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...
Natalie Yarbrough says
My family stands out from the crowd because we hold true to our religious beliefs and have an amazing love for each other.
Natalie Yarbrough says
I tweeted on twitter and my twitter id is @yarbr012 : https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/487281653635497984.
Saniel says
I used to have this sandwich maker growing up. I remember coining home getting two slices of bread,butter, brush and whatever toppings we had and I’d make a sandwich or two. Loved the crispy edges! Glad to know it’s still around,Thanks
sara says
tweet https://twitter.com/SaraMama/status/501599292713627648
sara says
My girls are half English and while I wish they sported adorable British accents like their daddy they march to their own drums and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
steve weber says
We have an amazing sense of humor and are super easy to get a long with.
Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says
GREAT job Ty! I’ll have 2 please! You need to meet my 10 year old daughter – you two would have fun cooking together…she needs a cooking (kid) buddy!
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
This is my kind of breakfast! So awesome!!
Jessica (Savory Experiments) says
Wow! These are amazing, I can’t wait to try them. I’m sure my niece and nephew will love them as well!
linda sch says
i’m korean and my husband is pennsylvania dutch/english/welsh/german/swiss german. my three kids are halfsies. My oldest is my son, Nathaniel. the younger two girls are 14 months apart and look like twins. almost every day of their lives, the girls are asked, “are you Hannah or Ellie?”
Kelly D says
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellysaver/status/501516482912595969
Kelly D says
We are a pretty typical family, but maybe we stand out because 2 of us in my house are vegetarians and the other 2 are meat eaters. I am always trying to create meatless meals for my son and myself.
Elena says
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/501509836903677953
Elena says
What makes our family unique is that we speak 3 languages and we are born outside USA
Nicole Dz says
Shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/501507948678348800
Nicole Dz says
We have two bright kids who are just so sillt, we are a unique family because we explore the outdoors, work together on projects, have our own garden we do together, we stay involved and active, & we create the best memories together. We find the fun in everything.
Carla says
Bacon and hashbrowns in an easy, portable breakfast sandwich?! Does Ty deliver? 🙂
heather says
Our family is unique because we have a love for the outdoors and animals. We love to bbq and go on trips down the river together.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
I would cut my arm off for this sandwich!
Joan Wissert says
Ty, you look great! Our family is uniquely “us” because our diverse tastes still allow us to enjoy a breakfast together when everyone is home. For some reason, family breakfasts just seem better. The food tastes better, the conversations are more relaxed, and now that our girls are pretty much grown and on their own, the breakfasts spent together are even more special!