red or green?: Spiced Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Syrup Glazed Bacon

Pumpkin...Spices...Maple Syrup...Bacon. How good does that sound? Perfect for breakfast, Sunday brunch or a fall/winter supper, this meal is fast, easy, comforting and delicious. The spices in the waffle batter smell amazing when baking...reminds me the seasons are changing. The waffles cook up light and crispy with a subtle pumpkin pie flavor. I am starting to plan my Thanksgiving weekend menu and this definitely makes the list.

The bacon recipe is one of my favorites. First of all, the bacon is baked in the oven not fried on the stove top. This results in an easier, less messy way to cook bacon. (I love not having grease splattered all over the kitchen). The maple syrup glaze puts this dish over the top. In addition to breakfast, the bacon is wonderful crumbled into salads, added to the best BLT you will ever eat, served with baked chicken, greens, even crumbled on top of vanilla ice cream (sounds odd but give it a try) Pumpkin Waffles & Maple Syrup Bacon! Happy October everyone...

Spiced Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Syrup Glazed Bacon
6-8 servings
(These waffles are more savory than sweet. Double the sugar if you prefer a sweeter waffle)

1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
4 large eggs
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 3/4 cups almond or coconut milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/4 cup coconut sugar (or organic brown sugar)

Preheat waffle iron. Combine flours, baking powder, soda, salt and spices in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk together and set aside.

Beat eggs into a large bowl. Add butter, milk, vanilla, maple syrup, pumpkin and sugar. Stir to combine. Gently fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir just to combine. Do not over mix.

Cook waffles according to your waffle maker's instructions. Serve with butter and warm maple syrup.

Maple Syrup Glazed Bacon
1 lb thick-cut applewood smoked bacon
1/3-1/2 cup pure maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil Add a wire baking rack to each sheet and place the bacon on top of the rack(s). Brush maple syrup on bacon slices using a pastry brush.

Bake bacon in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, flip slices. Brush with additional syrup and return to oven for another 5-10 minutes. Caution! Watch bacon carefully during the last few minutes...it goes from cooked to burnt really fast!

Remove from oven and place bacon slices on paper towel lined plate. Serve immediately.

It is "Pumpkin" week at Food Network's Fall Fest
roundup. Check out the other delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends. Do you have a favorite pumpkin recipe? Please share in the comments section and/or link to your blog if you have one.

The Lemon Bowl: Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies (Gluten-Free)

Jeanette's Healthy Living: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Oat Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Bacon and Souffle: Easy Pumpkin Bundt Cake

Weelicious: Quick Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Virtually Homemade: Gluten-Free Dark Brownies with Pumpkin Frosting

Devour: Eat As Much Pumpkin As Possible

Napa Farmhouse 1885: Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip Cake

Red or Green: Spiced Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Syrup Glazed Bacon

Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

The Cultural Dish: Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts

The Mom 100: Pumpkin Gingerbread with Crystallized Ginger

Haute Apple Pie: Pumpkin Bread Truffles