Monday, August 22, 2011

A breakfast for egg lovers

I intended for this post to be about the chef classes I started last week. But there's something far more important to me right now, my grandfather. He's in intensive care and we're on our way to see him this morning.

Pop is an 81 year old Southern man who voted for Obama and once owned an awesome textile company called Needletown. He loves a cold Budweiser, and anything by Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson. He can be so very stubborn, and I always think of him when I act the same. We both share a love for early mornings, strong coffee and eggs.

Baked eggs with tomato & cottage cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium tomato, diced and seeded
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
3 large basil leaves
1 local egg
1/4 c cottage cheese*
freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 325. Heat olive oil over low-to-medium heat. Add the tomato and cook for about five minutes. Add the garlic, cooking a few minutes longer until fragrant. Remove from heat, add the dash of vinegar. Butter or oil a small ramekin. Add the tomato, garlic and basil to the bottom of the ramekin. Crack the egg into a small bowl. Add the cottage cheese and black pepper, mix well. Add the egg mixture to the ramekin and place on a baking sheet. Pour water into the pan until it comes up to about one-third of the side of the ramekin. Place in the oven. Cook until the egg is completely set, 15-20 minutes. Be careful removing the baking sheet with hot water from the oven.


Serves one. Make an extra for someone you love and serve with strong coffee.

*Normally I use heavy cream, but I was out. Cottage cheese worked perfectly and added an extra protein kick.

6 comments:

la domestique said...

It warmed my heart to see this post...my grandfather is southern too, with many of the same traits. My thoughts are with you today, hoping your Pop doesn't suffer. Take care!

Anonymous said...

Funny how eggs and grand-dads are such a match. My grand-dad championed at frying eggs for every family member on a Sunday, something my dad took over, over the course of the years. Actually had a really great omelette the other day - an Italian recipe by a friend: blend grated cheese, lemon juice, and eggs - add large shrimps or peeled gambas and put in the oven. Don't forget to top off with some grated chilli pepper. Prolly too much for breakfast, but egg-lovers can do egg twice a day, right?

Maria said...

This sounds like a perfect brekkie, I adore eggs made this way!

Alie said...

Hope your grandfather is ok! I'm baking this up right now, and am excited to try it for a breakfast-for-dinner. Thanks for the inspiration!

Unknown said...

Thanks for your kind words and thoughts for my grandfather. He's doing better at the moment.

Mike said...

I've always loved my eggs scrambled the best.