Labor Day Surprise : Spicy Apple Waffles Make a Special Treat of Breakfast

Labor Day weekend, the traditional end of summer, is a good time to enjoy a relaxing family breakfast. With school about to start and schedules getting busy again, there might not be an opportunity to enjoy a leisurely morning meal together for some time.

Wedges of the flavorful melons now available in area markets will make a good beginning to the meal. Then kick off the fall season by featuring the flavors of apples and cider in Apple-Cinnamon Waffles With Cider Syrup. Bacon or sausage are good accompaniments.

APPLE-CINNAMON WAFFLES WITH CIDER SYRUP

2 1/4 cups buttermilk baking mix

1 1/4 cups milk

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 egg

1/2 cup finely chopped pared apple

Cider Syrup

Combine baking mix, milk, sugar, oil, cinnamon and egg. Beat with wire whisk or hand beater until smooth. Stir in apple.

Using about 1/3 batter at time, pour onto center of hot waffle iron. Bake until steaming stops. Remove waffle carefully and serve with Cider Syrup. Makes 3 (9-inch) waffles.

Cider Syrup

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons buttermilk baking mix

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups apple cider

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup butter or margarine

Combine sugar, baking mix and cinnamon in 2-quart saucepan. Stir in cider and lemon juice. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in butter.