Cheesy Ham & Egg in a Hole

 

I am excited to share this quick and easy recipe with you today for a delicious breakfast, brunch or light supper egg bake.  I had seen photos of something similar to this on Pinterest and it looked really delicious, but try as I might I could not find the actual source of the recipe I had seen.  There were about a bazillion different versions.  

So what you see here today is my version of the options available out there and I have to say it is quick and easy to make and very delicious!  

 

I am a person who enjoys eating an egg every now and then, but normally when I do have one it is for supper, not breakfast.  I am not a huge fan of a big breakfast, well . . . at least not early in the morning.  When I first moved to Chester in the U.K. we used to go to the BHS on Saturdays and enjoy their all day breakfast. 

We would usually end up there about 11 a.m. They had all kinds of different options on the breakfast menu.  Eggs (of course), bacon, sausage, fried bread, mushrooms, tomatoes, baked beans, hash browns, black pudding, etc.  You paid according to however many options you chose.  I used to like scrambled eggs with sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, and baked beans.  Oh and if I was feeling really cheeky I would have fried bread.   Very naughty but oh so tasty!

This recipe I am sharing today would be a great breakfast or a lunch/supper option. Especially if you chose to serve it with a side salad.  Hash browns would also go very nicely. You can make as many or as few as you like.  Its up to you!

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CHEESY HAM & EGG IN A HOLE

Just a few simple ingredients, which you can easily adapt to what you have in the house.  Quick, easy and delicious.  Also very economical.

• 2 slices of Texas Toast Garlic bread
• 2 slices of processed cheese
• 2 slices of deli ham
• 2 large free range eggs
• 1 TBS grated Parmesan Cheese
• cracked black pepper
• Parsley to serve

Texas Toast in North America is a specific type of bread that is usually the thickness of two regular slices of bread and is buttered on both sides before toasting.  You can get it plain or you can get it as garlic bread.

Today I used the garlic bread, but I think plain would be better.  Just my opinion.  In the U.K. you can use Toastie bread, which is a thick sliced bread.  (I love the Warburtons.) You could probably use any kind of bread for this purpose so long as you have sliced it thick. It should be at least 1 inch thick. 

 

 

I use large free range eggs.  It is not necessary to use free range eggs. Its a personal choice I make. I refuse to support the industry which uses eggs from caged hens. I worked in a hen battery when I was a teenager for a bit and it was appalling.  I would rather have no eggs at all. I don't mind paying extra to buy eggs from hens which are left to roam about freely.

I used the Kraft Extra Cheddar processed cheese. This is a much nicer tasting product than regular processed cheese. You need to peel the slices off, they are not individually wrapped.

I used Grandpa Sikorski ham, which I buy at our local Sobey's at the deli counter. It is a lovely ham with a beautiful smokey flavor. I get it sliced to sandwich thickness for this not shaved.

You can use pre-grated Parmesan cheese for this bake.  I grind my own pepper.

Quantities can easily be multiplied to make as many sandwiches/bakes as you wish to make. That is the beauty of this recipe.

 

HOW TO MAKE CHEESY HAM & EGG IN A HOLE

Nothing could be easier.  This goes together in a flash and cooks very quickly in an oven. I suspect you could also use an air fryer or a toaster oven as well.

Preheat the oven to 350*F/ 180*C/ gas mark 4. Line a baking tray with either aluminum foil or baking parchment.

Place the slices of Texas toast on the baking sheet. Using the bottom of a measuring cup make a deep hollow into each piece of bread by pressing down firmly in the center of the bread.

Place one slices of processed cheese over top of the hollow and bread, pressing it down lightly to keep the hollow in place.

 

Place one slice of ham over the cheese, pleating it slightly and pressing it down lightly to keep the hollow in place.

Crack one egg into the hollow of each slice of ham. Sprinkle half of the parmesan cheese over each and sprinkle a bit of cracked black pepper on top.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the egg is done as per your desire. Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot.

 

I was surprised at just how very simple this was to make. It went together very quickly and was quite delicious. If you wanted to you could substitute bacon for the ham and just use plain buttered slices of texas toast if garlic bread is not your thing!

I really hope you will want to give this quick and easy breakfast/brunch/supper dish a go.  You can make as many or as few as you like which makes it great for entertaining as well!

  

I do like a breakfast for supper every now and then. Eggs are the perfect meal and are quick to eat and quite an affordable protein when all things are considered. Here are some other ways I enjoy them!

SCRAMBLED EGGS BENEDICT -  Everything you love about eggs benedict without the poached egg.  Eggs are softly scrambled to perfection and then loaded onto toasted English muffins which have been topped with grilled Canadian style bacon. Lashings of Hollandaise sauce are napped over top for a quick and easy meal that everyone will enjoy!

BREAD AND CHEESE OMELET - A simple omelet filled with a good cheddar and buttery cubes of fried bread.  Garnished with some spring onion for a dash of color and sharpness.  Cheese and onion are an unbeatable combination in this quick, easy and delicious option!

Yield: Serves 2

Author: Marie Rayner

Cheesy Ham & Egg in a Hole

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 20 Min

This small batch recipe for a breakfast favorite is quick and easy to make and oh so tasty. Although quantities are given for two, it can easily be multiplied to feed more. This also makes a lovely light supper with a salad served on the side.

Ingredients

• 2 slices of Texas Toast Garlic bread
• 2 slices of processed cheese
• 2 slices of deli ham
• 2 large free range eggs
• 1 TBS grated Parmesan Cheese
• cracked black pepper
• Parsley to serve

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F/ 180*C/ gas mark 4. Line a baking tray with either aluminum foil or baking parchment.
2. Place the slices of texas toast on the baking sheet. Using the bottom of a measuring cup make a deep hollow into each piece of bread by pressing down firmly in the center of the bread.
3. Place one slices of processed cheese over top of the hollow and bread, pressing it down lightly to keep the hollow in place.
4. Place one slice of ham over the cheese, pleating it slightly and pressing it down lightly to keep the hollow in place.
5. Crack one egg into the hollow of each slice of ham. Sprinkle half of the parmesan cheese over each and sprinkle a bit of cracked black pepper on top.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the egg is done as per your desire. Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot.

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