Maple Bacon Pancakes

My brother was home from college this weekend and I wanted to make him a yummy home-cooked meal. It was lunch time so I asked him if he had any requests. He couldn't think of anything, so I asked if he wanted bacon and eggs...no. Waffles....no. Pancakes...maybe. Pancakes with banana...no. Pancakes with bacon...YES!

Maple Bacon Pancakes

Pancake mix of your choice (or from scratch if you so choose....I usually use Fiber One Pancake mix, but I used Aunt Jemima this time and I followed the recipe on the box for 12-14 pancakes)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 pound cooked bacon crumbled

1. Preheat griddle or pan over medium high heat.
2.Mix ingredients to make pancake mix according to directions on package.
3. Stir in maple syrup and crumbled bacon until well combined.
4. Spray griddle or pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour pancake mix into pan to make pancakes to desired size. Cook until bubbles form on surface and pop and edges look dry, then flip and cook until cooked through.

Yum.

Cookies and Cream Frosting

If you don't have any reason to make cake....FIND ONE. This frosting is SO good, that you will want to make it right now to try it. We were having a farewell party for one of our nursing staff and I came across a recipe for oreo cupcakes . When I heard this nurse liked chocolate cake, I knew this would be the perfect time to try it! Now, it is in the middle of the work week, so I had to used a box cake mix. I used Duncan Hines dark chocolate....YUM!!! I am stocking up next time it is on sale. It is SO moist. I got so many compliments...wish I could say it was my own cake recipe.

Cookies and Cream Frosting

2 cups whipping cream
3 Tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 package of chocolate sandwhich cookies (approx 12 cookies) crushed

1. In a large bowl, pour whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Whip with mixer fitted with whisk attachment on medium high until the mixture holds stiff peaks. Viola- you have made homemade whipped cream. Now to make it cookies and cream flavored...
2. Fold crushed cookies into whipped cream. Carefully fold in the cookies so as not to mash the air out of the cream (or you will end up with milk again).
3. Apply to top of your favorite cake recipe. Enjoy!