Belgian waffles

Active: 15 minutes; Total: 30 minutes; Serves: 4

Flour, all-purpose	2 ¼ cups
Baking powder	1 tablespoon
Sugar, granulated	3 tablespoons
Salt	½ teaspoon
Cinnamon	1 teaspoon
Eggs, separated	2 large
Oil, vegetable	½ cup
Milk, whole	2 cups
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon

1. Preheat your waffle iron (425°F bottom & 450°F top on my panini press), spray with cooking spray; set aside. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. 
3. In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form; set aside. 
4. In another medium bowl, mix together the egg yolks, oil, milk, and vanilla. 
5. Add the egg yolk mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. 
6. Fold in the egg whites; lumps are okay so don’t over do it. 
7. Pour the batter onto your hot waffle iron, and cook according to the manufacturer’s directions, about 4 minutes. 
8. Serve immediately with butter, syrup, powdered sugar, berries, or eat all the crispy bits and skip the rest. 

Recipe adapted from The Salty Marshmallow.

Duck confit poutine

Active: 45 minutes; Total: 1 day 4 hours 45 minutes; Serves: 4

Duck legs	4
Garlic, chopped	4 cloves
Thyme	3 sprigs
Rosemary	2 sprigs
Sage, fresh	2 leaves
Orange peel without pith	¼
Salt, kosher	1 teaspoon +
Pepper, freshly cracked	¼ teaspoon +
Duck fat, rendered	2 cups
Potatoes, russet; French-fry cut	4 medium
Water, cold	8 cups + ¼ cup
Ice	2 cups
Oil for frying	8 cups
Stock, chicken	6 cups
Cornstarch	1 tablespoon
Cheese curds	2 cups

1. Place the duck legs in a shallow pan. 
2. Rub the garlic, thyme, rosemary, sage, orange peel, salt and pepper into the duck legs. 
3. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rest in the refrigerator for 24 hours. 
4. Preheat your oven to 250°F. 
5. Rub off the salt and herbs from the duck; set aside. 
6. Rinse off the herbs in a colander, pat dry, and return to the duck. 
7. Cover the duck and herb mix with the rendered duck fat, and cook in the oven until the meat is falling off the bones, about 2 hours 30 minutes. 
8. Place the potatoes in cold, salted water with ice; let sit for 1 hour. 
9. Remove the legs and cool on a cutting board. 
10. Shred the meat from the legs; set aside. 
11. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottom pan until it reaches a temperature of 250°F; line a baking sheet with paper towels. 
12. Remove the potatoes from the water, pat dry, and add to the oil, in batches if necessary, and cook until the fries are soft all the way through and not crispy, about 5 minutes. 
13. With a slotted spoon, remove the fries from the oil, and place on the prepared baking sheet. 
14. Increase the oil temperature to 350°F. 
15. In a stock pot, reduce the stock by two-thirds; set aside. 
16. Add the duck meat into the reduced stock. 
17. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and ¼-cup water until there are no lumps. 
18. Heat the stock and duck to a gentle boil, add the cornstarch mixture, and boil for 45 seconds. 
19. Place the blanched fries into the oil; fry until crispy and golden brown, 2 minutes. 
20. Place the fries in a large bowl. 
21. Add the curds, toss with a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper; divide among four plates. 
22. Spoon the duck and sauce over the fries, and serve. 

Recipe from the Brindle Room, which featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

Grilled duck breast salad with fried curds & strawberries

Active: 20 minutes; Total: 40 minutes; Serves: 4

Duck breast, skin on; pat dry with paper towels; score the fat layer 1-inch apart in a crosshatch pattern	2
Salt, coarse	½ teaspoon + ½ teaspoon +
Pepper, freshly ground	¼ teaspoon + ½ teaspoon +
Breadcrumbs, panko	¼ cup
Breadcrumbs, plain	¼ cup
Flour, all-purpose	¼ cup
Egg, lightly beaten	1 large
Cheese curds, fresh as possible; freeze 30 minutes before frying	6 ounces
Oil, extra-virgin olive	3 tablespoons + ½ cup
Baby arugula	5 ounces
Strawberries, sliced or quartered	1 cup
Vinegar, white balsamic	3 tablespoons
Shallots, chopped	2 teaspoons
Dijon mustard	½ teaspoon

1. Heat your panini press to medium-low. 
2. Season the duck with salt and pepper. 
3. Open the press lid, and lay one or both duck breasts on the grill, skin side down. 
4. Leaving the lid open, grill the duck until much of the fat has rendered and the skin is brown and crispy, 9 to 11 minutes. 
5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, shallot, mustard, ½-teaspoon salt, and ½-teaspoon pepper; while whisking, slowly drizzle in the oil; set aside. 
6. Using tongs, flip the breasts over, and close the lid; grill until the meat is cooked to an internal temperature of 150°F, another 3 to 4 minutes. 
7. Transfer to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing across the grain. 
8. Combine the panko, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. 
9. Place the flour and egg in separate shallow dishes. 
10. In a medium-size skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. 
11. Dredge each curd first into flour, then in egg (chef note: coat throughly or the cheese will ooze out during frying), and lastly in the breadcrumbs. 
12. Carefully lower the curds into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd. 
13. Brown the curds, 1 to 2 minutes; drain on paper towels. 
14. Place the arugula and strawberries in a large bowl; pour the vinaigrette over the salad, and toss with tongs. 
15. To serve, divide the salad among four plates, and top each with some fried curds and sliced duck breast. 

Recipe from The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook by Kathy Strahs.

Grilled asparagus panini with prosciutto & mozzarella

Active: 20 minutes; Total: 40 minutes; Serves: 4

Asparagus, trimmed to the length of  your bread portion	8 ounces
Oil, extra-virgin olive	2 teaspoons
Salt, coarse
Pepper, freshly ground
Focaccia or similar, cut into four portions	1 loaf
Prosciutto, sliced	4 ounces
Mozzarella, fresh, sliced	8 ounces

1. Heat your panini press to medium-high. 
2. In a large bowl, toss the asparagus in the oil and season with salt and pepper. 
3. Grill the asparagus, with the lid closed, until they are cooked through and grill marks appear, 3 to 4 minutes; set aside. (Chef note: Remember asparagus shrinks when cooked.)
4. Unplug the grill and carefully clean the grates; reheat the grill to medium-high heat. 
5. For each sandwich, split the bread portion to create a top and bottom half. 
6. Place some prosciutto inside the bottom half, top with cheese, and as many grilled asparagus spears that will fit. 
7. Close the sandwich with the other half. 
8. Grill two panini at a time, with the lid closed, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, 4 to 5 minutes. 

Recipe from The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook by Kathy Strahs.

Super crispy fried chicken sandwich

Active: 30 minutes; Total: 2 hours 30 minutes; Makes 12 sandwiches

Pickles, dill chips; ½ cup brine reserved, about 60 pickle chips reserved	32 ounces
Salt, kosher	1 tablespoon + 1 tablespoon
Paprika	2 teaspoons
Pepper, freshly ground	1 teaspoon + 1 tablespoon +
Cayenne	½ teaspoon +
Garlic powder	½ teaspoon
Onion powder	½ teaspoon
Chicken thighs, boneless, skinless	12
Buttermilk or well-stirred whole milk yogurt	1 cup
Water	½ cup
Egg	1 large
Flour, all-purpose	4 cups
Cornstarch	¼ cup
Oil, peanut
Mayonnaise	1 cup
Hamburger buns	12
Lettuce, shredded	6 cups
Tomatoes, ripe, sliced	12

1. Stir together the pickle brine, 1-tablespoon salt, paprika, 1-teaspoon pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. 
2. Place chicken thighs in a gallon-sized ziplock plastic bag; pour in the brine mixture. 
3. Seal the bag, and massage until the chicken is evenly coated. 
4. Place in the refrigerator; let marinate at least 2 hours, up to 8 hours or overnight. 
5. Whisk together the buttermilk, water, and egg in a large bowl. 
6. Remove the chicken from the brine; discard the brine. 
7. Add the chicken to the buttermilk mixture. 
8. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, 1-tablespoon salt, and 1-tablespoon pepper in a shallow dish; set aside. 
9. Preheat your oven to 200°F. 
10. Pour oil to a depth of ½ inch in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet; heat oil over medium to 350°F. 
11. Working in batches, remove three or four chicken thighs from the buttermilk mixture, and place in the flour mixture, pressing to adhere. 
12. Lift from the flour mixture, and gently shake off excess. 
13. Carefully place the chicken in hot oil, taking care not to overcrowd the skillet. 
14. Cook, adjusting heat as needed to maintain oil temperature of 350°F, and turning every 1 to 2 minutes using tongs, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of thigh registers 165°F, and the breading is golden browned and very crispy, 6 to 8 minutes per batch. 
15. Remove the chicken from the skillet, and place on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. 
16. Place in preheated oven to keep warm while repeating the frying process with the remaining chicken. 
17. Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of mayonnaise onto the cut sides of each bun. 
18. Arrange five to six pickles on each bun bottom; top with one chicken thigh, ½-cup lettuce, and a tomato slice. 
19. Cover with top bun; serve immediately. 

Recipe from Food&Wine Magazine, August 2020