1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Place a baking sheet in oven.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add bacon. Cook until bacon just begins to crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Measure out 1 Tbsp. bacon fat and set aside; discard remainder or save for another use. Finely chop or crumble bacon.

3. Preheat waffle iron. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, eggs, maple syrup, and reserved bacon fat and stir until just combined. Fold in bacon and cheddar. Batter will be very thick and fluffy, almost doughlike.

4. Lightly spray waffle iron with cooking spray. Measure batter and bake waffles according to your waffle iron instructions. Transfer waffles as you make them to baking sheet in oven to keep warm. Continue with remaining batter. Serve waffles warm. If desired, drizzle maple syrup and sprinkle crumbled bacon over waffles before serving.

Source: Hannaford fresh Magazine, January - February 2015