A simple family style brunch featuring a rustic skillet waffle, soft eggs, and sticky maple bacon. Perfect for a slow morning with guests during the holidays. 

Happy Holidays!! At this house, our tree is up (albeit undecorated), christmas lights are hung (we are flirting ever so slightly with the crossing the Griswald line) and the calendar is getting well booked with potlucks and socials.

I am loving every minute of it.

With the holiday season comes heaps of entertaining - being the guest and the host.  I love hosting.  I actually also love guesting.  I love pretty much any event where people gather around a board of food and share liquids and laughter.

Family style is my absolute favourite way to eat.  Ironically, in the past, I rarely served my own family...family style. I would always plate in the kitchen and then bring them to the table.  Recently I have begun serving our family dinners, family style.  I like the rustic presentation, the encouragement to take a little from here and little from there and ultimately to build your meal your way.

With overnight guests a given at my house over the holidays, I am always looking for new breakfast/brunch ideas.  I tend to prep a strata or an egg casserole the night before to keep it simple after what was likely a late evening.  While the taste is great, the presentation is not always eye-popping.  When I was approached to work with (and be compensated by) the Egg Farmers of Canada for their #BeEggsquisite campaign, I wanted to find the perfect holiday family style brunch you could present to overnight guests that was visually stunning with minimal effort for the morning after.

Enter skillet waffle.

Then top it with a buttery, runny egg and a side sticky maple bacon.

And while this dish goes against my 'always-prep-the-night-before' rule,  this board comes together SO quickly, with minimal mess, it's so worth it.  The skillet waffle has but a handful of ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.    The egg whites are folded in for a fluffy and airy centre in perfect contrast to the crisp crust of the waffle.  (If the sound of the egg beaters is too loud for those feeling the effects of the morning after, just use a whisk.)

I have yet to master the perfect poached egg so I stick with the no-fail six minute boil, followed by a cold water bath.  Peel and then - just before serving -  slide a butter knife every so gently into the egg (my Little ones favourite job) and watch the lava of creamy, golden yolk melt into the skillet waffle. A side of sticky maple bacon because... do I really need a because?  Two options for heat - a little red jalapeno or  some sriacha cut through some plain greek yogurt.

This is my perfect Christmas morning breakfast.  Or Boxing Day. Or New Years. Or any given Sunday.  Or Monday...

If you are looking for more inspiration to incorporate, what I consider, the perfect whole food into your holiday dishes, check out the Egg Farmers of Canada holiday recipes or follow on Facebook  or their beautiful Pinterest boards.

Enjoy!

Skillet Waffles & Eggs

Author: Food Well Said

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 4

A simple family style brunch featuring a rustic skillet waffle, soft eggs, and sticky maple bacon. Perfect for a slow morning with guests during the holiday season.

Ingredients

• 6 eggs, (2 eggs separated)
• 300 ml milk
• 225 grams all purpose flower
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 100 grams melted butter, cooled plus a bit for the skillet
• 4 thick slices of smoked bacon
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• Garnish: scallions, cilantro, plain greek yogurt with sriacha, jalepeno

Instructions

1. In a bowl crack two yolks (reserve whites) and add milk, Whisk to combine.
2. Slowly sift in flour, baking powder and salt. Stir until combined.
3. Drizzle in butter and mix until just incorporated.
4. Whip egg whites in separate bowl and fold into batter.
5. Pour batter into pre-heated skillet over med-high heat. About 8 minutes on one side, 4 on the other. It will be hard to flip (I use two spatulas to loosen edges) Don't worry if it breaks, that is the beauty of rustic presentation.
6. While waffle is cooking, start water boiling for eggs. Once boiled, drop eggs in slowly and time for six minutes. Remove and run under cold water. Peel and set aside.
7. While eggs are cooking heat a frying pan over med-high heat. Add bacon and maple syrup and fry until crisp.
8. Assembly. On a board break waffle into four pieces. Cut bacon strips in half and put two on each waffle. Add an egg to each waffle. Garnish with scallions, cilantro hot sauce etc. Just prior to serving, break the egg to release the yolk.

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