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TV Dinners: V For Vendetta - Egg In A Basket

partysugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:47:03 -0800

When my mom rented the movie V for Vendetta, she was pleasantly surprised by a scene that brought her back to her childhood. She paused the television and turned to me excitedly and said, "My mom used to make me those everyday for breakfast when I was a little girl!"

If you've seen the movie you know what I'm talking about. V makes Evey an "egg in a basket" for breakfast using real butter and later in the film, the scene mimics itself when Gordon makes Evey the same thing. An egg in a basket is a fried egg cooked inside a piece of toast. I had never seen this tasty little breakfast treat and my mother informed me that she and my grandmother, Nan, referred to it as an "egg in a nest."

The next morning I awoke to find my mom, who doesn't cook, in the kitchen over the stove! "I'm making us eggs in a nest for breakfast!" she told me enthusiastically. An egg in a nest (or whatever you want to call it) is a simply divine breakfast, the crisp, buttery toast and the runny, gooey yolk are a combination that rivals peanut butter and jelly. I was hooked after a single bite and now my mom makes me one every Saturday morning. To make V's egg in a basket, read more

Egg In A Basket (Nest)
From Martha Stewart

2 slices whole wheat sandwich bread
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, or butter
2 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

Cut a 2-inch circle from the center of each bread slice; toast circles and serve along side egg in a basket.
Set slices aside.
Brush 1 tablespoon oil or butter in a medium skillet, and heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
Lay bread slices in skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low.
Crack an egg into the hole of each bread slice, and sprinkle each with 1/8 teaspoon salt.
Cook until bottom of eggs are set and golden brown, about 2 minutes.
Flip; cook 2 minutes more for soft-cooked eggs, or 3 minutes more for slightly firmer.

Serves 2

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Spinach, Olive, and Feta Omelet

partysugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:50:25 -0700

Do you live alone? Are you a vegetarian? If you answered yes to both of those questions, I suggest you consider this omelet for dinner tonight. It's a perfectly healthy and delicious meal for one.

In this recipe, the filling is a mixture of garlic, tomatoes, spinach, and black olives, but an omelet can be made with just about any vegetable, herb, or cheese, so use the technique and get creative with the ingredients. To look at the simple and straight-forward method, read more.

Spinach, Olive, and Feta Omelet
From The Nest

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 clove garlic, minced
4 cherry tomatoes, halved
4 ounces (1 cup) baby spinach
4 to 6 pitted black olives, sliced
3 eggs
1 sprig rosemary, chopped
1/4 cup half-and-half
1/2 pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

Place a nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter. When the butter is melted, add the garlic and halved tomatoes. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the baby spinach and olives and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, or until all of the spinach is wilted, then reduce the heat to medium.
Beat the eggs, rosemary, half-and-half, salt and pepper and pour into the pan. Stir constantly so that the eggs do not brown. When the center is just a little soft, crumble the feta cheese all around the omelet. Fold onto the plate and serve.

Serves 1.

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Come Party With Me: Easter Brunch - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:01:51 -0700

Use pretty pastels against a clean white background to create the look for your Easter brunch. Start by setting the table with a crisp white tablecloth, white plates, and plain silver flatware. Select a large wine glass that can be used universally for milk, bloody marys, or smoothies.

Floral printed linen napkins are eye catching and add a punch of color. For place settings, put a small yellow nest on each plate. Write each guest's name on an egg shaped piece of cardstock and nestle in the middle of the nest. Pink straw bunnies are festive extras. A centerpiece of lemons is affordable and elegant. Nothing says Spring like fresh flowers, so arrange lush bouquets of pink tulips.

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Top Chef 3.11 - Snacks on a Plane Recap

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:22:06 -0700

Well folks, we are down to the final six cheftestants, and I must say I was slightly shocked by last night's episode. Shocked by who was eliminated, shocked by how mean guest judge Anthony Bourdain was - although I should have been expecting it - and shocked by how many folks overcooked fish. I could go on and on about my shock, but let's just start at the beginning for now.

The episode starts with Padma sneaking into the dorms and rousing the chefs from their slumber. And naturally, she has a surprise! They stagger into the (super swanky) kitchen area and are told they have 20 minutes to make her breakfast with ingredients in the kitchen. No time to change, no time to think, just make. Oh and they're endorsed by Breville's blender, so they might want to use that too.

To find out what happens next, read more

Once the challenge starts, the cheftestants (as Hung said) "scatter like roaches." Truffle oil is falling off the counter, bell peppers are lying on the floor and burners are barely burning. All of the chefs decide to play it a little safe - crepes, French toast, eggs in a nest, etc - and Hung wins the challenge with a well prepared take on steak and eggs and a papaya smoothie. Did I mention that his papaya smoothie was spiked with Grand Marnier? I'm sure it gave him an edge, but the simple combo of blended papaya with milk is fantastic, so I'm sure his would have been fantastic with or without the added bonus.

As winner of the elimination challenge, Hung is presented a copy of Padma's upcoming cookbook and will be able to pick his protein first. However, before they can begin, it's time to pack their bags and head West to Aspen! But oh wait, there's a slight detour and they're going to New York first!

When the cheftestants arrive at the Newark airport, they're ready to head to New York, but are told to check in to their airport hotel and prepare for an elimination challenge the next day. The challenge takes place - hair caps and all - in the kitchen for Continental airlines. They have two hours to prepare business class appropriate meals that will be reheated and served to the judges - including guest judges Anthony Bourdain and Jimmy Canora of Continental's Congress of Chefs - and a fleet of elite flight attendants.

Four of the six chefs opt for fish, Hung takes the fatty Chilean Sea Bass, Brian takes lobster (to go with this gigantic steak), CJ takes halibut and Sara opts for salmon. Casey and Dale take meats, veal and steak respectively. The fishes - except for Hung's - are overcooked and rubbery. Bourdain says he didn't even know what Brian's lobster was and Sara's salmon is awful and inconsistent. In the end Casey walked away the winner with grilled veal medallions and cauliflower gratin.

However it isn't the fish, but side dishes that send folks home. Sara's couscous is considered an afterthought - which she agrees with - and CJ's burnt broccolini is according to Tom, the "worst dish that they've had in three years of the competition." Bourdain backs it up by saying that it looked like they were cleaning Bob Marley's house and found it in the closet. Ouch, harsh words for some sad broccolini.

Unfortunately, it isn't just harsh words that are given to CJ. He is also given the boot. I must say, I was a bit shocked. I honestly thought he would be in the final four. It looks like it must have been a tough decision, I mean Padma is practically in tears as she tells him to go home.

Things to ponder...

Did you think the beginning was staged? Something about it seemed like they re-enacted the scene.
This is probably some sort of sin to ponder, but is Bourdain's mean guy schtick too predictable? Oh and If you haven't read his thoughts on the evening, you really should.
Were you as touched by how sad Padma was, as I was?
Who are you rooting for? I think I'm rooting for Hung, but with my track record that must mean he's going home next week.
Oh and, I don't know about you, but I have to figure out how to fly business class from now on...

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