take my word for it wednesday...chicken and beer batter waffle sandwich w/ spicy maple butter....

the name says it all!! seriously folks it's beer batter waffles with crispy chicken and a spicy butter spread.. oh my gosh all mighty it was soo good!! ok folks this is a serious take my word for it.. this was so good it should be illegal!! there are no pictures because honestly it was a spur of the moment meal and i didn't even know where my camera was but shell couldn't resist to post to her facebook so i snagged the photo to share with you.. but i will make it again and post some regular pictures.. but take my word for it in the meantime don't wait for me.. make this.. make it now.. what are you waiting for? it's been all the rage on cooking shows and magazines to make a chicken and waffle combo.. i know it's been around in places like harlem for years but it's taken a bit to get to the west coast.. and now it's all over the place.. heck even ihop serves it... ok back to where this idea came from.. you see i was driving home from work.. (it's about a 40 minute drive so it gives me time to think.. day dream... about food) and knew i had some chicken tenders in the fridge.. i had made the night before crispy baked chicken and i didn't have enough room on my baking sheet so the ones left over i kept in the buttermilk marinade and thought i will just make them tomorrow.. so while driving home i thought what am i going to do with those chicken tenders?? (and yes the cars next to me looked at me funny you see .. i sometimes talk to myself.. don't be judgy.. i am interesting dang it..)  i could make chicken sandwiches.. hmm no bread.. well what could i use instead of bread.. waffles!! and ohh i have some guinness still left over.. how about a beer batter waffle.. and well by the time i got home the plan was in place.. i quickly googled beer batter waffles and found this recipe here.. ohh that seems easy enough.. then i googled chicken and waffle sandwich and found this one here.. and knew i could use elements from it to make mine.. so the recipes were found the ingredients gathered.. let's get to cooking!!

chicken tenders

prep time: 10 minutes

cooking time: 30 minutes

servings: 4

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken tenders

2/3 cup buttermilk

2 tsp. tobasco

1 tsbl. smokey paprika

2 tsp. cayenne

salt and pepper

3 cups panko breadcrumbs

pam

mix buttermilk and tobasco and marinade chicken over night.. mix paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper with the panko bread crumbs.. spray a lined baking sheet with pam and heat your oven to 375 degrees (f).. remove your chicken tenders from the buttermilk marinade and shake any excess buttermilk off and dredge through the panko and place on your baking sheet.. once they are all panko'd spray them with pam and put in the oven for about 30 minutes.. flipping over half way through you want them crispy but not rubbery..  while they are cooking make your waffle batter..

beer batter waffles

prep time: 15 minutes

cook time: 20 minutes

servings: 4

ingredients:

2 cups flour (i used white wheat)

1 (12 oz) can of beer

1/2 cup, unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup non fat half and half

2 eggs separated

1 tblsp. honey (or agave)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

pre heat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. combine flour, beer, butter, 1/2 n 1/2, egg yolks, honey and vanilla in a large bowl; stir until the mixture is smooth.. in a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.. then gently fold egg whites into batter..spray your pre heated waffle iron with pam..ladle the batter into the waffle iron (my waffle iron is a flower made out of heart petals) and cook waffles until golden and crisp.

spicy maple butter:

4 tblsp. salted butter, softened

1.5 tblsp. maple syrup

3 tsp. tobasco

1 tsp. cayenne

mix in a small mixing bowl and set aside..

to assemble: spread each waffle with the maple butter.. add your hot crispy chicken (2 or 3 tenders per sandwich) and then fold like a taco.. shell dipped hers in extra syrup..