Breakfast in Bed: Heart-Shaped Egg in a Hole with a side of Oven-Baked Bacon

This Valentine's Day forget about the chocolates, the candies, and all the other sweet treats.  Try serving your loved ones breakfast in bed instead!

The classic egg in a hole becomes much more festive when the bread is cut into a cute little heart shape and served alongside. 

Egg in a Hole

Serves 1

1 slice of bread

1 good-sized tablespoon butter, plus 1 teaspoon (room temperature)

1 egg

salt & pepper

Cut desired shape from bread (I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter).  Generously butter both sides of the bread and the cut-out shape (you need about a tablespoon of butter to do this right).  In a skillet over low heat, place 1 teaspoon of butter and allow to melt. Put the slice of bread in the skillet and allow it to cook for a minute or two. Carefully break the egg into the center of the bread, season with salt and pepper, and cover the skillet (covering the skillet allows the egg to cook a little quicker).  Allow to cook for a minute or two, depending on how you like your eggs.  Flip and cook the other side of bread. When the bread is toasted and your egg is how you like it, gently remove and place on a plate.  Add cut-out shape to pan and toast both sides.  Serve immediately.

Note:  The key to this recipe is using lots of butter! 

And now for the best part....bring on the bacon! This oven-baked bacon is my family's newest obsession.  Baking the bacon in the oven does take a considerable amount of time, but the results are fantastic.  The flavor of the bacon really intensifies in the oven and the texture...oh my!  Oven-baked bacon nearly melts in your mouth.

This is now the only method I use for cooking bacon.  There are so many advantages to oven-baking bacon.  Number one, it's easy.  Just place it on a pan, pop it in the oven, and walk away.  Number two, it's much cleaner.  No grease.  No messy clean up.  Number three, the bacon bakes up in nice perfect slices and looks pretty.  Number four, you need not worry about the chewy/crisp debate.  Oven-baked bacon will satisfy everyone's tastes.  Number five, oven-baked bacon is crazy good!

Method:  Turn to 350F.  While the oven is preheating get out a large baking sheet.  Place a wire rack over the baking sheet.  Place as many slices of bacon as possible on the wire rack.  Do not overlap the bacon. Bake the bacon for about 30-40 minutes, depending on how you like your bacon.  Remove and drain on paper towels.  Serve.

Note:  Yes, that's a soda you see in the above picture.  I'm just keeping it real.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!