Tired of scrambled eggs

Greek Diner Breakfast Pie

Every three weeks, I work until the wee hours of the morning and then go back in the next day for an all-day meeting. Dinner that night is a trip to the local Greek diner, where I always order the same thing: a spinach and feta omelet with home fries (extra crispy). This dish is an homage to that meal.

Ingredients:

·         3 cups frozen hash browns (thawed)

·         1/2 bag of frozen spinach

·         1 tbsp olive oil

·         1 tsp chopped garlic

·         pinch of dried oregano

·         salt and pepper to taste

·         1/2 cup of feta cheese crumbles

·         3 eggs

·         1/2 cup half and half (or milk)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450. Spray a pie pan with cooking spray and spread the hash browns on the bottom and up the sides. Bake for 15-20 minutes until it gets brown and crispy.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a big frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, oregano, salt and pepper and cook until the garlic is starting to toast a little. Add the frozen spinach and coat with the olive oil. Cook it down until the spinach is warmed through and enough moisture has evaporated so it doesn’t look as wet anymore.

Beat the eggs and half and half together, adding a pinch of salt and pepper.

Take the crust out of the oven and reduce the heat to 350. Spread the spinach over the bottom of the crust and sprinkle the feta cheese crumbles over it. Pour the eggs over everything. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the eggs are set.

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What doesn't go with bacon?

Apple Oven Pancake

As the weather turns colder, it is time to turn the oven on to warm up the house in the morning. I like to throw a pan of oven bacon in before I start this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp Butter
  
• 1-2 Apples
  
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
  
• 1 Tsp Lemon Juice
  
• ¼ Cup Sugar
  
• 2 Lg Eggs
  
• ½ Cup Milk
  
• 1 Tbps Vanilla
  
• ¼ Cup Cornmeal
  
• ¼ Cup Flour
  
• ¼ Tsp Salt
  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°
   
2. Put butter in oven-proof skillet (~10") over med heat
   
3. Chop apples roughly. You want enough to cover the bottom of the pan completely.
   
4. Toss the apples with a tablespoon of sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
   
5. When the butter is nice and bubbly, add the apples to the pan.
   
6. Whisk the eggs well and add the milk and vanilla.
   
7. Add the flour, cornmeal, and salt and whisk well again.
   
8. Pour the batter over the apples.
   
9. Put the skillet in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until it is set but still a little jiggly.
   

The pancake is nice with maple syrup but I prefer it with a little caramel sauce. I suppose I could make it myself but the stuff they sell in the grocery store with the ice cream toppings works just as well for me.

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