Cowboy eggs & a stroll down memory lane

Isn’t there something so pretty about a shiny yellow egg yolk? I don’t know about you, but pictures like this just make me happy! If you’re looking for something new for your kids in the morning, the cowboy egg may be your ticket. I know others call them something else, but in my world they’re known as cowboy eggs. I learned of them back in the day from a family I spent many years with….my first “au pair” gig.

That’s when I also learned about the term “au pair.” The mama (my boss & friend) told me I was an “au pair” which in french means “on par” or “equal to.” Now technically I wasn’t a foreigner and I didn’t live with them, but I definitely was made to feel like one of the family! I was there up to 10-11 hours a day my first summer working for her, and learned how the well-oiled wheels of her family ran. I cared for 3 boys ages 6 months, 4 and 5 without the use of a tv to entertain them. We played blocks, read lots of books and I took them to the library for more books. We played games….connect four was a favorite.

I vacuumed their 2-story house with wood floors, did laundry and learned the proper way to iron pants. I assisted with cooking meals, and then made meals on my own. They were a jewish family so meat was kosher, and one routine meal was a roasted chicken, baked potato with real butter and a veggie. I fell in love with their beautiful big kitchen with wooden floors, and huge almost floor to ceiling windows overlooking a big backyard with trees as far as the eye could see. Maybe that’s another reason for my love of trees. I have such a fascination with them. I cooked dinner with a small radio on npr listening to a mixture of world news, short stories and classical music. When it was time to eat dinner it was expected that I would sit and eat with them and talk about our day…..all the while staring out those huge windows at all those trees.

I worked for them at total of 4 – 5 years (maybe more) during my early teen and teenage years growing alongside their boys. I learned a lot from them, felt like one of the family and am grateful to them for the experience and opportunity they gave me. I learned so much, and really loved those boys! I have a feeling that my time spent there was where my love of domesticity was born. I worked for another family during my college years (after the Navy) and they had twin boys (toddlers), and I find it funny that all my pre-mommy experience was with boys and now I have ALL girls….3 girls.

And my girls love these cowboy eggs. They are absolutely a simple meal to make, but one that never fails to bring a smile. What’s not to love about buttery, crusty bread dipped into shiny warm egg yolk? And everytime I make them I’m transported back in time…to a kitchen with high ceilings, wooden floors, a gas stove, npr and cooking in a seasoned cast iron skillet. I probably can’t count the number of cowboy eggs I’ve made over the years, and though it’s a simple recipe….it definitely deserves a special spot here at Creative Kitchen. They make my heart smile!


4.5 from 2 reviews
Cowboy eggs
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast, Snack
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1
 
These cowboy eggs are easy & sure to bring a smile!
Ingredients
  • 1 egg
  • 1 slice bread
  • 1-2 Tbsp butter
  • Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
  1. Butter skillet on medium to medium high heat.
  2. When butter is melted, turn heat down to medium heat. Take a small circle of bread out of the center of the slice of bread (to make a small 2 inch diameter hole in the bread).
  3. Place bread in skillet and crack egg into hole.
  4. Slide bread around getting it all buttery. After a few minutes (when bread on underside is toasty), flip bread/egg carefully over so as to not break the egg.
  5. Cook an additional 2 minutes until egg white is set, but yolk is still runny. Add more butter as needed. I love a lot of butter!!
  6. Serve with a fork so kids and cut or tear pieces of toast for dipping in the egg. Sprinkle egg yolk with sea salt.
  7. I am able to make 2 at a time in a large skillet.

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This recipe is linked up with Real Food Wednesday, Cooking Thursday, It’s a Keeper Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday and Food Trip Friday.

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17 Responses to Cowboy eggs & a stroll down memory lane

  1. these are a favorite in our house! 🙂
    angie @ bigbearswife recently posted..Loaded Baked Potato Gnocchi

  2. Curt says:

    Very cool. I might try this next Sunday morning when I usually make eggs for breakfast.

    I love things like that that take you back to a happy place in you past!
    Curt recently posted..Smoked Nacho Cheese Dorito Meatloaf

  3. Angela FRS says:

    We always called these “eggs in the hole” when I was growing up–thanks for the memories! Haven’t had these in years, but I will make some this weekend.
    Angela FRS recently posted..Pasta with Cajun-Spiced Creamy Greens and Sweet Potatoes

  4. Hey I’ve done this, but didn’t know what to call it! I like “cowboy eggs” name very much 🙂 I also add some grated cheese on top. It is a wonderful breakfast!
    Mari @ Mari’s Cakes recently posted..DULCE de COCO TIERNO

  5. We call these “Cookie Eggs” in my house!
    Bethany Larrabee recently posted..Huge New List Of Printable Coupons

  6. Eloise says:

    We call them Toad in the Hole or Eggs in Basket 🙂
    A fun breakfast indeed.

  7. Abby says:

    Like Eloise, Toad in the Hole or Eggs in a Basket — but I somehow knew exactly what I was going to see when I read your title!
    Abby recently posted..Grin and Bear It

  8. We call them sunshine toast because the egg yolk is like the sun coming up in the morning. Whatever you call it, it’s a classic breakfast dish.
    Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! recently posted..Save $1 on Wild Planet Foods canned seafood

  9. Coming from European parents, we’ve never had anything like this before, but I can see how yummy it could be. The yolk just bursting into the soft, crispy toast….mmmm, it’s just after midnight and I’m hungry again.
    Eva@ kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com recently posted..OMG, My very first award, EVER!

  10. Nichol says:

    My kids love them. We call them toads in a hole:)
    Nichol recently posted..New Crocs Coupon Codes

  11. Hey, Denise. Were you talking about me and my brothers here? I can speak for everyone when I say that you were a loved member of the family.

    Raphael
    Raphael Rosen recently posted..More About Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers

    • Denise says:

      Yes Raphael, definitely!! I have so many amazing memories of my time with your family. I’m so glad you forward this post to your mom. And thanks for reading…it means so much to me!

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  14. Judy says:

    We called them One Eyed Jack’s. It’s amazing all the different names.

  15. Lisa says:

    So simple! I will definitely be trying this soon.
    How do you keep the yolk from gushing out when you flip it on the pan?
    Thanks so much!

    Lisa
    Lisa recently posted..Feeling Alienated? Feeling Left Out?

  16. Aurica says:

    that’s one healthy, simple, natural and easy breakfast to have in the morning, i love the way they came 😉
    Aurica recently posted..Hurom Slow Juicer – Fruit Vegetable Juicer Extractor

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