BATTER:

2 oz. Canadian bacon cut into 1" pieces
1/2 c. cake flour (2 oz.)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 lg. egg

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE:

3 lg. egg yolks
Salt & freshly ground white pepper
3 sticks unsalted butter
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. snipped chives
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed & cut diagonally into 1" pieces
8 lg. eggs

To make the batter, chop the bacon finely with the metal blade of a food processor, about 8 pulses. Add the dry ingredients and process to combine, about 15 seconds. Add the cream and egg and process to blend, about 6 seconds, scraping down the work bowl.

Preheat the waffle iron. Pour 2 tablespoons batter onto the center of each section. Bake according to manufacturer's instructions until golden and crisp, 5-6 minutes. Remove to a rack and make 4 more small waffles with the remaining batter.

To make the Hollandaise, process the yolks with salt and pepper to taste for 10 seconds. Melt the butter in a saucepan and bring it to the boil over high heat, but do not let it brown. With the motor running, pour the butter in a thin stream through the feed tube (as the sauce thickens, the butter may be added more quickly). Add the lemon juice and process to combine, about 2 seconds. Return to the saucepan and stir in the chives. Set aside.

Steam the asparagus in a vegetable steamer over boiling water until just tender, about 2 minutes. Keep warm. Poach the eggs in a large pan of boiling water until the whites are firm but the yolks are still soft, about 4 minutes.

Reheat the Hollandaise over very low heat, stirring with a wire whisk. Reheat the waffles on the rack of a low temperature oven. Top each waffle with some asparagus, a poached egg and some Hollandaise. Makes 4 servings.

This recipe is perfect for brunch or a luncheon. It is also a lot of fun to make in the evening. One of our favorite dinner parties is to invite some of our friends over with their waffle irons. We prepare lots of waffle recipes including Potato Waffles with Herb Butter, Tangerine Waffles with Fruit, Spiced Waffles with Apples and Caramel Sauce and Chocolate Chunk Dessert Waffles.