Little Waffle In The Hen House Recipe

Make batter

Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer. In a small bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl combine milk, half an egg (beat one egg and use half, reserve remainder for other uses), melted butter and vanilla. Pour wet into dry and stir just until combined; a few small lumps are fine.

Cook waffle

Brush or spray the waffle iron with cooking spray or melted butter. Pour batter for a half-waffle portion (about 1/3 to 1/2 of a regular waffle recipe depending on iron size) and cook until golden and crisp, about 3–5 minutes depending on your iron. Remove and keep warm.

While the waffle cooks, heat a nonstick skillet over medium-low and add the butter or oil. Crack two eggs into a small bowl. For sunny-side-up: gently slide eggs into the pan, cover, and cook 2–3 minutes until whites set but yolks still runny; season with salt and pepper. For over-easy/medium/hard: cook until whites set, flip gently and cook 15–30 seconds (over-easy), 45–60 seconds (over-medium) or 2–3 minutes (over-hard). For scrambled: whisk eggs with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until softly set. Keep eggs warm on very low heat or tent with foil.

If using bacon: place strips in a cold skillet, turn heat to medium, and cook 3–5 minutes per side until crisp to your liking. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. If using sausage patties: heat a skillet over medium heat, add 1 tsp oil if needed, cook patties 3–4 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) and browned. Keep warm with eggs.

If you selected home fries: parboil diced potato in salted water for 5 minutes until just tender; drain and pat dry. Heat a skillet over medium-high with olive oil. Add diced onion and cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Add potatoes in an even layer and let brown undisturbed 3–4 minutes, then toss and continue cooking until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes total. Season with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Keep warm.

If you prefer cheddar grits instead of home fries: bring water and milk to a simmer in a small saucepan. Stir in salt and slowly whisk in grits. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, 3–5 minutes for quick grits until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in butter and grated cheddar until melted and smooth. Cover to keep warm.

Assemble the plate: place the half waffle on the plate, lay the two eggs next to or on top of the waffle depending on preference, add bacon or sausage patties to the side, and serve with your choice of home fries or a scoop of cheddar grits. Drizzle waffle with maple syrup and sprinkle optional chives or parsley on the eggs. Offer hot sauce at the table if desired.