Ode to the Microwave Breakfast Sandwich

*Ahem*

*Clears throat, taps microphone…*

“O Microwave Breakfast Sandwich! How I adore thee!
Thy savory, calorie & cholesterol laden deliciousness;
Thy perfectly soft, unnaturally round egg –
Thy mapley morning goodnesss...”

Okay, enough of that.

But seriously, this sandwich is savory, sweet, breakfasty perfection… and it comes together in about 5 minutes, making it the ideal homemade grab-and-go morning treat.

Special Equipment:

1. An 8oz deli container (ideal) – or a ramekin, or mug with a wide bottom (4-5 inches in diameter).
2. Cooking spray

Ingredients

1. Toasted bun of your choice – a brioche bun (pictured), English muffin, bagel, or croissant all will work great
2. Protein of choice – frozen breakfast sausage patty (pictured), deli ham, or pre-cooked bacon… or whatever morning porcine ingredient you fancy
3. Cheese – I’m a sucker for a sharp cheddar in the morning, but Swiss goes very well with ham, and American ‘cheesefood’ is traditional
4. Egg
5. Pinch salt or MSG
6. 1 tablespoon butter – room temperature for easy spreading
7. 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix butter with maple syrup (if using)
2. Toast your bun of choice to your liking
3. Spread maple butter on both halves of toasted bun and set aside
4. Place protein of choice on a plate lined with a paper towel and nuke according to package instructions, or for pre-cooked bacon or deli ham, about 20 seconds on full power; for a pre-cooked sausage patty about 1 minute, or 90 seconds for 2 of them.
5. Remove from microwave and place on bottom-half of toasted bun
6. Spray your deli container (or mug or ramekin) with cooking spray. Crack the egg into the container. Add a pinch of salt or MSG and lightly scramble the egg – just enough to break the yolk up (if you don’t do this, the yolk will explode in the microwave)
7. Place the container with the egg in the microwave. Nuke at full power for 20 seconds, then follow with 10 second bursts – waiting 10 seconds in between additional bursts – until egg is set and no longer watery (3 to 6 bursts depending on the strength of your microwave). Invert container and plop nuked egg on top of protein.
8. Place cheese of choice on top of egg
9. Put top-half of bun on top of cheese (you should now have a fully assembled sandwich)
10. Nuke entire sandwich for 10-15 seconds to finish melting cheese and to ensure the sandwich holds together