2bleus Country Ham Bacon And Eggs Recipes

2BLEU'S COUNTRY HAM BACON (AND EGGS)

Steps:

• Cut the ham slices into about 3" pieces, removing the bone if it has one. The pieces do not have to be cut even, as I usually separate around the fat, leaving some fat for flavor.
• CURED HAM ONLY: (If using leftover baked ham, see instructions below). Place the salt cured ham slices in a large *cast iron* pan (it's okay if they overlap at this point) and add the water, enough to cover the ham slices completely. The water may cook down some, so add more as you go as this removes the saltiness from the ham. The more water in the pan, the better.
• Cook over med heat to a gentle simmer for about 10-15 minutes until most of the salt has dissipated into the water, turning the ham a few times to 'shake the salt out'. Remove ham slices and (using a good potholder) rinse and wipe the skillet with a clean dishcloth. Just a quick rinse/wipe to remove any salt and residue.
• For BOTH types of ham: Place pan back on stove-top at a medium heat. Add the oil to the pan followed by the ham slices. Lay them in a single layer enough to fill pan but not overcrowd them. Do in batches if necessary. Cook for about 10-20 minutes depending on thickness, turning occasionally until browned. Drain ham onto paper towels. Add more oil to the pan if necessary for the next batch, although the ham will usually make it's own in the pan from the previous batch. You only need enough to cover the bottom of the pan.
• EGGS: (about 15 minutes to cook) To a *nonstick* skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat (slow cooked scrambled eggs turn out extremely smooth and creamy). Beat eggs and seasonings until very well blended. When butter has melted, pour in the eggs. As they begin to firm, push them around a bit using a spatula. Continue cooking eggs low and slow while ham is cooking in the iron skillet. The ham should be done first, just place a piece of foil over top to keep warm.
• When the eggs are about a minute from your desired doneness, place onto plates and serve with ham. (remember: scrambled eggs continue to cook after you remove them from the heat).

SHEET PAN BREAKFAST BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. Place hashbrowns in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Stir in butter, olive oil, thyme, basil, oregano and garlic powder and gently toss to combine; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with cheese. Place into oven and bake until the edges begin to brown, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and create 6 wells. Add bacon slices and eggs, gently cracking the eggs throughout and keeping the yolk intact. Sprinkle eggs with Parmesan; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place into oven and bake until the egg whites have set and bacon is cooked through, an additional 10-12 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with chives, if desired.

ONE-PAN HAM AND EGGS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in ham and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Flip ham and carefully crack an egg on top of each slice. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until ham is caramelized, egg whites are just set, and yolks are soft, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.

BACON, EGGS, AND TOAST: MY VERSION

Steps:

• Prep: The first thing I do is get the eggs out of the fridge, the bacon and the bread. I try to get the eggs to room temp by putting them out early, but it isn't required. They may just take a bit longer to cook. Get your pan on the burner and pre-heat it to medium-ish. I start closer to medium low, then move it to medium when I'm there cooking the eggs.
• Now, the bacon. Ever used a microwave for your bacon? It's too easy, trust me. Take 2-3 slices and place them evenly on a paper towel. Cover with another piece of towel and get them on a microwave safe plate. Times may vary for this, but my oven is 1000 watts and the bacon gets nice and crispy how I like it in two minutes, thirty seconds. Adjust according to yours.
• Bread. Simple. Just place two slices in the toaster ready to go.
• Cooking: You've got your eggs next to the stove and your pan on and heated, your bacon is in the microwave, and the bread is standing by in the toaster.
• Set the microwave to 2:30 and hit start, press down the plunger on the toaster, put some butter in the pan to melt, and break the eggs into the pan. Don't worry about the toast or bacon getting done early, as they will keep warm from residual heat in their respective cooking implements. We're going to concentrate on the eggs.
• You've cracked them in there and they're beginning to turn white. At this point, I salt them and crack some liberal pepper over them. To taste, of course.
• Next, you'll see a sort of raised ring, about a half inch to inch around the yolk, of white. I constantly take the corner of my spatula and break through this to the cooking surface. What that does is expose more and more white to the heat and I like this part cooked and not runny, but the yolk really runny. Once this has set up, you're basically done. Shake the pan and look to see if you have any jiggly, clear bits. No? Put the eggs on a plate.
• Careful getting the bacon out of the microwave and towels. HOT. Put them on the plate as well.
• Butter the toast, put them on the plate.
• Sit down and feast like a King, or Queen, heheheh.
• I like to break the yolks, cut up the the eggs and mix it all together, and pile a fork full on a corner of the toast (repeat) and chow down like that, occasionally taking a bite of the savory bacon for a change of tongue scenery, if you will, but you eat it however you like, heheh.

CRISPY OVEN BACON AND EGGS

Steps:

• Take the eggs out of the refrigerator. Place a rack in the center of the oven, and heat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Arrange the bacon on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer, spacing evenly. Roast in the center of the oven until the fat renders and the bacon curls, about 8 minutes. Very thin slices will cook more quickly; thick-cut ones will take longer.
• Take the pan out of the oven and quickly flip the bacon and move to one side of the pan. Crack the eggs onto the other side, then immediately return the pan to the oven and roast until the whites are just set, the yolks are still runny and the bacon is brown and crisp, 2 to 5 minutes longer. If you prefer medium or hard egg yolks or extra-crisp bacon, cook a few minutes more, but take out the bacon before it burns.
• Using a spatula, cut the eggs apart. Slide them off the pan and onto plates right away to stop the yolks from solidifying. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drain the bacon on paper towels, then add to the plate along with toast. Serve immediately.

HAM AND EGG BREAKFAST BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Prepare a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Beat eggs, milk, sour cream, and salt together in a large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Mix ham, bell peppers, mushrooms, and green onion into the egg mixture; pour into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cover top of dish with Cheddar cheese; continue baking until cheese is melted, about 3 minutes.