Home Smells Like Cooking: Week 6 Sunday: Cranberry Orange Waffles and Bacon; James Beal BBQ Ribs, Loaded Baked Potato, Green Peas/and Cherry Chip Bundt Cake

It's Sunday morning of Week Six.

It's Sunday!

On today's menu is Cranberry Orange Waffles with Bacon. I love these waffles! I came across this recipe to turn any muffin mix into waffles - and for most muffin mixes that seems unnecessary (like blueberry because to make blueberry waffles you just stir blueberries into your regular waffle mix) but I love this muffin mix! It's got a tangy orange flavor and when you add tart cranberries in, the combination is SOOOO good!! They make even better waffles - they are tangy orange with bits of cranberry pared with sweet maple syrup. Perfect with bacon!

On the dinner menu is a BBQ rib recipe from a BBQ recipe book we registered to get for our wedding. I know it's silly. We were at a department store registering for kitchen things and on the end of the aisle was this BBQ recipe book - and I wanted it! We have tried every single recipe in that book. I really LOVE this one -it's sweet and spicy and perfect. I couldn't find any good boneless ribs when I was at the grocery store so I got a beef roast. Any meat is good with this recipe - and the crockpot will turn this meat into a ridiculously tender, juicy meal.

For dessert is cherry chip bundt cake with cherry frosting. I know I've said it before, but this cake mix is my husband's absolute favor of cake mix. Bundt cakes are so pretty and really no more difficult than any other cake. The pan does all the work by cooking it into a pretty design. Then you just drizzle cherry frosting over and you have a very pretty dessert.

Cranberry Orange Waffles and Bacon

James Beal BBQ Ribs, Loaded Baked Potato, Green Peas/and Cherry Chip Bundt Cake

BREAKFAST:

1. Heat the waffle maker(s). (I use two to make cooking go faster). Pour the milk and vinegar into a measuring cup to let the milk sour (if not using real buttermilk}.

2. Open the package of cranberry orange muffin mix (can use any kind of muffin mix for this) and open and drain cranberries.

3. Pour the muffin mix in a mixing bowl. Add the oats.

4. Add the eggs, some oil and buttermilk. Stir to combine.

5. Fold in the cranberries, only mix enough to spread through-out batter, you don't want the batter to get red from the cranberries.

6. Spray (generously) the waffle maker with cooking spray. Pour 1/2 cup or so of batter onto the bottom and use a spoon or knife to spread it evenly across the waffle maker. Close and let cook until done.

7. These come out less stiff than a normal waffle batter, so carefully remove by using a fork or other utensil to lift it out from one corner. Then place on cooling rack to let steam escape freely so it will crisp up. (Sometimes I put the oven on warm and immediately place a cooked waffle straight on the oven rack to keep it warm and let it crisp up there).

8. Serve with butter and syrup. These are soooo good. ENJOY!

1. Heat the crockpot on LOW. Add a quart of water and some beef bouillon.

2. Add both sugars.

3. Add mustard, vinegar and liquid smoke.

4. Add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and chile powder.

5. Chop jalepenos and onion and add both to crock pot.

6. Add seasoned salt and paprika. Stir well.

7. Place ribs (or I used a roast this time) in the sauce. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours or so.

8. Serve with potatoes that have been baked for an hour at 400 degrees (scrub the skin and prick with a fork to prevent exploding). Cut open, fluff potato and top with butter, cheese, sour cream and chives. ENJOY!