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!
- 1 egg
- 1 slice bread
- 1-2 Tbsp butter
- Pinch of sea salt
- Butter skillet on medium to medium high heat.
- 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).
- Place bread in skillet and crack egg into hole.
- 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.
- 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!!
- Serve with a fork so kids and cut or tear pieces of toast for dipping in the egg. Sprinkle egg yolk with sea salt.
- 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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