For this month, I\’d like to share recipes that celebrate my home state of Ohio and the Midwest! To kick things off, here\’s a play on a \”hearty\” breakfast (the \”slam\” breakfast Denny\’s).

Ingredients

4 thick slices Canadian bacon or deli ham
4 eggs
4 frozen whole grain waffles (We like Van\’s Gourmet Multi-Grain. Each waffle packs 2.5 grams of fiber and just 95 calories.)
2 Tbsp maple syrup
4 Tbsp shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Salt and black pepper to taste
Parsley (optional)

Directions

1. Heat a non-stick skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Coat with a bit of olive oil cooking spray and cook the Canadian bacon for a few minutes on each side, until well browned.  Remove.
2. Coat the same pan with a bit more spray and cook the eggs (2 at a time, if you must; avoid overcrowding the pan) sunny side up until the whites have set but the yolks are still runny.
3. In the meantime, toast the waffles. Top each toasted waffle with a slice of meat, a drizzle of maple syrup, a sprinkle of Cheddar, and the warm fried eggs.
4. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with parsley (if using).

Eat This Tip

With a whole-wheat waffle as your base, you can build a slew of sweet and savory open-faced breakfast sandwiches. Try some of the options below…

• Peanut butter, sliced banana, sliced almonds, and a drizzle of honey
• Scrambled eggs, turkey, and guacamole
• Fresh ricotta or mascarpone cheese, sliced strawberries or figs, and agave syrup