Flatiron Foodies: Maman's Banana Lavender Cornmeal Waffles

Located at 22 West 25th Street, Maman Nomad ('mother' in French) is a melding of founding partners Benjamin Sormonte and Elisa Marshall's fondest childhood kitchen memories combined with their mutual passion for delivering quality food with a warm, artful setting.

Chef Tawni, the executive chef at Maman Nomad, shares a sweet breakfast favorite, Banana Lavender Cornmeal Waffles, for this month's Flatiron Foodies.

Banana Lavendar Cornmeal Waffles

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 bananas
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 TB baking powder
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 TSP salt
• 2 cups milk, whole or non-dairy
• 3 TBL sunflower or olive oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 TSP vanilla extract
• 1/4 TSP cinnamon
• dried lavender for sprinkling, if desired

Instructions

• Place bananas, with the peel, on a parchment-lined cookie sheet or casserole dish, roast at 400 degrees until black (usually about 15 minutes). Set aside to let cool to room temperature.
• Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl, and set aside.
• In an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, add the cooled bananas (discard peels), and mix on medium-low until broken up; add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract and mix on medium until combined. Once combined, add dry ingredients one cup at a time. Mix to combine, and scrape down the sides once.
• Heat your waffle iron to 250 degrees (or Level 5 on Cuisinart waffle makers), and spray with oil. Place five ice cream scoops of batter onto the iron, close, and cook until light golden brown.
• Turn the waffles onto a cookie sheet and place in the over while cooking the remainder of the batter. 
• Serve immediately with vanilla whipped mascarpone, sliced bananas, seasonal fruit, toasted or candied walnuts, and a sprinkle of dried lavendar. And, don't forget the pure maple syrup!
• Note: Any leftover waffles can be stored in the freezer in an air-tight freezer bag. Bake for six minutes at 450 degrees to serve.

Pictured above: Maman's Banana Lavender Cornmeal Waffles (Photo Credit: Victoria Morris)

Pictured below: Chef Tawni, Executive Chef, Maman Nomad (Photo Credit: Esther Laseur)