Cream of The Crop - PiskeFlødeValfer for BakeSpace Challenge #15 (Strawberries and Eggs)

Cream of the Crop - PiskeFlødeValfer? or Danish Whipped Cream Waffles

It was only a matter of time before I revisited Waffleville again. Yes, I have one more for you. This is another Danish waffle, made in the same flower/heart iron,

but containing copious amounts of whipped cream in the batter. This creates a very VERY rich waffle. Quite delicious with Raspberries, ya know, that whole Danish thing, or Black Currant preserves and a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar.

But I am gonna throw a little spin on it this time... you see, it's also time for the BakeSpace Monthly Challenge!!! That's right, and this month's challenge is Eggs and Strawberries. The eggs were covered by the Waffle batter, so that was not the challenging part. I felt it was necessary to take the strawberries past the point of just chopping them up with a little sugar and dumping them on top of a waffle, with some whipped cream.. SO... I did a little flavor testing... Borrowed a little culinary flair from France and some Strawberry "know how" from Italy and combined Fraises au Vin Rouge (Strawberries in Red Wine) with Fragole all'Aceto Balsamico (Strawberries in Balsamic Vinegar). Which was all kinds of good, but I needed a twist... Something a little more unexpected. Black Pepper.

I have had black pepper on strawberries before, eons ago. I can't even remember who served them to me at this point, all I remember is that they were out of Balsamic Vinegar so they sprinkled black pepper on them. You see, black pepper, like balsamic, makes strawberries taste MORE like strawberries.... This is a good thing, especially in this day and age, with all the hybridization and genetically modified foods, that tend to lack any sort of actual flavor.

The reason I say this is that the strawberries that I ended up buying, were terrible. Awful, flavorless blobs with pithy hollow middles.

Compared to the strawberries of my youth, these were not even fit for jam. BUT.... A little Balsamic, a little Black Pepper and a little Pinot Noir.... Voila!!! They suddenly tasted amazingly delicious!!!!

So, here is my secret for awesome Strawberries... Try this on Strawberry shortcake, you will not be disappointed... Trust me... and always remember, the flavor of a berry is greatly compromised by cold. So ALWAYS let berries "warm" up to room temperature before serving.

Peppered Balsamic Pinot Noir Strawberries

16 oz Strawberries (hulled and quartered)
2 TB Honey
1 1/2 TB Balsamic Vinegar

Combine and let macerate for 30 minutes.


Pour off juice into a sauce pan (There will be about 3-4 TB) and add
5 TB Balsamic Vinegar
3 1/2 TB Sugar
5 TB Pinot Noir (Red Fruit and Low earth - light Black pepper on the finish - Like Rex Hill Kings Ridge 2006)

Simmer over low heat until it is reduced to a thick syrup (this takes awhile)

You should have about 1/4-1/3 the amount when you are done.
Let cool until it is only warm to the touch.

Hit the strawberries with several grinds of coarse black pepper.

Pour the syrup over the Strawberries,

cover and leave at room temp while making the waffles.

2 1/2 cups Self Rising Flour
4 TB Superfine sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Large Egg
1 Large Egg white
6 TB Whole Milk
5 TB Unsalted Butter – Melt, then cool
12 oz Heavy cream
1/2 tsp Mace

Sift the Flour into a bowl with the Sugar and salt

Add egg, egg white, milk and melted butter;

Mix thoroughly. The dough will look kind of like brioche

In a separate bowl, whip the cream with Mace to stiff peaks.

Fold whipped cream into the batter.

Let stand for 30 minutes.
Heat waffle iron.
Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter just off center of the iron towards the hinges. (The hinged back tends to push the batter towards the front of the iron)

Bake in Iron for 3-5 minutes or until G B & D or the steam stops rising.

Move cooked waffle to a baking sheet lined with paper towels in a 200 degree oven to keep warm, while cooking the remaining waffles.

Serve with Strawberries above, Raspberries and Confectioners' Sugar, Lingonberry Jam, Blackberries and Whipped Cream or Currant Preserves.

Mangia!!
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