over medium heat. Add in the sliced red onions and a heavy sprinkling of kosher salt, and caramelize them for about 15-20 minutes, stirring constantly, so that they do not burn. Once they have caramelized, add in the garlic and cook for just a minute or two, and then toss in the pulled pork and green onions. Sautee these ingredients for about 5 minutes before adding in the crushed San Marzano tomatoes, tomato paste, candied jalapenos, BBQ sauce, and red pepper flakes. Let these flavors meld by simmering them on low-medium heat for about 10-15 minutes.

3. Finishing the Dish: After everything has cooked down, it’s time to add in the cooked Bucatini noodles into the pork + onions mixture, and toss to combine everything together. Add in the fresh cilantro and any salt & pepper to taste if it is needed.

4. Serving the Dish: Place the finished pasta dish into a bowl and garnish with a drizzle of a extra BBQ sauce, a mound of shredded smoked cheddar cheese, and a sprinkling of cilantro. If you want to make it extra spicy, you can top it with extra candied jalapenos. Eat it while it’s still hot! 

Date Night : Candied Bacon Steaks with Triple Corn Hoecakes, Coca Cola Glaze, “BTFO” BBQ Sauce Drizzle, Southern Braised Collard Greens, & Pickled Shallots

Candied Bacon Steaks with Double Corn Hoecakes, Coca Cola Glaze, “BTFO”
BBQ Sauce Drizzle, Southern Braised Collard Greens, & Pickled Shallots

Finally, a date night post. It seems like it has been months since our last dinner post. Between the wedding planning, bachelor-bachelorette party planning, my Mountain Man's new job, a few health scares, and revamping my food blog... I have been QUITE the busy bird. But if that doesn't sound crazy enough, I decided to throw another big commitment onto my plate, and I'm finally ready to share another exciting announcement :) Drum roll please....... Piece, Love, & Cooking/Haute + Heirloom is now an up and running Etsy store. You can find my store here. I know many of y'all will have questions... like what will you be selling, how will you send it, will you do custom orders? As of right now, I have posted products like freshly baked cookies, recipe DIY kits, cake mixes, pickles, candied jalapenos, jams, jellies, marmalades, caramels, sauces, bars and brownies, brittle, doughnuts and cronuts, pies, marshmallows, gourmet caramel apples, simple syrups, and so-so-so-so-so much more!! Of course most of your favorites will be on there, but here will be some new additions as well :) I hope that all of my loyal followers will wander on over to my Etsy store and buy some things. But no worries, no commitment necessary. I personally wanted to take on this adventure myself, so that I could get my name and recipes out there for everyone to enjoy. Maybe one day, after much hard work and raising funds, my dream cafe will come true! The store isn't completely stocked quite yet, but we're at about 35 different products... and GROWING. Okay, enough about that and onto our delightful date night...

a gourmet southern date night

I have already posted the recipes for my Bacon Fat Fried-Triple Corn Hoecakes and my Most Flavorful Braised Southern Collard Greens, which is what were both served alongside our main dish component. I mean, what goes better with cornbread and collards... PORK, butofcourse. You've got to schmancy it up a little though, so I bought some cured pork bellies and braised them in sorghum molasses, coca cola, and spices. After slow-cooking the squares of belly, I removed them from the oven and used a sharp knife to form a crosshatch look to it. I felt like this would be most beneficial because it would allow more fat to render during the second cooking process, it would also trap in the homemade coca cola glaze to make it extra sticky, and it helped the belly to crisp up more on top. Once the braising + glazing, you literally have a glorified "bacon steak". Yep, bacon steaks are real over here at PLC, so if that doesn't convince you enough to make it, then you're, well, un-American. C'MON Y'ALL, IT'S BACON STEAKS, HERE. The homemade coca cola glaze pairs perfectly with the pork belly and gives it that finger-licking-good essence. OhMahGah, it's a Candied Bacon Steak...  yeah it should be blowin' your mind, don't fear the overwhelming emotions that are hitting you like a mack truck right now. Woo-sah, in blue-out red, keep calm. Although I already had so many components in one dish, it was seriously lacking in much needed acidity and brightness of flavor. This was provided by the Signature "BTFO" BBQ Sauce (yes, that means back the f*ck off) and the pink pickled shallots. You might be wondering why the sauce is so violent. Well, the explanation is quite simple to explain... the South Carolina mustard based condiment has three different uses of garlic. You have fresh minced garlic, roasted garlic paste, and garlic powder. So after eating, I'm pretty sure your friends, family, or significant other will say "BTFO" because you're breath will be stanky. But hey, as long as they are eating it with you, then it don't matter. When you are ready to plate, I made a solid swipe of the "BTFO" BBQ Sauce, topped it with a glazed pork belly steak, and drizzled it with more coca cola glaze. Off to the side, stack a few of the buttered hoecakes and top them with some collard greens + pink pickled shallots. In a optimistic look into the future, this exactly the type of cuisine I will be focusing on... modern. southern. comfort. If you're a gal or guy that obsesses about pork and bacon as much as we do, then candied bacon steaks are a "must" to make!! Enjoy and please make sure to check out the new Haute + Heirloom store on Etsy :) Love y'all, XOXO Juliana.

look at the collard green "green-ness" + the pickled shallot "pink-ness", it's so beautiful 

perfectly fried hoecakes + a shot of the sauce drizzles 

CANDIED BACON STEAKS. enuff said.  

Homemade "BTFO" South Carolina Mustard Based BBQ Sauce

For the Candied Bacon Steaks:

2lbs House Cured Pork Belly, Cut into Large Squares

½C Sorghum Molasses

1C Coca Cola or Cheerwine Soda

1t Paprika, Chili Powder, & Cayenne (these can be reduced for a less spicy version)

Fleur de Sel + Fresh Cracked Pepper, To Taste

For the Coca Cola Glaze:

1C Coca Cola or Cheerwine (whatever soda you used to braise the pork belly)

2 Limes, Zested & Juiced

1 ½C Light Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed

Salt & Pepper, To Taste

For the Signature “BTFO” BBQ Sauce:

1T Canola Oil

¼C Minced Shallots + ¼C Minced Garlic

¾C Classic Yellow Mustard + ¼C Stone Ground Mustard

¾C Sorghum Molasses (maple syrup may be substituted if needed)

¼C Brown Sugar

1T Worcestershire Sauce + 1T Sweet Potato-Habanero Hot Sauce (I use Cochon’s)

½t Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, & Chili Powder

1T Freshly Cracked Pepper

1T Red Pepper Flakes

¾C Cold Apple Cider Vinegar

1-2T Roasted Garlic Paste (can be homemade or store-bought)

For the Self Rising Corn Flour:

1C Corn Flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill Corn Flour)

1 ½t Baking Powder

¼t Salt

For the Double Corn Hoecakes:

1C Self Rising Corn Flour (the entire batch you just made in the previous step)

1C Southern Ground Cornmeal

¼C Corn Powder (this can be made by processing freeze dried corn kernels into powder)

2T Buttermilk Powder

2t Baking Powder (possibly just 1T of this instead)

½t Salt + ¼t White Pepper

1T Sugar, Optional

2 Beaten Eggs

¾C Well-Shaken Buttermilk

¼C + 2T Potlikker Stock (chicken stock or water may be substituted here as well)

¼C Canola Oil/Melted Bacon Fat/Melted Butter (plus extra for frying)

Directions:

1. For the Candied Bacon Steaks: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Cut in the pieces of cured pork belly into large squares or extremely thick slices. This will help the pork belly remain in tact during the braising process. Line a baking dish with tin foil, spray with Pam, and arrange the pieces of pork in the pan. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sorghum molasses, Coca Cola, and assorted spices until completely incorporated. Pour the liquid evenly over the pork belly, so that the meat is only halfway submerged. Sprinkle the dry tops of the meat with fleur de sel and fresh cracked pepper. Cover the entire pan with tin foil, so that all of the moisture will be sealed in, which will create super tender pork belly. Bake for 4 hours, making sure to flip over the bacon slices at the halfway mark of the cooking time (two hours each side). Once it has cooked, remove the pork belly from the pan and put on a plate or in a container to chill in the refrigerate overnight.

2. For the Coca Cola Glaze: In a small saucepan, bring the soda, lime zest and juice, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt & pepper to a boil over high heat. Decrease the heat to medium-low and simmer until it is syrupy, about 30-45 minutes. If serving right away, keep warm until you are ready to plate. But this glaze can also be made the night before and refrigerated until you need it.

3. For the “BTFO” BBQ Sauce: In a medium pot, warm the canola oil over medium-low heat until hot. Add in the minced garlic and shallots and cook until soft and transparent. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the yellow mustard, grainy mustard, sorghum molasses, and Worcestershire sauce. Sift the dry mustard, garlic powder, and chili powder over the mustard mixture (this will help avoid lumping). Pour it into the pot containing the sautéed aromatics. Next, whisk in the fresh cracked pepper, red pepper flakes, and water/apple cider vinegar. Simmer the BBQ sauce on low heat for 30-45 minutes, stirring often throughout cooking time. Once the timer has expired, mix in the roasted garlic paste, and then season to taste, adding any needed seasonings, water, or vinegar to reach the desired taste to your liking. Cool the sauce before refrigerating or keep warm if ready to serve.

4. For the Self-Rising Corn Flour: In a small mixing bowl, sift together the corn flour, baking powder, and salt until you have a thoroughly combined mixture. Pour it into a container or plastic bag for storing.

5. For the Double Corn Hoe Cakes: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the prepared Self-Rising Corn Flour, cornmeal, corn powder, buttermilk powder, baking powder, salt, white pepper, and sugar until the components are distributed evenly throughout. In another bowl, whisk together the two beaten eggs, buttermilk, potlikker stock, and ¼C melted fat. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into the center. Using a fork, gently whisk together the mixtures until a hoecake batter is formed. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add some fat to the pan for cooking (I personally like to use equal parts of canola oil and bacon fat/melted butter/duck fat because the canola oil helps to raise the burning temperature to the other delicate fat). Once the fat is hot enough, scoop or drop ¼C of batter into the hot skillet to form small silver dollar cakes. Fry them until they are golden brown and perfectly crispy, about 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove the hoe cakes to a paper towel lined plate and briefly drain them of excess oil.

6. Crisping the Pork Belly: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with just about 1T of canola oil to lube the pan. Score the top of your braised pork belly squares with diagonal lines to create hatch marks. Season with a little salt and fresh cracked pepper, and then place the square (marked side down) onto the scorching hot pan. Sear for roughly 3-5 minutes until it has developed a deep brown color and the fat has begun to render. Next, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the pork belly cook at a slower pace, making sure to fry all sides of the square. The overall cooking process should take about 15-20 minutes. Remove the pork belly to a cooling rack that is fitted on top of a baking sheet pan, and then lightly dab with paper towels to remove excess fat. Heavily brush the Coca Cola Glaze all over the crisped pork belly and broil in the oven for 5 minutes per side, making sure to brush once or twice more with the remaining glaze until a candied bacon steak has been formed.

7. Assembling the Dish: On a serving plate, either drizzle a circle or brush a streak of the “BTFO” BBQ Sauce around the circumference or through the center of the plate (this will create a rim or middle division, creating a place to plate your dish). On one half of your sauce base, place a small stack of buttered silver dollar hoecakes, while on the other half, lay down a glazed square of braised pork belly. Ladle one last spoonful of Coca Cola glaze over the candied bacon steak. Next, create a small mound of cooked Southern collard greens in between the two main components. Garnish with crispy bacon lardons, fried garlic chips, & minced chives.

Pulled Pork Sliders with Pulled Pork, BBQ Sauce, Pineapple-Honey Mustard Coleslaw, Pickles, + Red Onion-Poppy Seed Buttered Slider Buns

Pulled Pork Sliders with Pulled Pork, BBQ Sauce, Pineapple-Honey Mustard 

Coleslaw, Pickles, & Red Onion-Poppy Seed Buttered Slider Buns

Last night's Super Bowl party cam and went, and I'm definitely feeling the effects of it. You know you had a blast when you wake up with a semi-broken rib! Ha, probably not the best idea, but I'm unfortunately a little clumsy. We had a shit-ton of tailgatin' food last night... it was certainly unhealthy! Here's some of the food we had: pulled pork sliders, caramelized onion dip, spicy bacon-peanut caramel corn, mexican seven layer dip, hot corn dip, candied bacon wrapped sausages, and homemade beergarita's.

Here's the feast. 

Our favorite appetizer of the night were these Pulled Pork Sliders. I kind of based them off those ham & cheese sliders that everyone always raves about. So I put my little twist on it by turning them into scrumptious pulled pork sliders. I layered homemade pulled pork, tangy BBQ sauce, our favorite pineapple coleslaw, and some pickle chips all on some sweet Hawaiian dinner rolls that have been doused with a mustard-butter sauce and garnished with minced red onion and poppy seeds. These sliders were perfectly toasty and had all the essential elements that we all love and cherish from classic BBQ sandwiches. These suckers were gone in 15 minutes, no lie. I will see that they aren't the prettiest and easiest sliders to assemble, you kind of have to work with them a little and just move fast, making sure to compress them in a little to keep all the components inside. We also found it extremely helpful to stick a toothpick in the center the hole them all together. How were your Super Bowl parties? Did y'all make any yummy food like us? I would love to hear about it!! Enjoy :)

For the Dry Rubbed-Pulled Pork:

2T Salt

4T Brown Sugar

4t Garlic Powder

4t Onion Powder

2t Ground Cumin

2t Chili Powder

2t Black Pepper

1 5lb Boston Butt

For the Pineapple-Poppy Seed-Honey Mustard Coleslaw:

1 16oz Bag of Coleslaw Mix

3 Green Onions, Thinly Sliced

8oz Crushed Pineapple (squeezed of all excess juice)

3T Mayo

2T Dijon Mustard

1T Grainy Mustard

3T Honey

1t Creamy Horseradish

Salt & Pepper, To Taste 

For the Red Onion-Poppy Seed Butter Sauce:

8T Unsalted Butter, Melted

1T Yellow Mustard

2T Brown Sugar

½t Worcestershire Sauce

2-4T Red Onion, Minced

Poppy Seeds, For Sprinkling

For the Sandwiches:

24 Hawaiian Dinner Rolls, Split in Half

Mayo, For Spreading

Warmed Pulled Pork

Your Favorite BBQ Sauce

Prepared Pineapple-Honey Mustard Coleslaw

Pickles, For Garnishing

Directions:

1. To Make the Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork: Mix together all of the seasonings and rub the spice blend all over the pork and marinate the pork overnight, covered, in the refrigerator. The next day, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Put the pork in a roasting pan and bake for 6 hours, or until an instant-read thermometer registers to 170 degrees. Remove the pork from the oven and transfer to a large platter and allow the meat to rest for about 10 minutes. While still warm, take 2 forks and pull the meat to form shreds.

2. To Make the Pineapple Coleslaw: In a medium-mixing bowl, whisk together the mayo, drained pineapple, Dijon mustard, grainy mustard, honey, and horseradish. Toss this mixture with the coleslaw and green onions until completely coated. Set it aside until ready to assemble the sandwiches.

3. Baking the Sliders: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Split the dinner rolls in half and spread one of the sides with a thin layer of mayo. Place some pulled pork on top of the bun with mayo (making sure to press it in, so it’s compacted). Close the rolls with the top bun. Place them into a large baking dish or a cookie sheet that has been lined with a Silpat (make sure that they are very close together). Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, yellow mustard, maple syrup, minced red onion, and Worcestershire sauce. Season it with a little salt and pepper if needed. Using a spoon, drizzle the sauce over the sliders evenly, using just enough to cover the tops of the buns. Try to spoon the minced red onions on top for pretty presentation. Sprinkle the tops with poppy seeds. Let the butter sauce sit until it sets slightly. Bake the sandwiches for 10-15 minutes or until the tops are slightly brown and beginning to crisp up.

4. Assembling the Sliders: Once they have baked, remove them from the oven. Open the sliders back up, and then drizzle the pulled pork with some of your favorite BBQ sauce. Next, top the sauced pork with a pickle chip and a scoop of slaw. Close them back up with the top bun. For easier serving, stick a long toothpick into the middle of the slider to hold them together. These sliders can be a little messy to assemble, but you just have to keep stacking and pressing! Enjoy them while they are still slightly warm!

source: ham + cheese sliders

Title Town's Famous BBQ Nachos with Pulled Pork, Pan Fried Red Onions, Candied Jalapenos, Pimento Cheese-Beer Nacho Cheese Sauce, & Green Onions

Title Town's Famous BBQ Nachos with Pulled Pork, Pan Fried Red Onions,
Candied Jalapenos, Pimento Cheese-Beer Nacho Cheese Sauce, & Green Onions

Have y'all missed me?? I know, I know... I've been gone for like two weeks. I'm like deathly ill and I've actually been in the hospital since Monday, but I have had a fever above 102 since October 14th. Crazy, right? So, forgive me, I have not been in the posting mood. But, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and what's better than my favorite, tailgatin' recipes. And these hit home for me. Every game day in Tuscaloosa involved tailgating on the quad, partying with friends, and then ending the night with a night out on the Strip at the bars. Well, at one of our favorite hangouts, there was a small BBQ stand that made the best BBQ nachos. Can you think of anything else that would be better than nachos after a long day? Nope. So, I knew that I would eventually make my own version, kicked up just a bit. Big Bad Wolves' Nachos were pretty simple... chips, pulled pork, nacho cheese sauce, and jalapenos. Well, mine are loaded with pulled pork, BBQ sauce, pan fried red onions, candied jalapenos,  green onions, and a homemade Pimento Cheese-Beer Nacho Cheese Sauce. These are so good y'all and just perfect for game day. I mean, it's a rule that you gotta have these while visiting T-Town (or Title Town) as we call it. Now, let's hope that the good 'ole Crimson Tide will pull out a win for us tonight because I sure need one to make me feel better. I hope y'all are all doing great and I promise I won't disappear for that long again!! Enjoy :)

For the Pan Fried Red Onions:

2 Medium Red Onions, Sliced

4T Unsalted Butter

¼C Vegetable Oil

Salt & Pepper, To Taste

  

For the Pimento Cheese-Beer Nacho Cheese Sauce:

12oz Beer

1C Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese, Shredded

½C Pepperjack Cheese, Shredded

½C Colby Jack Cheese, Shredded

1T AP Flour

8oz Cream Cheese, Room Temperature

1 Clove of Garlic, Minced

4oz Pimentos, Drained & Diced

Salt & Pepper, To Taste

For the BBQ Nachos:

Tortilla Chips

Pulled Pork, Warmed & Tossed in BBQ Sauce

Your Favorite BBQ Sauce, For Drizzling

Shredded Pepperjack Cheese, For Topping

Prepared Pan Fried Red Onions

Prepared Pimento Cheese-Beer Nacho Cheese Sauce, Warm

Candied Jalapenos, For Garnishing

Minced Green Onions, For Garnishing

Sour Cream (optional)

Directions:

1. For the Pan Fried Red Onions: Cut the onions in half and then slice them into thin half-rounds. Heat the butter and oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onions, salt, and pepper and sauté for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 more minutes until the onions are browned and caramelized. Allow the onions to cool.

2. For the Pimento Cheese-Beer Nacho Cheese Sauce: Add the beer to a saucepan over medium heat and bring it to a boil. While you are waiting, toss the shredded cheese with the flour. Once the beer is simmering, whisk in the cheese and all of the remaining ingredients. Whisk until all the cheese has melted and you have a smooth, creamy sauce. Keep warm until ready to serve.

3. For the BBQ Nachos: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with Pam. Pour tortilla chips onto the prepared pan and top with the shredded cheese and BBQ pulled pork. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is just melted and the chips have started to crisp up. Remove the chips from the oven and immediately transfer them to a serving platter. Top the nachos with the pan fried red onions, spoonfuls of nacho cheese sauce, candied jalapenos, a little more pulled pork, a drizzle of BBQ sauce, and green onions.

4. Enjoy while still warm and with a dollop of sour cream.

Pulled Pork & Waffles with Homemade Maple Pearl Sugar "Liege-Style" Waffles, Pulled Pork, Jack Daniels Syrup, & Cinnamon Butter

Pulled Pork & Waffles with Homemade Maple Pearl Sugar "Liege-Style" Waffles,
Pulled Pork, Jack Daniels Syrup, & Cinnamon Butter

My Mountain Man always jokes with me about how I am the only girl he knows that would rather buy a fancy waffle maker than clothes or jewelry or just girly stuff. Well, he's not laughing anymore because he just reaps the benefits of all the yummy waffles we make at this house. For a while now, I have been dying to make "Liege-Style" Belgian Waffles. A lot of people have never heard of them, but they should be known every where because they are hot-damn-delicious. The waffles are typically made with a yeasted batter that is significantly thicker than regular recipes. But instead of adding sugar to the batter, you have to fold in "pearl sugar", which are like specialty sugar pieces that are a little smaller and rounder than plain ole' sugar cubes. I haven't been able to find authentic pearl sugar anywhere, but I know it is easy to order online... I just felt like I could do it at home. To make it a lil' bit southern, I decided to make homemade maple pearl sugar. When you cook these waffles up, the maple pearl sugar heats through, leaving pockets of melted maple-sugary goodness and the outside of the waffles crisp up and almost caramelize like the top of creme brulee. It's that good people. Well, to go along with these amazing waffles, we couldn't help but use some of the leftover pulled pork from the previous night. It might be weird to eat pulled pork & waffles together, but hey, chicken & waffles are fabulous, and so were these. To bring this dish over the top, just shmear on some Homemade Cinnamon Butter and a heavy drizzle of Jack Daniels Syrup. I mean, we practically drowned ours with syrup, even though they didn't need it. It all was just so good and it is definitely in my top list of favorite recipes this year. There's no doubt about it... who knew that a fusion of Belgian + Southern comfort food would be so fabulous? I didn't!! Enjoy y'all :)

"Liege-Style" Waffle Batter with Homemade Maple Pearl Sugar...
Can you see how thick the batter is and all of the little maple pearls?

Before the Drizzle of Jack Daniels Syrup

Oh baby, it's all good n' soaked now :)

For the Cinnamon Butter:

1 Stick of Butter, Softened

3T Brown Sugar

½t Vanilla

1T Cinnamon

For the Homemade Maple Pearl Sugar:

1C Sugar

4t High Quality Maple Syrup

For the “Liege-Style” Waffles:

1 Package of Active Dry Yeast

1/3C Lukewarm Water

1T Sugar

¼t Salt

2C AP Flour (or bread flour could be used as well)

3 Eggs

1C Melted Butter

1t Vanilla

Pinch of Cinnamon

1C Homemade Maple Pearl Sugar 

For the Jack Daniels Syrup:

1C Pure Maple Syrup (good quality & high grade)

½C Jack Daniels Whiskey

1t Vanilla

1-2T Brown Sugar

¼t Chili Powder

Pinch of Salt or To Taste

4T Unsalted Butter, Cut into Tabs

For the Pulled Pork & Waffles:

Prepared Cinnamon Butter, Softened

Homemade Maple Pearl Sugar

Waffle Batter

Pulled Pork, Warmed

Prepared Jack Daniels Syrup, Warmed

Directions:

1. For the Cinnamon Butter: Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla until the mixture is smooth, then slowly add in the cinnamon and beat until combined. Chill until ready to serve.   

2. For the Homemade Maple Pearl Sugar: Mix the sugar with the maple syrup in a bowl until well combined and it resembles damp sand. Line a baking sheet with a silpat and dump the sugar out onto the pan. Firmly press the sugar into a compact rectangle and let it dry completely over night or until the sugar is extremely hard and lacks any moisture. Roughly chop the maple sugar into pearl-sized shapes. Measure out 1C of the pearls and set aside.   

3. For the “Liege Style” Waffles: Mix the yeast, water, sugar and salt in a bowl and let it develop or sit for 15 minutes. Place the flour in a separate large mixing bowl (we use the bowl of our kitchen aid stand mixer) and make a well in the center of the flour. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and mix until blended on medium speed (we use the paddle in our kitchen aid mixer). Add the eggs (one at a time), melted butter a bit at a time, and the vanilla and cinnamon. Be sure to mix well after each addition to the batter. Keep in mind the batter will be thick and VERY sticky (this is normal). Remove the bowl from the mixer and let the dough rest until it doubles in volume inside the bowl. (About 1 hour) Gently fold in the pearl sugar and let the dough rest for 15 more minutes. While the dough is resting, heat the waffle iron. Spoon about a 2″ ball of dough into the center of the waffle iron (this should yield a waffle that is about 4″ in diameter). I know that sounds small, but these rich waffles pack quite a punch. Waffles will take about 5 minutes to cook (we set our waffle maker to level 4, but you might have to play around with it to get it to your liking).

4. For the Jack Daniels Syrup: Heat the maple syrup over low heat in a medium saucepan. Add in the Jack Daniels, vanilla, brown sugar, chili powder, and salt, and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the whiskey infuses the syrup and it thickens slightly. Whisk in 4T of Butter or until thoroughly combined. Keep warm until ready to pour over the waffles.

5. Assembling the Pulled Pork & Waffles: Place one of the “Liege Style” Waffles in the center of the plate and spread with some of the softened cinnamon butter. Stack some warmed pulled pork on top and repeat with more waffles, butter, and pulled pork. Finish the waffles off with a heavy drizzle of the warmed Jack Daniels Syrup.

source: liege waffles.