Summer Brunch ? Egg Muffins with Prosciutto

We used to eat this for brunch, when on 35 degree Summer beach holidays over Christmas and the new year – up on the central coast of NSW. Paired with a crusty bread roll, and a nice cool salad, nothing could beat it. Now here in Germany, sometimes we make these to remind us a little of those times and as long as the heater is turned up enough and we ignore the snow outside it’s close enough. Add some crusty toast, green rocket, freshly squeezed Orange Juice, and a dollop of Ray’s Tomato Sauce and the perfect Brunch is born. Try any omelette, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausages – I don’t think you’ll find an easier, more delicious way of enjoying a very underestimated daily meal.

In the ones we made today, I don’t think I muddled them up enough with my fork, causing the yolk to pretty much remain on top – making them VERY yellow. You can do it however you’d like, mixing the eggs beforehand as well if you prefer, but I’m a lazy sort of guy -  and they taste the same. Make sure you also have a hunk of nice Parmesan on hand. You can never have too much good cheese at brunch.

You can use bacon with this recipe, but I prefer some sort of air dried (preferably aged) ham, like Serrano, or Parma Ham/Prosciutto.

Brunch Egg Muffins and Orange Juice:

4 Large Free Range Eggs (come on let’s be serious guys they really don’t cost much more)

Splash of Milk or Cream

Black Pepper

Parmesan

4 slices of Good Quality dried and aged Ham (Prosciutto, Serrano etc)

OR

8 slices of streaky bacon

1 bag of Oranges

Preheat your oven to 180C. Take your ham, or bacon slices and lay them into 4 Muffin cups of a regular muffin/cupcake tin. There is no need to grease it, as the ham protects the egg from sticking. Break your eggs into the cups, and muddle up the yolk of each one, so it’s broken – then add a splash of milk or cream. Do not overfill the muffin cups, as these tend to get larger in the oven. Sometimes, MUCH larger. Cover with a strong layer of good-quality parmesan, grated finely, and crack over some black pepper.

If you want, there are plenty of things you could add, ie some sauteed onion or garlic, mushrooms or shallots – the list is endless. I find however, that if your Ham, Eggs and Cheese are of a good enough quality – there’s no need for anything else. It really is that simple.

Put the Muffin tin in to bake in the oven for about 14-18 minutes, or until the eggs are set.

While they are cooking, take one bag of Oranges, juice them all and pour into a chilled jug – yes it really tastes 200 times better than the one you buy in a carton.

Plus if you’re sneaky, when L isn’t looking, add a little splash of Grenadine to sweeten up your morning.

I can’t believe sometimes I don’t even eat breakfast! Somebody slap me.