The Best Breakfast Sandwich - Ever

I’ve never been one for breakfast. I’ll have a tub of yogurt once I get into the office most days, but I view that as the kind of eating that is purely to provide me with enough energy to get through the morning, not for any real gastronomic delight. Some days require breakfast, though. For instance, mornings after discovering that you’ve been “overserved” yet again at the local watering hole practically require that breakfast consist of more than 3 Advil and a pint of tap water. And now that I have my new toy, there seems to be no obstacle it cannot overcome. Hence, the best breakfast sandwich – ever.

The Best Breakfast Sandwich – Ever
For two sandwiches, you’ll need:

½ large red onion, sliced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
4 eggs
2 tablespoons milk or water
4 slices bacon
4 slices whole wheat bread
4 slices tomato
3-4 ounces swiss cheese, sliced thinly
olive oil
butter
salt & pepper

Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet and add sliced red onion. Cook over medium-low flame for 5 minutes. Add a hefty splash (approximately 1 tablespoon) of balsamic vinegar. Go back to bed. Get up at commercial breaks to stir the onions.
Let the onions cook until caramelized – sweet and sticky – which can take up to 40 minutes.

Scramble four eggs with milk or water, salt and pepper in a bowl. Once the onions are done to your liking, pour in the eggs. Proceed as you would for a frittata or omelet, pulling the egg away from the sides and allowing the raw egg underneath the cooked. Once cooked, remove from the skillet, set aside and wipe out the pan. Toss in bacon slices and fry ‘em up.

While the bacon is frying, turn on the panini press, slice up the cheese and tomatoes and butter the bread. After the bacon is suitably drained and crisp, it’s time to assemble:

Bread – butter side down
Cheese
Tomato
Bacon
Egg
Bread – butter side up

Toss these monstrously large sandwiches onto the press and suffer through the wait.

It’s totally worth it.

If you’d like to challenge my assertion that this is the best breakfast sandwich ever with your own creation – I’d love to hear about it!

blonde quote of the day

“My weaknesses have always been food and men - in that order.”

- Dolly Parton (January 19, 1946 - present)

New Toy! New Toy! New Toy!

As I may or may not have mentioned earlier, I abandoned the better bitter blonde due to elevated stress levels that included a little family strife and a change in where I lay my head at night. The change in locales was supposed to make all my troubles melt away…only it didn’t.

There is one loud, clunky, clutzy, chubby, nocturnal cow living on top of me, and I haven’t slept more than 5 hours at a time since moving in.

I really truly believed that a new apartment (with hardwood floors, no less!) in a great location was going to help me get myself in order and perk up my mood. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out that way. So…I went shopping. And while some may feel blue, I feel bleu. (Wow that was cheesy. Oh, God – I can’t stop myself!)

The supermarket is my refuge, and the cheese counter the end of my pilgrimage. I looked in my new (and still mostly empty refrigerator) last night, and counted 5 different types of sparkling water, 2 bottles of white wine and 4 blocks of imported cheese. While water, wine and cheese will normally get me through the most difficult of situations, my current predicament required something a little more substantial: a new toy.



The Cuisinart Griddler™ Panini & Sandwish Press makes everthing from popular panini to great grilled cheese. Designed like professional units, our floating hinge adjusts to sandwich thickness to perfectly grill thin or thick panini and sandwiches. A preset temperature ensures restaurant-quality results -- always crisp and golden brown.

(And yes, the Cuisinart website really does say “Sandwish”!)


We used the press for the first time last night, blending cheeses and meats into a sandwich that was crisp and satisfying. It may not necessarily qualify as a “recipe” persay, but it certainly was tasty and has cemented my press’s role as new favorite toy.

Mozzarella, Prosciutto and Basil Panini

½ ball fresh mozzarella, sliced
3-4 pieces thinly sliced Prosciutto
½ bunch fresh basil, leaves pulled off of stems
1 sliced tomato
1-2 tablespoons prepared pesto
2 5-6” long pieces of Baguette

Heat the panini press. The grill is ready when the light changes from red to green.

To assemble the sandwiches, slice the baguette into 5-6 inch long portions, then in half lengthwise. Spread both sides with pesto and then layer on the remaining ingredients: mozzarella, prosciutto, basil and tomato. Top with the other bread half and place on the grill. Lower the top onto the sandwiches (the light will turn red) and grill until crisp.

Makes two tasty sandwiches, just perfect for dipping in a creamy tomato bisque soup!

Now that I’ve got my brand new toy, I’m very excited to use it. If you have any sandwich combinations that you think I should try, please let me know! Would love to hear your suggestions.

blonde movie quote of the day

"Don't you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You wouldn't marry a girl just because she's pretty, but my goodness, doesn't it help?"

~ Marilyn Monroe (as Lorelei Lee) in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes