Showing posts with label eggs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eggs. Show all posts

Mini Pasta, Bacon & Cheese Frittatas

Just like omelets you can add anything to frittatas.  One of my favorites is pasta!  You can make some fresh or even better- use up left overs!  Any kind of pasta will work; plain, white or red sauced, long or shaped pasta.  I had some Garlicy Fettuccine Alfredo left over and let's face it, Alfredo just doesn't reheat well.  So, I decided to make these mini frittatas.  My husband loves them. They are like a mini meal all in one & they are easily portable!  Perfect for week day breakfasts!  I used bacon but you could use ham, sausage, deli meat, or left over chicken- what ever you have on hand!
Ingredients:
Eggs
1 1/2- 2 cups Cooked Pasta (or left over)
6 eggs
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 cup Shredded Cheese (I used Mozzarella)
2 Green Onions, chopped
2 pieces of Bacon, cooked & chopped
Salt & Pepper, to taste

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a standard muffin tin with nonstick spray. 
In a medium bowl, break the eggs.  Add the milk & whisk.
I used leftover sauced pasta but you could use plain, cooked pasta instead.  If you use a long pasta like this fettuccine, you need to cut it up.  If you are using a smaller pasta like elbow noodles you can leave them whole. 
Add the chopped onions, pasta, shredded cheese, & bacon to the egg mixture.  Season with salt & pepper; stir to combine. 
Spoon evenly into muffin tins filling about 2/3s of the way.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until set. 
Allow the frittatas to cool a few minutes in the tins before removing.  
Enjoy!
 This recipe makes 12 mini frittatas.

Classic Deviled Eggs

No Southern meal is complete without these classic delights. We have them at barbecues, tailgates, cocktail parties & dinners. My family loves sweet relish in them but if you don't just omit that.
 Ingredients:
12 Eggs
1 tbsp White Vinegar
1/3 cup Mayonnaise
2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
2 tbsp Sweet Pickle Relish
Salt & Pepper
Paprika to garnish

Directions:
Place eggs in a medium to large size sauce pan. Add enough cold water to cover the eggs by 1".
 Place the pan over high heat & add 1 tbsp of white vinegar to the water as it is coming to a boil. Once the water starts to boil, cover & turn the heat off. Let the eggs sit, covered in the hot pan for 15-20 minutes. Then drain & rinse the eggs with cold water.
 When the eggs are cool enough to touch, peel them & slice in half. Add the cooked yolks to a large bowl & the whites to a serving platter.
 Mash up the egg yolks, trying to get rid of all large clumps.
 Add the mayo, mustard & relish to the yolks.  And by all means, just eye ball it & adjust to your taste!  In my house we put more than 2 tbsp of relish!!
 Taste & adjust seasoning, add salt & pepper if needed.
 Fill the egg whites & dust with paprika. Serve immediately or chill to let the filling set.

Eggs In a Nest

Aren't these little eggs cups the cutest little things that you've ever seen? I just love them! Not only are they cute but they are delicious! The buttered bread on the bottom toasts perfectly while holding & cooking the egg. Oh, and did I mention there was cheese between the bread & the egg?? YES! You must give these a try!! Ingredients:
Eggs
Whole Wheat Bread
Shredded White Cheddar
Butter (room temperature)
Salt & Pepper
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Butter or spray with non stick cooking spray individual ramekins or muffin tins. Cut the crusts off all 4 sides of your bread. Then butter both sides of the bread.
Push the buttered bread into the bottom of the buttered ramekins (or muffin tin). Place in the oven at 450 degrees for 2-3 minutes, just to slightly toast the bread.
Then place a little shredded cheese in each ramekin, on top of the bread.
Crack 1 egg into each dish, on top of the cheese. Then sprinkle a little more cheese on top & season with salt & pepper.
Bake at 450 degrees until the whites are set & the yolk is cooked to your liking.
Every oven cooks differently so you're just going to have to test yours out, but here's my estimates. Cook it for 8 minutes for over easy (with a runny yolk). I cooked these for 10 minutes & they were medium. Keep in mind, that they will continue to cook as they sit!
YUM! The buttery toast is like a perfectly cooked grilled cheese with the egg on top, it is delicious!! My picky 4 year old ate this UP too! And we can't usually get her to eat eggs. I made these for one of our 'Breakfast for Dinner' nights with Smashed Red Potatoes & Bacon.

These are also called Birds in a Nest, Eggs in a Basket & One Eyed Sailor all of which I get. But they are also called Toads in a Hole, Frogs in Hole, & Chicken in a Basket all of which I don't get. I'm sure there are tons more names too, but I'm going to stick with Eggs in a Nest. :)

Shirred Eggs

Baked eggs with a touch of butter & cream- it's simple and fabulous!! This is another one our favorite egg dishes. You can change it up by adding some fresh herbs &/ or cheese on the top too. It is perfect for breakfast, brunch or a cozy dinner! Ingredients:
Eggs, 3 per serving
Butter, 1/2 tbsp per serving
Heavy Cream, 1 tbsp per serving
Salt & Pepper
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.Place 1/2 tbsp of butter & 1 tbsp of heavy cream in the bottom of each dish. (You want to use individual gratin or ramekins for this.) Place the dishes on a sheet pan & into the preheated oven, just until the butter is melted & the cream is warmed (about 2 minutes).
Crack 2-3 (large/extra large) eggs into a separate dish. I used a 2 cup measuring cup that had a pour spout on it. (You can make smaller portions if you wish- just use smaller ramekins & adjust the butter & cream.) Gently pour the eggs into the individual dishes. Sprinkle with salt & pepper (to taste). Repeat per serving.
Bake at 450 degrees for about 8 minutes, just until the white has begun to set & brown but the yolk is still soft. Pull out of the oven (the eggs will continue to cook & set.)
Serve immediately. I made this on one of our 'Breakfast for dinner' evenings with my Basic Roasted Red Potatoes & Bacon as sides. We also like to make it with Toast Points or some kind of crusty bread, that you can dip in the egg yolks. YUM!!

Sunny Side Up Eggs & Bacon

Nothing gets my morning started better than the smell of bacon cooking (and freshly brewed cup of coffee)! These breakfast classics are a favorite in our house & they are so easy & quick to make!! My favorite way to cook bacon:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the strips of bacon on a sheet pan, try to not let them touch or they will stick together while cooking. Some people like to place the bacon over a slotted rack on the sheet pan so that the grease drips down. But I think it tastes much better & gets a better texture when you let the bacon cook in it & drain the excess at the end. Cook for 10-15 minutes, just under cooked. Then flip the pieces & return to the oven to cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until your desired crispiness.
Remove from the oven & drain the bacon strips on a plate lines with paper towels. I like to blot the excess grease of the tops with another paper towel.
Don't be afraid to make extra- it's great left over for sandwiches or as topping for salads!! You can make the bacon ahead of time too & reheat the bacon in a low oven or microwave before serving. Perfect for a brunch get together!

Sunny Side Up Eggs!
Melt 1 tbs of butter (for 2 eggs) in a non-stick skillet (I used an 10") over medium heat.
When the butter started to bubble, crack 1 egg into the pan being careful not to break the yolk. You can crack the egg into a small dish & then pour it into the skillet.
Rotate or roll the pan around with your wrist to shape the egg & baste it in the butter. When the eggs is set, crack the 2nd egg into the pan.
Using a small spoon, baste some of the hot butter around the sides of the yolk, on the white of the egg to cook the top. The butter will help cook the top of the egg white, ensuring that you don't get clear 'goo' around the yolk. When your egg is cooked, drain it with a slotted spatula & plate. Finish the 2nd egg, basting the top & plate. To cook more eggs, add a little more butter to the pan & repeat this process. And don't worry if they don't look "perfect", as you can see mine didn't! But I assure you, they tasted perfectly!! Serve immediately, before the eggs cool. (They will continue to cook some after you plate them, so keep that in mind!) Serve with your favorite sides. We did croissants & fruit this time but some times we go super traditional & make hash browns or grits & toast. Just make sure that you serve something to dip in that delicious runny yolk!!!

Baked Grits with Country Sausage & Cheddar

Down in the south we love our grits, but even my husband (from upstate NY) loves this dish! The eggs give it a creamy consistency, perfect with the spicy sausage & cheese! A friend (and former neighbor) made this for me & another friend on one of our weekly brunches & we all loved it. I just had to have the recipe! Some times I make it with country ham instead of sausage, both are fabulous! Ingredients:
1 lb Country Sausage
1 cup of Quick Cooking Grits
2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
4 Eggs
1/2 cup of Milk
1 stick of Butter
Salt & Pepper

Good dishes start with good ingredients. This is our favorite brand of sausage. If you don't live in NC, SC, or VA then you probably haven't had this. But it's good. My mother in law always gets some to take back to NY when she comes to visit.
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet over med/ high heat, brown your sausage. While your sausage is cooking, start your water for the grits. When the sausage is fully cooked, drain the excess fat & discard. Set aside. Cook the grits according to the package's stove top method. When the grits are fully cooked, add 1 stick of butter. (Yes, the whole stick, it's a big casserole!) In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the milk.
Temper the egg mixture by adding the warm grits, a little at a time. Eventually adding in all the grits, sausage, & about 1/2 of the cheese. Stir well to combine. Pour into a greased 9X13 glass baking dish & top with the remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.
Let the casserole cool for about 15 minutes, to set. Slice & serve warm.
Who wouldn't love to have this for breakfast?