Can you even believe it’s back-to-school time already for many kids in the country? We have a little bit of a break going right now, but we’ll be following along soon enough. For parents with kids at home and teachers getting ready to return to the routine, knocking out a solid breakfast is often a big challenge. My solution? Let the kids do the cooking.
My son Ty has always had a love and knack for cooking. At the tender age of ten, he begged to try and actually executed a complicated Two Fat Ladies recipe for traditional British venison pasty. It turned out perfectly. We were all happy and impressed and – needless to say – have encouraged his continued presence in the kitchen. That’s my kid, friends. As home educators, our back-to-school routine is a little different than that of many people. In a nutshell, the boys are charged with getting out of bed, changing into day-clothes, getting food in their bellies, and being at the table – ready to tackle the day’s lessons – by a certain time. As often as not, Ty is voted the designated breakfast cook on account of his brothers’ affinity for his hearty creations.
Ty’s Best Breakfast Sandwich is a perfect example of his style. Two slices of buttered sourdough bread are stuffed with a meltable cheese, crispy hash browns and bacon, and scrambled eggs before being crimped, toasted to perfection, and served with hot sauce for his hot-sauce-fanatic-brothers. Part of what makes this particular combination so handy is that it can take advantage of leftovers from previous breakfasts or from brinners!
Ty’s tool of choice for this heavenly way to start the day is the Cook’s sandwich maker from JCPenney. Clocking in at $30 (and nearer to $15 on sale!) it’s a fantastic and inexpensive little number to have around to encourage your kids’ creativity in the kitchen. You should see how excited they get to try out new combinations in the sandwich maker. If you don’t have this handy-dandy little gadget, you can crimp the edges of your sandwich with a fork or press and toast it in a hot skillet or under the broiler.
Cook’s Notes
- Ty likes to use sourdough bread for his Best Breakfast Sandwich not just because of the flavour, but because it’s sturdy enough to being buttered, filled, crimped, and toasted.
- He starts with bacon and hashbrowns that were already cooked and leftover from a previous meal. He chops the bacon and reheats that and the hashbrowns together giving them a chance to crisp up even further.
- Ty advises you to leave a little ring of empty bread around the edges of your sandwich when filling them. That makes them easier to crimp and keeps the cheese from running out.
Ty’s Best Breakfast Sandwich
Rate RecipeIngredients
Per Sandwich:
- 2 slices sourdough bread
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
- 2 tablespoons leftover hashbrowns or home fries
- 1 slice of crispy cooked bacon, chopped
- 1 scrambled egg
- 2 tablespoons grated Monterey Jack or 1 slice meltable Cheddar cheese divided
Optional for serving:
- hot sauce
Instructions
- Heat a sandwich maker or place a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Butter the slices of sourdough bread on one side each. Assemble the sandwich on the sandwich maker or skillet by placing one slice of bread buttered side down. Leave 1/4-inch of empty space around the outside edge of the bread and lay in half of the cheese topped with the hashbrowns, bacon, scrambled egg, and remaining cheese. Lay the second slice of bread -buttered side up- on the sandwich and close the sandwich maker. If using the skillet, use a fork to crimp the edges quickly and carefully. The sandwich maker will toast it evenly on both sides at the same time, making it unnecessary to flip it. If using the skillet, flip the sandwich after the first side is golden brown. Either way, transfer the sandwich to a plate when both sides are beautifully golden brown. Serve while still hot with hot sauce, if desired.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
did you make this recipe?
Make sure to tag @foodiewithfam on Instagram and #hashtag it #foodiewithfamily so I can check it out!
JCPenney also keeps Ty stylish while cooking courtesy of the affordable and on-trend Arizona Jeans line. My guys are tough on clothes, and Arizona Jeans shirts and pants hold up well enough to be passed on down to the brother behind them in line. Given their low starting price, I’d call that a bargain and a half. And now – a chance for one Foodie with Family reader to enter to win a $100 JCPenney Gift Card! All you need to do is answer the following question: What makes your family uniquely you? How do you stand out?
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Reader's Thoughts...
kate C. says
We’re unique in that we don’t have a TV and we’re all runners… so naturally we like to eat (and therefore, cook!)
Mami2jcn says
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/501463859866382336
Mami2jcn says
We stand out just by the fact that we’re an ethnic minority living in an area with very few minorities. We speak 3 languages in our home so it’s a little unusual.
Kim Beaulieu says
Love that Ty loves to cook, and he looks stylish while he does it. This sandwich is brilliant, so cool he loves to cook and is so creative.
livivua says
https://twitter.com/vivaciousgold/status/501452182202621952 tweeted
livivua says
there are so many little things that make my family unique…..like we experience and do a lot of things as a family
Sandii says
Sweepstakes?! Our family is unique in that we are United Nations: I was born Down Under, hubby born in the good ole U.S. of A. and our two children born in Guatemala – one of Mayan decent, one of Spanish decent! We stand out because we all like to go caving! 🙂
Amanda @The Kitcheneer says
This sandwich looks totally amazing! Sounds like you have a new chef in the family! Hope he continues to learn in grow in the kitchen!
Diane {Created by Diane} says
this looks like a sandwich my kids would love for breakfast. Our family stands out when they eat dinner for breakfast, yes they love leftovers at breakfast time, spaghetti, chicken, fried rice, you name it that is what they want! That is until they get a load of your sons yummy sandwich!
WendyM says
The breakfast sandwich is awesome and contained with everything “breakfast”. My kids are awesome, as they’ve had to cook and clean when I’ve been on bed rest. They will not starve when they grow up!
Martine says
What is that ingredient? I’ve never heard of it before – leftover bacon?
Yum! Those look good. 🙂
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
So cool that your son loves to cook – and what a great recipe! It looks amazing!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
omg how cute is this recipe (and that photo!)
evans s says
https://twitter.com/talliana1/status/501415605153435650
evans s says
What makes our family unique is our heritage mix. My husband is Haitian and I am Dominican but our kids were born and raised in the US. We tell our kids about things were like when we were growing up and sometimes we say that’s how we wish they were raised like we were. However we enjoy the mix old and new and different cultures that make up our family
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
I’m totally digging this sandwich. And you just have to love a kid that loves hot sauce!
Nicole says
I used to love that Two Fat Ladies show! I had forgotten all about it. My family’s love of food is unique … okay, it’s more of an obsession!
Miriam @ OvertimeCook says
Love the look of this sandwich! My family is unique because we have the weirdest sense of humor so conversation is so fun!
Margaret says
Music defines my family. From a classical musician hubby to a metal-loving guitar master son to our ukulele playing & singing daughter. Me, I rock on the Ipod!
Bara says
We all love each other and do what we can to help others, too.