Business Brunch Baked Eggs

My dear friend, client and oft partner-in-crime Genevieve came by yesterday morning for a business brunch. We had much to discuss (gossip about) and celebrate. I made individual baked eggs. There was champagne.

This recipe is easy, versatile and absolutely delicious. I find it the most enjoyable and creative way to cook eggs, and you'll be sure to impress with its beautiful presentation and incredible taste.

Business Brunch Baked Eggs

serves 2

INGREDIENTS

(open to interpretation)

1/2 medium red onion, sliced

6-7 small mushrooms, sliced

a handful of fresh spinach, ripped into smaller bits

1 small roasted red pepper, cut into strips

2 slices of a large tomato

4 eggs

a splash of milk

feta cheese, crumbled

a bit of butter

herbes de Provence

dried tarragon

salt to taste

PREP:

- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

- Lightly butter the sides of two 6" Corning Ware meneutte skillets (Cornflower Blue pattern preferred).

THE FILLING:

- In a cast iron skillet, sauté the onions and mushrooms on medium heat, adding the spinach at the end until wilted. Season with herbes de Provence, add a little butter if the mixture seems dry and salt to taste.

- Whisk two eggs each in two separate bowls, and whisk in a splash of milk.

- How to roast a red (or any color) pepper: Place your pepper directly on the burner and turn the flame up as high as it can go. Completely blacken the outside of the pepper, turning it as necessary. Seal the pepper in a paper bag for 20 minutes. Remove the pepper from the bag. The blackened skin should come off quite easily. Remove the seeds and stem and cut into strips. Voilá! Never buy them in a jar ever again.

ASSEMBLY:

- Spoon the onion/mushroom/spinach mixture into the bottom of the skillet.

- Pour in the egg and milk mixture.

- Lay the slices of tomato on top.

- Drape the strips of roast red pepper atop the tomato.

- Sprinkle feta cheese over the whole thing.

- Finish with a sprinkle of dried tarragon.

COOK:

Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, until there is no visible raw egg on top.

SERVICE:

Put the Corning skillet directly on a plate; warn your guest that it is very hot.

SERVE WITH:

Cranberry orange muffins you baked early that morning, not too sweet

Raspberry jam and butter for the muffins

Coffee

Champagne

Slices of the orange you used for zest for the muffins

DISCUSS:

Love, plans for being inspirational in Sweden, secrets, how to avert trench-coat-wearing gallerists who are trying to ride your coattails of success, gushers.

TOAST:

Success, opportunity, gushers.