Egg in a Hole

Egg in a hole – sounds like a children’s story book, doesn’t it? It’s not though – instead it is one of the best breakfasts ever invented. I grew up on it! I remember watching Mary Jane’s Pa as a kid and thinking what the heck, now I must have one when Guy Kibbee makes it. Even both Fraiser and Friends sitcoms feature egg in a hole being prepared. It’s gotta be popular if it’s been on Friends right?

If you have never had egg in a hole, I don’t think we can be friends.

Get off my site and go make one right now!

Toad in a hole, egg in a hole, egg in a basket, frog in a hole, bird’s nest egg, blind eyes, private eyes, egg toast, chicken in a basket, seriously I don’t care what you want to call it! All that matters is it is so good you have to at least try it. It’s one of my go to breakfasts because of its simplicity and you can whip them out in a snap.

Start with a piece of bread. using a jar, cup, cookie or biscuit cutter, whatever you have on hand as I do not even own a circle cookie or biscuit cutter (shapes would be fun for holidays or children’s breakfast!) simply remove the center of your bread. I love while wheat bread with grains – flax, seeds, oats, anything to make it hearty. I’m very practical. I likehomemade bread, but it goes so quick! You can use any kind of bread. I grew up on potato bread! White, sour dough, brioche, or honey whole wheat works just fine. (Your taste in bread says nothing about your financial status.)

In a skillet, melt 1/2 a tablespoon of butter on MED/LOW heat. Butter is good for you I don’t care what anyone tells you. Chart to open your eyes:

Chart is from Roman Fitness Systems
http://www.romanfitnesssystems.com/assets/images/userPics/tinymce/fatchart.jpg

Red bars are saturated fats… Saturated fats (aka solid fats at room temperature) are DIRECTLY related to bad cholesterol levels. It’s basic science. Mono and  poly unsaturated fats (aka the oils that are liquid even when cold) too take part in cholesterol levels, I’m talking about both LDL’s and HDL’s. Mono is good – it helps remove the cholesterol build up in your arteries, takes it back to your liver for bile use. Bile is what emulsifies fat you eat so it can actually be broken down into glucose, and metabolized for energy. See the circle of life? Now, although saturated fats are directly related to bad cholesterol levels, they get a bad reputation. Any study can be swayed to a desired result. In the study that was done to show sat. fats were bad, none of the subjects were healthy. they were probably over eating everything – healthy or bad foods. As for cholesterol levels, the good cholesterol’s (healthy fats and oils) remove the toxins and bad fats in your blood. You also need cholesterol to produce certain hormones like estrogen and testosterone because they are direct derivatives from it! Obviously too much of a good thing is a bad things so limit saturated fats, but don’t be afraid of them. You need them for your body to function properly.

Back to your toad. Place your bread in the center and crack your egg right down in the hole. Add salt and pepper if you like. Let the egg set for 20-40 seconds, then swirl the toast around to soak up all of the browned butter. Don’t work, the butter shouldn’t burn at that low of temperature. Your egg should only be brown from your brown butter, not from overcooking it. Flip after a minute when the whites are half way set. Swirl again, then remove from your skillet when your whites are completely cooked, but the yolk is still soft and gooey.

Serve immediately!

Have an amazing day!