Apple-Toscano Pancakes

The fridge is sadly limited on breakfast foods these days. As a dedicated retailer (sigh), Sunday mornings are usually a hurry to get to work, not a time for a leisurely homemade brunch. However, with my now curtailed schedule I found myself in no hurry to be anywhere and almost nothing to cook with...except a wedge of cinnamon-encrusted toscano cheese, a honeycrisp apple, and some instant pancake mix. Oh wow. This is where my amazing boyfriend steps in and says "Apple pancakes?" and I say "Why not?".

They started out simply, with the cheese on top, but by the end the cheese had migrated inwards. I like the cheese inside, personally.

1 honeycrisp apple
1 cup cinnamon-toscano cheese (or any cheese you have in your fridge)
Instant pancake mix (prepared according to directions), but add in the following:
            1 tsp cinnamon
            1 tsp vanilla
            1/4 tsp cardamom
            1/4 tsp nutmeg
            1 egg (if directions don't call for it)
1 tbsp butter (for cast iron skillet)

Mince, slice, chop, food process, or grate your apple (leave the peel, please!). We chose to mince. Finely grate your cheese, and set aside. Mix your apple (and cheese, if you want to do it that way) into the batter. Drop spoonfuls of batter into your heated and buttered cast iron (I swear by cast iron for these things, but if you have another pan you want to use, feel free).  Flip when the edges start to bubble. Top with more cheese, creme fraiche if you have it, or nutella...mmmmm.