Category Archives: Breakfast Entrees

A Pie of a Different Nature

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Isn’t it amazing what can be birthed from an empty pie pan? And just because it’s called a “pie” pan doesn’t mean that it’s limited to such.

Today, we’re going to step away from the common expectation of the sugary, fattening dessert typically provided by such a container, and actually produce a healthier, much more beneficial result: a delicious, nutritious frittata!

Spinach, Pepper and Havarti Frittata
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
8 large eggs
1 teaspoon of Kosher salt and several grinds of freshly ground black pepper
2 cups loosely packed baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped
1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 cup grated Havarti (about 4 ounces)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Directions:
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch round pie pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the Kosher salt and several grinds of pepper.  Add the spinach, red pepper, green onions, basil and parsley and stir to combine. Fold in the Havarti and Parmesan.

Pour the mixture into the pie pan and bake for 35 minutes or until frittata is slightly puffed, deep golden, and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let the frittata cool in the pan for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Excellent accompanied by roasted potato wedges!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

In a similar way to a “pie” pan, the world places labels on us and has expectations based on how we look and what we do. Have you ever thought about all of the defining characteristics our society uses to categorize, label or evaluate the people on this planet . . . and how easy it is to get caught up in identifying ourselves in the same way? 

Single or married, female or male,
my level of education, the clothes that I wear,
how much I weigh,  the shape that I’m in,
the length of my hair, the color of my skin,
youthful and vibrant or slow and aged,
my occupational title, my level of pay,
my recreational toys, where I vacation,
the number of people who call me a friend,
the make/model/year of the car that I drive,
the achievements of my children whether adult or child,
my religion, my church, my spirituality,
my language, my genetics, my nationality –
all characteristics that should define me
if I lived by the standards of a shallow society,
but I’m a Christian and I am living for an audience of One
and, thank God, He doesn’t identify me by any of the above.
worldly labels have no value in my walk with Jesus Christ  . . .
I’m a Child of the King because of Jesus’ sacrifice.

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel: 16:7b-8

And as such, we need to keep from pigeonholing ourselves into categories the world has established. Yes, we’re housed in a body of flesh like every other person on this planet, but as Followers of Jesus Christ, there is much more to us than that. We’re not an “empty pie pan”! The Holy Spirit of the Living God resides within us, this world is not our home, and He has a plan and a purpose for us that is not defined by the expectations of men. Being those devoted to Jesus Christ, we’re living for an Audience of One and we march to the beat of a different drummer, the Divine Drummer. The world looks upon us and expects us to deliver a sugar-filled, fattening, unhealthy pie, but we offer something much more nutritious if they want it, don’t we? The desire to share with them the truth of eternal life through Jesus Christ! 

–Cheri Henderson

On Guard, Mon Ami!

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Folklore suggests Napoleon Bonaparte was the first to taste an omelet when, after travelling across southern France with his army, they decided to rest for the night at an inn near the town of Bessieres. Supposedly the following morning, the innkeeper created and served Bonaparte a fluffy egg concoction and named it the “omelet” in Bonaparte’s honor. “Omelet” or “omelette” is a variation of the French word “amelette” which means the blade of a sword, inspired by its curved, flattened shape. It is thought the omelet was created in recognition of Bonaparte’s successful victories using an unsheathed sword.

Who would have ever guessed an omelet was first created to resemble a sword? So, “on guard”, my friend! Let’s have some breakfast!

Mozzarella, Sweet Onion and Mushroom Omelet (Serves 2)

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
½ of a sweet onion, sliced into thin 2” strips
4 oz. of fresh baby bella mushrooms
6 eggs
4-1/2 oz. of shredded mozzarella

Directions:

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a small, shallow frying pan. Sauté the sliced onion and mushrooms, stirring often, for approximately 5 minutes until the onion is translucent and tender. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set them aside.

In a small bowl, briskly whisk 3 eggs. In the fry pan, melt another tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Evenly pour the eggs into the pan and after a minute or so when the egg starts to bubble, lay half of the vegetables and 2 oz. of shredded mozzarella on half of the egg mixture. Slowly lift the other half and fold it over onto the vegetables and mozzarella. When the cheese has begun to melt, remove the omelet from the pan and onto a serving plate. Sprinkle with a bit more mozzarella. Cover to retain heat while preparing the second omelet.

Serve with sliced avocado and/or crisp bacon!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Bonaparte is also credited with this interesting quote about the sword: “There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run, the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.” Followers of Jesus know that Ephesians 6 explains our need to be covered in spiritual armor, and verse 17 specifically tells us to “take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

For most of Napoleon’s life, his personal religious beliefs might best be described as agnostic; however, near the end of his life, Bonaparte offered this commentary about Jesus Christ. “I know men, and I tell you Jesus Christ was not a (mere) man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and other religions the distance of infinity. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and myself founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon sheer force. Jesus Christ alone founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men will die for Him. In every other existence but that of Christ, how many imperfections!

From the first day to the last, He is the same; majestic and simple; infinitely firm and infinitely gentle. He proposes to our faith a series of mysteries and commands with authority that we should believe them, giving no other reason than those tremendous words, ‘I am God.’

The Bible contains a complete series of acts and of historical men to explain time and eternity, such as no other religion has to offer.

If it is not the true religion, one is very excusable in being deceived; for everything in it is grand and worthy of God.

The more I consider the Gospel, the more I am assured that there is nothing there which is not beyond the march of events and above the human mind. Even the impious themselves have never dared to deny the sublimity of the Gospel, which inspires them with a sort of compulsory veneration.

What happiness that Book procures for those who believe it!”

So said Napoleon Bonaparte. To come to these conclusions, he evidently read a bit of the “sword of the Spirit”. The living, active word of God, sharper than any two-edged sword that Napoleon would have ever wielded during his life … pierced him to the division of his soul and spirit. And he recognized the truth of Jesus Christ.

–Cheri Henderson

Not Your Easiest Egg Sandwich

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A fried egg is good all by itself, but when it’s presented as an “egg in a basket”, seasoned with salt and pepper, layered with white cheddar slices, crisp bacon, sliced avocado, and surrounded with fresh sourdough bread, it’s fantastic!

  
Egg in a Basket Sandwich
Serves 2

Ingredients
4 slices of bacon
4 sourdough bread slices
3 tablespoons of butter
2 eggs
mayonnaise
2 slices of white cheddar cheese
1 avocado, sliced into 1/4-1/2″ slices
salt & pepper

Directions
Fry the bacon until crisp. Set aside on a paper towel. Using a small round cookie cutter, cut a hole out of the center of 2 of the slices. (Toss the centers out into your yard for your bird friends or, if you want, eat them later as a mini sandwich of some sort.) Spread all 4 bread slices with mayonnaise.

Over medium heat, melt the butter in a medium-sized frying pan. Place the bread slices with the cutouts into the pan and crack an egg into each opening. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Add more butter to the pan if necessary. After the eggs have set up, lay a slice of white cheddar on each, followed by 2 slices of bacon, the avocado slices, and top with the other bread slice. Using a spatula, carefully flip the sandwiches and brown the other side.

Remove and serve! Delicious for breakfast with a side of sliced fresh fruit or for lunch or dinner with a cup of your favorite soup!

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT

Granted, this wasn’t the easiest sandwich to prepare, but it was done with patience and love, knowing the one to whom I presented it would be blessed by it. As followers of Jesus Christ, it’s similar to how we can present the gospel to someone who doesn’t know it, believe it, or accept it. We can quickly throw out the “plan of salvation” scriptures to someone and hope he or she “gets it”, or we can patiently and lovingly nurture the relationship and take the time to deliver the Truth of Jesus, seasoned with salt, in a way that will bless and change his or her life for eternity. Feed the ones well that God places in your path. They are hungry and they need to be lovingly, patiently and fully fed … by you. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

-Cheri Henderson