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?
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 8/18 -9/15/2014.
Be sure to visit the JCPenney brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
Reader's Thoughts...
Rebecca says
I think our family stands out because we love each other so much and enjoy being together.
Mary Jenkins says
I think my family is unique because we each have personalities and style so different from one another. My husband is a bit of a yuppy jock, I’m an artsy hippie chick and our daughter is pretty punk rock for a kid. We each have something different to bring to the table!
msmaryjenkins@gmail.com
Cynthia C says
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/502066214735450112
Cynthia C says
My family is unique because we all tend to go our own way and don’t follow the pack. We tend to pursue our own interests.
amy pugmire says
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/502042262381924353
amy pugmire says
I think every family is unique in they’re own way. I think we stand out because we just do us and don’t worry about what others think. NO kind deed goes unnoticed. I try to do something kind for someone each day.
Christina Boucher says
I think my family is unique because I work at a church and my husband is training to be a minister.
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
My girls started cooking young and they’ve never stopped. Who knew how their ability to make some simple eggs would elevate them to most popular in college? 🙂
Great job by your little guy and doggone I would LOVE that sandwich for breakfast!
Virginia says
I loved this post! His sandwiches look great and I love hearing about blooming chefs getting free reign in the kitchen! My middle daughter is a blooming chef. She’s got lots of ideas and just blossoms when given complete control.
D Schmidt says
Tweeted for a second entry https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/501798378422820865
D Schmidt says
What makes us uniquely us is our values, attitudes and humor.
courtney b says
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/501785907037745153
courtney b says
i think we are special because we are unique and all love each other very much. we are a tight knit family
Toni | BoulderLocavore says
Don’t you just love it when kids want to cook? My son is the same way. He is a major pancake maker at 11 and is able to do it all unspervised at this point. Not only is your son clear a chef-in-the-making but he’s so handsome in the cute JC Penney clothes. I hope we’ll see more of his kitchen adventures on your blog Rebecca! Great giveaway!
Lisa Brown says
https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/501760702508728320
Lisa Brown says
i don’t think we stand out, we are a close and supportive family
Brenda@Sugar-Free Mom says
A fabulous hearty breakfast for the kids plus a great giveaway from JCPenny? Woot woot!
Amanda says
This looks so incredible! I need to make one now!
Mary says
Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! I love that Ty made this sandwich on his own!! What makes my family special? Ha, oh so many things…. wait, not that kind of special? I think that a shared love of all sci-fi, superhero, and lego creations makes us an all-boy world kind of special.
Angela {Mind Over Batter} says
Now this is my kind of breakfast situation! Beautiful sandwich!!