Pasta Salad with Anchovies

With the spring upon us and the summer months not that far away, it's time to move on from the warm stews and soups and into crisp and cool foods and that are filling but do not make you want to plop yourself in front of the TV. Having a salad as a main dish has it's benefits and with the right ingredients can also be tasty and filling so that your not reaching for that bag of chips or box of cookies a short time after. This salad is great but the one catch you have to be a lover of anchovies which quite a few are not but it does not mean you can not have a go at it and find out if anchovies have won over your heart. This dish is quick and easy for those days or nights that time is not your best friend. The crumbled feta cheese mixed in gives it a distinct taste and gets your taste buds popping.

Inspired by Love and Lemons

MORE LIGHT RECIPES

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AVOCADO SUMMER SANDWICH
CHICKEN SHREDDED SRIRACHA
BROCCOLI STIR FRY
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Pasta Salad with Anchovies Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 12 minutes Servings: 6

Ingredients

Broiled Lobster Tail

It has been awhile since my last recipe blog and a lot has changed in the world, no matter where you happen to be we are all dealing with a pandemic but what this pandemic can not stop is our love of food and with many of us spending more time at home then before we have to make sure that we eat properly and eating properly means getting good food in your belly. I as many may already know am I big lover of seafood and what better way to return to food blogging then this tasty lobster tail dish to commence your meal. This recipe is quick to do and you can use it to commence any special occasion, you will need a baking sheet and a pair of scissors for cutting the shell along the back to open the lobster tail up to meat so that you can season.

Inspired by Delish

MORE SEAFOOD RECIPES

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EUROPEAN STYLE GARLIC SHRIMP

BOILED LOBSTER WITH LEMON GARLIC BUTTER

EAST COAST PAN SEARED SCALLOPS 

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Broiled Lobster Tail Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes  Cook Time: 6 minutes  Servings: 3

Ingredients

Breakfast Island Eggs

The holiday season is upon us and after many filling lunches and dinners with tonnes of leftovers to hold us over for days, it would be nice to have a tasty breakfast during the season especially if we had one too many cups of eggnog. This was something I came up with one morning while laying in bed wondering what would be on the menu for breakfast. This tasty dish is loaded with foods to get us fueled for the day and is filling in its own sense and does not require anything additional sides to accompany it. The key to this recipe is the base and you must use a Bavarin style bread, Rudolph's is my go to multi grain bread as the size of the loaf is perfect for this meal as well as light breakfasts. Shredded mozzarella gives it a mild taste but if you prefer something more sharp or intense flavour you can go with strong cheddar or gorgonzola. A natural butter spread is preferred over margarine and make sure to use a large skillet. Top with sunny side eggs to give it that island look.

Inspired by Family

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MINI BLUEBERRY AND GRAPE PANCAKES
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Breakfast Island Egg Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 15 minutes Servings: 2

Ingredients

Chipotle Mini Sliders

Mini Sliders a popular appetizer or for some a main course meal when they are out at many pub style restaurants. I decided to give this tasty treat a try at home and found that I created a very similiar style meal just like you would enjoy at your local local pubs and the best part is you can create as many as you like in the comfort of your own kitchen. Eggs are a key ingredient to create the sliders from scratch as this is the best binding agent and helps to keep the ground beef from falling apart. I would recommend that you use a lean ground beef and for some of the more self conscious meat eaters you can even try lean ground turkey or chicken. You can pick up medium (mini) buns at your local grocers and when you are making the patty you want to  get them to around the size of the palm of your hand. The cheese used should be natural cheese slices and you would cut them into four even parts to place on the burger patty. Chipotle sauce is a must have topping.

Inspired by Taste of Home

MORE BURGER RECIPES

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THE BACHELORS CHEESEBURGER
SLOPPY BACHELOR BURGER
GROUND TURKEY BURGER WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOM MIX
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Chipotle Mini Sliders Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 8 minutes  Servings: 4

Ingredients 

Avocado Summer Sandwich

The summer is finally here and after a long winter, I like to make sure to enjoy the extra day light and sunshine and one thing this tends to cut into is my cooking times. I find that I am just not home long enough to get into some intense meals so my summer months in the kitchen tend to turn into what can I make quickly so that I can get out and enjoy a walk or a run. I tend to make a lot of sandwiches for dinner and figured, why not make those sandwiches healthy to go with my healthy activities. This recipe is quick and easy and more importantly tasty and full of nutrition. What you want to use for bread is a whole grain or multi grain, your choice of any type of tomato or cucumber but make the cuts of the thin variety, tear up your lettuce and spread the avocado mixture on both sides of the bread. The seasoning of the avocado is key, so make sure to use a quality balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Finish it off what a little bit of sriracha sauce for those looking for a little kick in their meal.

Inspired by Eating Well

MORE SANDWICH RECIPES
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SIRLOIN STEAK GOURMET SANDWICH
CLASSIC GRILL CHEESE ON MULTI GRAIN
CLASSIC BACON AND EGG SANDWICH
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Avocado Summer Sandwich Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes  Cook Time: 0 minutes  Servings: 2

Ingredients 

European Style Garlic Shrimp

This recipe is a dish that is savory, spicy and with a lot of garlic, some of you will enjoy it as an appetizer before their meals, while others like me like to finish off seafood as a dessert. This traditional dish has been passed down the family tree, at times I even enjoy it as a quick snack with a side of bread for dipping. This recipe goes great as one of your holiday dishes, your guests will thank you for including it. I prefer to use jumbo shrimp in the recipe and with the cost of seafood continuously on the way up, I would recommend that you purchase a large bag to save on the cost. Sazon goya powder with coriander and annatto is one of the main ingredients in this recipe and can be picked up at most latin grocers, some big box grocery stores or online. I love garlic in my food, for those that would prefer a little less you can cut the garlic cloves in half, a large skillet should be used to cook the peeled and deveined shrimp, plus make a small incision along the back of the shrimp to absorb some of the sauce and you can leave the tail on.

Inspired by Family

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SPAGHETTI WITH BABY CLAMS
EAST COAST PAN SEARED SCALLOPS
BROILED SQUID WITH MONTREAL STEAK SPICE
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European Style Garlic Shrimp Recipe

Prep Time: 8 minutes  Cook Time: 6 minutes  Servings: 2

Ingredients

Grilled Lemon Pepper Zucchini

Happy 2018 to all the readers and with the new year upon us, if any of you are like me then a few pounds are ready to be shed from all the holiday food. I start the 2018 food blog year with a healthy, light and great side to accompany most of your featured dishes. A medium zucchini is just 33 calories and loaded with Vitamin C a supplement we all need to boost the immune system during the winter months. This recipe is quick to make and works great for a weeknight dish when time is not always on your side and vegans can even cook up two zucchinis and make it their main course. A grill pan skillet works great to give the zucchini that char broiled look, if you do not own a grill pan, then a regular skillet will have to do. Lemon Pepper is the main ingredient so need to be afraid to go heavy if you enjoy that mixture and I love a garlic taste so I make sure to add some garlic powder to the dish.

Inspired by Spark Recipes

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BAKED POTATO WITH SALSA
SPICY BABY BOK CHOY
MUSHROOMS SAUTEED WITH GARLIC
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Grilled Lemon Pepper Zucchini Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 10 minutes  Servings: 2

Ingredients

Bruschetta on Rye

This Valentine's Day why not impress that special someone in your life with an appetizer to kick off that romantic home cooked meal. I know that a lot of recipes on the site are geared to singles but during this enchanting time, why not share some of your delicious food and keep a few dollars in your pocket. Bruschetta is a great starter and this home cooked bruschetta recipe will put a smile on the harshest of critics. Most bruschetta recipes call for the use of a loaf of Italian bread but I decided to use plain rye bread for a healthier option and the cut slices are perfect in size. Roma tomatoes also known as plum tomatoes should be used, slice them up discarding the seeds. The seasoning spices can be adjusted depending on what your palate enjoys but I found the spices added to this recipe to be an ideal mix. Use butter and not margarine to spread on the slices before you season them and make sure to keep an eye on the bread as is bakes in the oven, you want them golden brown not burnt.

Inspired by Taste

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NATURALLY LASAGNA
PENNE WITH MEATSAUCE
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Bruschetta on Rye Recipe

  Prep Time: 6 minutes  Cook Time: 14 minutes  Servings: 4

Ingredients

Banana French Toast

As 2017 starts off, I though it was time to start the early year with a breakfast recipe and what better recipe to impress then french toast. French toast can be cooked quickly and with the right ingredients be tasty. It is always good to start the day with a good breakfast and the quickness of this recipe can be cooked even on a weekday. The key is to make sure that you use the right type of bread, go for a thick toast bread, I used whole wheat instead of white. Once you mix together ingredients in a bowl you will want to use a square sandwich container for dipping. Pour the mixture into it and then lightly dip the bread on both sides, do not soak the bread or it will break. Cooking will not take much time, so make sure you are watching so that the bread does not burn and ruin your breakfast meal.
You can top the french toast with your favourite fruit, if you do not want to go bananas, then blueberries or strawberries will work also and do not forget the maple syrup.

Inspired by McCormick

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MINI BLUEBERRY AND GRAPE PANCAKES
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Banana French Toast Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 10 minutes  Servings:4

Blackened Tiger Shrimp

I have not posted a seafood recipe in some time and felt with the last days of the summer upon us, why not share one of the more popular seafood's to eat which is shrimp. This shrimp recipe is a family classic, in my household growing up shrimp became a kind of dessert to eat after a good meal, we would by pass any sweets and see if the folks had some shrimp stashed away somewhere. This recipe can be eaten as a snack or turned into a main course by adding rice, pasta or vegetables to accompany it. You will need to peel and devein the shrimp, make sure the shrimp you purchase is either fresh and if frozen then make sure that it is uncooked. A large skillet or wok will be needed to cook the shrimp and spices, a lot of spices. The key is to not over cook the shrimp as they can become tough, now for those that might feel the ingredients have the shrimp a little spicy you can always take out your favourite dipping sauce, like sweet chili thai or plum.

Inspired by Family

MORE SEAFOOD RECIPES
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WHOLESOME SPANISH RICE WITH CLAMS
BROILED SQUID WITH MONTREAL STEAK SPICE
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Blackened Tiger Shrimp Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 5 minutes  Servings: 2

Ingredients

Penne with Meatsauce

I have alot of pasta in my cupboards and what better to do with them then to make enjoyable and easy recipes, that not only feed me but I can also share with everyone on my recipe blog. When it comes to pasta types, penne is just about my favourite and I  prefer to add something to my pasta, whether it is meat or fish, it makes for more enjoyment when I am eating and also adds that filling that we can all enjoy. Wholewheat pasta can work with this dish but I used regular pasta as I have yet to acquire a taste for the wholewheat kind even though I probably should. You will need a large skillet, one that can hold all the pasta at once and a medium sized pot for this recipe. I like penne but fusili or rigatoni work also and try to go with lean ground beef if possible. I am also a fan of spinach but for those that prefer another type of green leaf vegetable, you can use kale, parsley or even broccoli florets in place of the spinach or to accompany it. A little sprinkle of parmensan cheese to top your meal adds a nice touch.


Inspired by Catelli Pasta

MORE PASTA RECIPES
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FUSILI TURKEY SKILLET MEAL
PENNE WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE
EUROPEAN EGG DROP SOUP
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Penne with Meatsauce Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 15 minutes  Servings: 4

Ingredients 

Oven Roasted Asparagus

It has been awhile since I added a good side to the blog and what better then to have a delicious side of roasted asparagus. The vegetable is high in iron and vitamin K, goes well with any main entree and adds some green to your plate. I have been a fan of asparagus since I was a boy and a hungry boy needs to have his food ready quick, this is a simple recipe that does not take much time to make and since aparagus is sold in bunches you will have a large amount of the spears on hand. The main thing with asparagus is to try to buy spears that are not very thick as these are older and have been grown longer, you want medium size spears, they taste better and are quicker to make. I like to cut the bottom of the spear by about 2 inches to shorten them as the taste that I enjoy is towards the top. Use a baking sheet and to avoid making too much of a mess you can wrap some aluminium foil around it before you drench them with olive oil. Broiling can be different for different ovens so make sure you start to watch your asparagus after 8 minutes to not burn.  

Inspired by Spark Recipes

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LEMON ZESTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS
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Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 12 minutes  Servings: 4

Ingredients

Tomato, Spinach and Goat Cheese Stacks

Thanksgiving is just around the corner for North America and while everyone is set to serve up some turkey, cornish hen, stuffing and cranberry sauce, we do need some appetizers to keep the masses satisfied before the big meal. With a lot of time being consumed with the main course at this time of year, it is great to have some appetizers that are quick to make and that people will enjoy. I always enjoyed the fact that my family had something tasty and nutritious to snack on as we waited for our main meal to finish.
This is a simple meal I learned watching some of my favourite recipe shows, I decided to add a bunch of my preferred ingredients that where not too filling but at the same time satisfying. A french baguette cut into slices is a must, tomatoes and spinach loads you up with nutrition while the goat cheese which may not be a favourite for most can be replaced with other cheeses like buffalo mozzarella or ricota. The balsamic vinegar and maple syrup glaze will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Inspired by Eating Well

 

MORE APPETIZER AND STARTER RECIPES
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GAME DAY NACHOS
SPINACH PROSCIUTTO QUESADILLAS
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Tomato, Spinach and Goat Cheese Stacks Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 3 minutes  Servings: 8

Ingredients

Northern Omelette with Cheese and Spinach

This classic omelette breakfast is something that I love to eat quite a few times a week, its so quick and easy to make and can pack a tonne of nutrients to get your day off to a good start. I like to accompany the omelette with a variety of sides from natural select bacon, to toast, to home fries to just plain old fruit. The best part is you can add anything inside your omelettes from meats, cheeses or vegetables or just have them plain, its really your choice. This recipe is of course for one but easy to replicate into larger portions. I like to add milk to the egg mixture as this makes the eggs just a little more fluffy. Omelettes can have almost anything added to them, you can try types of cold cuts, other vegetables like kale, arugula, mushrooms etc., remember it is important to cook the eggs well and use a flat/straight wooden spoon to move around the egg inside a non stick skillet. This will make rolling the omelette out once complete onto the plate very simple. I love spinach and made sure to chop up enough, added a little green onion and cheese and viola your done. For those that are not sure how an omelette should be cooked, you can always refer to a video online.  


Inspired by Eggs.ca

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Cheese Spinach Northern Omlette Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 6 minutes  Servings: 1

Ingredients

Broiled Squid with Montreal Steak Spice

The holiday season is upon us and nothing beats getting together with the family and enjoying a hearty dose of seafood. I always feel the need to contribute and though I would try something a little new with squid or as some of you call it calamari.Squid for many is an acquired taste and if you slightly over cook it, it will be tough and rubbery, so you have to make sure that you get it right and when you do your taste buds will thank you for it. I used squid tubes that already were all cleaned for me, you can purchase this at local super markets (saves a tonne of prep time), I cut the tubes as if I were making calamari rings but I made sure to use a knife inserted inside the tubes to stop me from cutting all the way through (see pic below). Broiling on high cooks the squid quickly but make sure you don't over cook, the squid should easily come apart when you bite into them. You should use a baking sheet for best results and serve with your favourite side, I decided a bed of rice would be a great addition to the meal.

Inspired by Family

MORE FISH RECIPES
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BAKED TILAPIA WITH GARLIC BUTTER MIX
BROILED SALMON WITH MARMALADE GLAZE
SEASONED SEA SCALLOPS
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Broiled Squid with Montreal Steak Spice Recipe 

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 10 minutes  Servings: 2

Ingredients

Broiled Salmon with Marmalade Glaze

Salmon is one of my favourite fish, it wasn't always that way but as I got older, I acquired a taste for the fish, much to my mothers delight. In a family that is big on fish, it was better late then never for me. Salmon is loaded in Vitamins B-12, B-6 and protein and something that we all need Omega 3 with it's healthy benefits. Wild salmon should always be the choice over farmed salmon as there is less contamination and fish goes pretty much with any side of your choosing, go vegetables if you can.

Broiling the fish makes this a super quick recipe, which works well for a weeknight meal when time is not your friend. A shallow baking dish is what I used and you can marinade the salmon right inside the dish. This is a dish that will impress anyone that might be over and the marination adds a super great taste that will make your taste buds jump to attention.

Inspired by AllRecipes

MORE FISH RECIPES
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BAKED TILAPIA WITH GARLIC BUTTER MIX
GARLIC BAKED BASA FISH
SAVOURY SHRIMP FRIED RICE
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Broiled Salmon with Marmalade Glaze Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes  Cook Time: 8 minutes  Servings: 4

Ingredients

Mini Blueberry and Grape Pancakes

Who does not enjoy a quick breakfast in the morning and what better breakfast then quick and easy to make mini pancakes. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day but many of us in our fast pace lives tend to take this meal for granted. This is an easy breakfast that you and the family can enjoy, not only is it nutritious but if you have the time, you will want seconds and maybe thirds. I will even make sure you have the pancakes down pat for those that are not sure how to make pancakes.

I like to purchase a buttermilk pancake mix and all you have to do is follow the instructions on the box, you can use water to mix with the powder but I prefer to go with 2% organic milk but you can use any milk you like. The grapes and blueberries are fresh and make sure the grapes are seedless. I choose these fruits but you can experiment with any that you enjoy. 1/2 measuring cup is the secret to the mini pancakes as you will scoop the mixture from the bowl and pour to form your mini pancakes.You can use a pancake griddle or just go with a regular non stick skillet and make sure to grease it before adding the pancake mixture.

Inspired by Aunt Jemima


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Mini Blueberry and Grape Pancake Recipe

Servings: 2  Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

Seasoned Sea Scallops

Who doesn't enjoy fresh baby scallops, well not all people but I have always been a big fan of any type of seafood, since a very young age. My family was never huge fans of having sweets to finish a meal, we would all enjoy some kind of seafood dish to end your entree on all special occasions. This is not to say there where not sweets for guests but the main core of the family always pined for what seafood my mom or dad had prepared this time, sometimes their was more then one.

Sea scallops can be made in a variety of ways, from on a skillet to baked or broiled, some people even try to poach scallops. I love to bake any type of creature from the water, not only does it leave your home smelling the same but it is always much healthier option for us. You will require a baking pan covered with parchment paper and be sure to use the spices that tickle your taste buds if you don't enjoy any of the ones below. Seasoned bread crumbs add an extra dose of flavour to your dish.

Inspired by Family

MORE SEAFOOD AND FISH RECIPES
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SAVOURY SHRIMP FRIED RICE
WHOLESOME SPANISH RICE WITH CLAMS
GARLIC BAKED BASA FISH
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Seasoned Sea Scallops Recipe

Servings: 4  Prep Time: 5 minutes  Cook Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients

Easy Steak Sandwich

We all have some tough work days and we get home and can't be bothered to spend an extensive amount of time cooking, we want something quick, tasty and in our stomachs. I have always enjoyed a good steak sandwich made to perfection that every bite taken has the meat just tear off without any struggle and it is not only easy to make but quick and painless, my family always made sure that even on those tough days we had something good to eat on the table, even at the time we had no clue how quickly it was made.

One of the least expensive types of meat is inside round steak, if it's certified Angus then even better. This cut of beef is not only cheap but easy to handle, season the steaks with your favourite spices, pick yourself up a couple of kaiser buns and make sure you have some cheese on hand, shredded would be best. You can add anything into the bun to go along as this becomes your sandwich. Lettuce, onions, hot peppers, mustard, it all goes based on your taste buds. I like to keep mine fairly simple as you will see below.

Inspired by Family

MORE SANDWICH RECIPES
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CLASSIC BACON AND EGG SANDWICH
SLOPPY BACHELOR BURGER
TRIPLE CHEESE HAMBURGER
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Easy Steak Sandwich Recipe

Servings: 2  Prep Time: 2 minutes  Cook Time: 6 minutes

Ingredients

Classic Bacon and Egg Sandwich

Waking up has its perks even though some of us would like to stay in bed, but the smell of a good breakfast always seems to perk me up in the morning. We always seem to not have the time to make ourselves a tasty breakfast but this quick classic sandwich, not only has your taste buds watering but it hits the spot and gets your day off to a great start. Growing up I always enjoyed my bacon and eggs when I wasn't woofing down a peanut butter sandwich on the run and why not combine the two of them together in a sandwich.

The cool part about this recipe is that you can use any type of bacon that you may like and make the eggs any way you like. I've chosen to go with scrambled eggs but sunny side up, over easy and even poached works well here. I have used natural select bacon because I like to know what the ingredients are in my bacon. What I would recommend is that you choose a kaiser bun over any other choice of bread, its bigger and will fit all these delicious ingredients, make it whole grain if you can and the cheese should be provolone, havarti or swiss.

Inspired by Eggs.ca

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Classic Bacon and Egg Sandwich Recipe

Servings: 1  Prep Time 5 minutes  Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients