My friends, we are living in exciting times. A brave new world full of possibility. First, the nutrition overlords announced that bacon is actually healthy. We rejoiced, able to partake in the salty, cured meat at breakfast without being guilt-racked for the rest of the day. Now comes news that threatens to make breakfast downright hedonistic. Maple syrup is good for you too.
It’s maple syrup season here in Michigan. Driving around the countryside, I see stands of trees tapped and hung with sap buckets.
Every weekend sugarbushes are holding open houses, demonstrating their process and offering samples of their maple treats, everything from homemade pancakes smothered in syrup to maple ice cream. YUM! You might think maple syrup only comes from Vermont, but Michigan it the fifth largest producer in the United States.
Do you always buy that bottle of fake maple syrup at the big box store? I did, because the truth is real maple syrup is expensive. Depending on the quantity, quality and origin, it can cost as much as ten times more per ounce than the artificial stuff.
But it’s a serious case of getting what you pay for. Imitation maple syrup is nothing more than sugar, water and artificial flavor and color. It has zero health benefits. With all that processed sugar, it may even have negative health benefits.
Contrast that with pure maple syrup which contains all natural sugars, cancer fighting antioxidants and high levels of zinc and manganese. Those two minerals have healthy benefits for both the heart and the immune system. In fact, the health benefits in maple syrup are equal to those found in berries, tomatoes and flaxseed! Who says healthy can’t taste good?
I challenge you to go find some pure Michigan maple syrup, (Or whatever is local to you if you don’t live in Michigan.) and give it a chance. I ate artificial syrup my entire life until I finally tried the real thing. I just couldn’t go back to fake stuff after that. I don’t think you will either.
Of course, maple syrup goes great with pancakes. And bacon, that tasty king of breakfast meats, goes great with pancakes. But maybe you don’t want to spend all morning flipping flapjacks and frying a pound of bacon. Well, you can get those same great tastes with this Pancakes-n-Bacon Oatmeal recipe. You make it on the stove top, so it takes just a few minutes for a hot breakfast that gives you your favorite morning flavors and their healthy benefits.
First, you’ll need to bring milk and pure maple syrup to boil over medium heat. Then stir in quick-cooking oats and cook for a minute or two, until thick. Remove from heat. Next, mix a little brown sugar with more maple syrup.
Stir that in along with four slices of cooked, crumbled bacon. Then the only thing left to do is pour a cup of coffee and indulge!
Maple Pancakes-N-Bacon Oatmeal Recipe
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups milk
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
Bring 1 1/4 cups of milk to boil along with 2 Tbsp of pure maple syrup over medium heat. Stir in 1 cup of quick oats, cooking about 1 to 2 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir together the remaining maple syrup and brown sugar, then stir that into the oatmeal mixture along with the crumbled bacon. Makes 2 servings.
