Valentines Day Oven Pancake and Heart Shaped Bacon

 It's Valentines day here and I have four hungry boys waiting for pancakes!  What a perfect day to make Oven Pancakes.....that's right one giant pancake, no slaving over the stove making dozens of individual pancakes for the hungry little or big people in your life!  This is super easy and I haven't made regular pancakes since I learned this recipe :)  Of course since its V-day I made heart shaped bacon to go along with it.  My boys would probably tell you the best part of this whole Valentines Day Breakfast was that I let them put their own syrup, butter, whipped cream, and fruit on the pancakes.....no pesky mom telling them that was enough sugar today!

 

 

OVEN PANCAKES

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a 9x13 pan, place a 1/2 to 1 stick of butter (1/4 – 1/2 cup).   Place the pan in the oven to melt the butter (don’t burn it!).  If the butter melts before you are done with the batter, you can take the pan out of the oven while you finish.

While the butter is melting whisk together:

• 5 eggs
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup sugar (optional)
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla (optional)
• 1 cup chocolate chips, blueberries or other favorite flavor (optional)

You can use a regular blender or a stick blender to mix this thoroughly, in a pinch I've just mixed by hand with a whisk and it was fine.  By now the butter should be melted in the pan. Carefully tilt the pan to coat it with the butter. Pour the batter in, and bake uncovered for about 17 minutes. It will puff up and is fun for children to watch as it grows. The pancake is done when a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. After the pancake comes out of the oven it loses some of its puffiness. You can cut it while puffed or un-puffed.

 

 

You can also try sprinkle brown sugar in the melted butter before adding the batter. When it is done you cut it and flip it over and the butter and brown sugar have made a syrup already

Tip:  You can cut the whole thing with a pizza cutter into bite sized pieces to save time cutting each child's individually.

HEART SHAPED BACON

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

 

Line a baking pan with tinfoil.  Using two pieces of bacon form a heart shape, using one piece for each side of the heart being sure to overlap them.  Cook for 15-20 minutes or until bacon is done to your liking.  Remove pan from oven and let cool a few minutes before moving heart bacon to plates.