These cheddar jalapeño cornbread waffles almost didn’t happen in time. I hatched the idea and bought all of the ingredients a couple of weeks ago when my mom warned me that the Super Bowl was coming up. (Thanks for keeping me relevant, Mom.) But every time I thought about cooking, I found something else to do instead (ex. lay on the couch and watch Felicity reruns or eat leftover cake or nap with the cat). And then good friends like Alanna happened. The kind that show up at your house to help you get two recipes shot in preparation for #cheesebabygirl’s arrival. SHE EVEN DID MY DISHES, you guys. So you have Alanna and my mom to thank for today’s recipe.
Is it just me or are you also 100x more productive when someone else is also doing work around you? This mostly applies to chores. Like, I have time to fold the laundry, but if Lucas is watching cartoons, it’s probably most definitely not going to happen. It’s not like I actively think “well if he’s not doing something productive, neither will I!” (well maybe subconsciously), but if he’s hanging a shelf or fixing a leak, I am THE MOST PRODUCTIVE human on the planet.
I think this is a pretty strong indication that I need coworkers. Thank goodness for Alanna’s visit or things would be pretty quiet around my kitchen for awhile. My mom shows up for baby watch tomorrow and I plan on using her company to get as much cooking done as possible before baby comes – though technically baby’s lease on my belly expires on Saturday, so we’ll see how that goes!
Last night I was trying to explain to Lucas one of my feelings on this stage of pregnancy. I told him to imagine that you’re just going about your life as usual, but with the knowledge that AT ANY MINUTE someone is going to come up and kick you in the nuts. Repeatedly. For 24 hours. And you’ve been warned that it will be the worst pain you’ve ever experienced. And you have no idea when it’s going to happen. Maybe in your sleep.
But don’t worry, honey, you get a super duper prize when it’s over.
Things aren’t really that dramatic over here. We’re pretty stoked for this final phase. Last week my friend came by with her two kids for a visit. Her 2½ year old came over to my belly saying, “I want to open Sarah’s belly!” on repeat. Me too, Joey, Me too.
Though, if I keep feeding #cheesebabygirl things like cheddar jalapeño cornbread waffles with turkey chile con queso dip, she might never come out. I mean, would you?
These waffles taste just like sweet cornbread – with a crispy exterior, a warm and tender center, and a hint of sharp cheddar and spicy jalapeño. They’re so addicting that they really don’t even need the dip. But it’s the Super Bowl, which in my book is solely about eating while watching commercials, so let’s indulge with more cheese. This cheese sauce ain’t no Velveeta – it’s the real deal. Milk is thickened with a roux made from butter and sweet rice flour, and a boatload of sharp cheddar cheese is folded in until melted and creamy. Then we throw in chili-seasoned turkey and a can of diced tomatoes to spice things up.
You can’t expect me to know who’s playing in the big game, but you can trust me with your taste buds while you watch.
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- ¾ cup cornmeal
- ¼ cup sweet rice flour (for non-gluten-free version, replace sweet rice flour, oat flour, and millet flour with ¾ cup all-purpose flour)
- ¼ oat flour*
- ¼ millet flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¾ cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 large jalapeño, seeds removed and minced
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup minced yellow onion (from about ½ medium onion)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (from about 3 large cloves)
- ½ lb ground turkey
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 - 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons sweet rice flour
- 1¾ cups milk
- 1½ cups shredded sharp cheese
- Optional: lime wedges, for serving
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, sweet rice flour, oat flour, millet flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together until combined. Add the cooled melted butter and whisk to combine.
- Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until completely smooth.
- Fold in the cheddar cheese and jalapeño.
- If using an electric waffle iron, cook waffles according to manufacturer directions, lightly spraying the iron with canola oil.
- If using a stovetop waffle iron, be sure to heat up both sides for at least 3 minutes on medium heat. Lightly spray the top and the bottom of the waffle iron with canola oil. Pour scant ¼ cup of batter into the middle of each square of the waffle iron and cook for 90 seconds. Flip the waffle iron and cook for another 90-120 seconds. Gently open the waffle iron to check the waffle and, if needed, continue cooking until both sides are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and repeat with remaining batter. The waffles will crisp up on the wire rack.
- Eat immediately or reheat in the toaster.
- Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add ground turkey and spices and cook, breaking up the turkey into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned.
- Add diced tomatoes and cook just until heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a separate large skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add sweet rice flour and whisk until smooth. Cook until just bubbling, about 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the milk in three parts, whisking until smooth between each addition. Cook until it begins to thicken and coats the back of a spoon, about 4-5 minutes.
- Fold in the shredded cheese and whisk until completely melted and creamy.
- Fold in the browned turkey and spices and serve warm with a plate of cheddar jalapeño cornbread waffles.
- Tip: if it's going to sit out for awhile, keep it warm and gooey by serving it in a fondue pot or a slow cooker!
Tieghan -
Dear God,
This looks and sounds AMAZING! I NEED. Also, that photo of you and your belly is too cute!! :)
Sarah Menanix -
Hehe – that photo was all Alanna’s inspiration :) And yes! I wish you were here and I could share these with you (instead I ate them all myself – no shame)!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen -
Thank goodness for Mom’s and friends! These waffles + dip = amazing. I’ve been kind of neglecting savory waffles lately, which is shameful. I gotta fix that ASAP! Hope that #cheesebabygirl makes her debut appearance real soon!
Sarah Menanix -
Me too me too! Maybe I need to start depriving her of cheese;)
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
I want this as a humungous waffle turkey chile sandwich. Double the waffle. Double the fun.
Don’t worry Sarah. The prize is worth it. Plus nature makes you forget the nuts-kicking part…mostly.
Sarah Menanix -
I love that there’s a guaranteed prize:) None of this “maybe you’ll win a teddy bear” BS. Wish I could send you that waffle sando!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean -
Oh Sarah! I love the picture of you and CBG admiring this delightfully indulgent snack! Did you devour them all? I’m feeling like this is an epic recipe my dear… and how I want to just grab that plate from your hands and inhale it all on my own. I really want to be polite, but that is my feeling. I know you can appreciate this. I completely skipped super bowl.. this is part of my problem. I really DO love all the indulgent snacks and fare that come with it. So I skipped it and went on the V-Day. Is that okay? I’ll just head to your place, to help with baby watch (and cat watch), do all the dishes necessary to have just one waffle. Okay? K. Thinking of you my dear on this epic weekend with your sweet one coming into this world. Tight hugs, strength and courage to you. xo
Sarah Menanix -
Oh you bet I devoured them all! Well, I shared with Alanna and her guy…and saved some for my husband. But they were all taken care of haha. I would definitely share MORE than one with you if you were close by! I think skipping the Super Bowl and going straight to Vday is A-OK with me:) I have no plans to watch the Super Bowl – only to use it as an excuse to make cheesy waffles haha. Or you know, having a baby. We’ll see what the cards have in store for me this weekend! Thanks for the sweet note and well wishes! xo!
Rakhee@Boxofspice -
Ok so I ate only spicy food when I was pregnant and I have to tell you my baby girl did not want to come out! So you may want to cut back on these absolutely stunningly delicious waffles! Good luck on your sweet baby coming… <3
Sarah Menanix -
Haha aw man – everyone says spicy is supposed to INDUCE labor! Darn. I think I might need to deprive her of cheese, which seems to be her favorite thing;)
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire -
I am definitely a lot more productive when I have someone around doing work. In a way, I almost feel competitive with them. “Who can get the most done?” I would love to have someone help me cook and do my dishes, what an awesome friend Alanna is! I’m glad she came because these waffles and dip are amazing! I can’t stop drooling!
Ellie | fit for the soul -
You know what? I have no idea when I’m most productive! I think I’m productive whenever and wherever my mind decides to be, and maybe it has to do with the fact that I’m as ENFP personality as one can get? But seriously I’m so like, whoaaaa! about the fact that Alanna did your dishes…now THAT’S when someone really cares for you, when they do the most tedious tasks for you. And this queso dip looks like it’s a flavor explosion. Just my kind of food. ;)
Alanna -
I’m an ENFP too! And I only did the dishes because I knew I would get waffles in return. ;)
Ellie -
Ahhhh crazy cool! Hello mah fella enfp! We are a strange bunch for sure. Hah! What if her pregnant belly didn’t want to share? ;)
Evi @ greenevi -
The idea of making cornbread waffles is incredible! So creative and so delicious!
Need to make these, pinned :)
cynthia -
“Though, if I keep feeding #cheesebabygirl things like cheddar jalapeño cornbread waffles with turkey chile con queso dip, she might never come out. I mean, would you?” NEVER. These are all of my dreams come true. Thinking of you right now, Sarah!!!!!
Alanna -
Dude, I would do way more dishes if every instance came with a side of cheesy waffles and public adulation. You’re too sweet – I barely did a thing!! But I’m so glad we got to sneak in those shoots. Let’s do it again soon.
We just polished off the last two waffles this morning topped with fried eggs, salsa and avo – best breakfast ever!
Rachel -
Soooo what you’re telling me in that I can have my love of queso and of waffles in the same dish??? Say no more! I will be eating these ASAP! They sound incredible!
Rachel
http://rachelinflight.com
Liz -
Whoa, the waffles alone look irresistible, but adding a queso dip pushes this dish over the top!
Carla (@charliesue) -
I like waffles. I like cheese. I THINK I WOULD LIKE CHEESY WAFFLES, SARAH.
santiago -
made them and used buckwheat. It was sooooo delicious that i am going to put it in the menu at my restaurant.
Emily | Jelly Toast -
Oh my goodness, Sarah! This looks amazing <3 I am so into cornbread and love that you turned it into waffles – So brilliant! Also, I hear you on the productivity. I can sit all day when I'm by myself getting nearly nothing done, but on the weekends when my husband is home I can get all sorts of socks folded and crayons picked up. It's one of the big mysteries of the world, I think ;-)
Karly Campbell -
Well first, I kind of want to dive head first into this queso. Second, LOVE the idea of using waffle-style cornbread for dippers! Way less crumbs and way prettier. What an awesome dish for any party or potluck!
Claudia | The Brick Kitchen -
That is so exciting Sarah!! And YES I am so much more productive when people are working around me – I wonder if it is a bit of guilt setting in when I know I’m procrastinating while everyone else is working…
Gorgeous photos of the waffles too – just want to grab one right out of the screen!
Tina -
For the waffles, (Yummy!) in the ingredients list you specify that the eggs are separated (I expected to beat the whites and fold them in at the end) but in the directions they just seem to be whisked with the milk. Which way do you suggest?
Hal Microutsicos -
Just made these without the cheddar in the waffle and habaneros instead of jalapenos, also with venison instead of turkey in the chili and it came out great! Definitely going to make this again@