Bird In The Nest Recipes

BREAKFAST BIRD'S NEST

Steps:

• Lay bread on the counter or a plate.
• Using a wide topped glass, cut a circle out of the center of the bread.
• Over medium heat, melt 1 tsp butter in a non-stick skillet.
• When heated, lay both pieces of bread (the circle and the piece with the hole) in pan and reduce heat to low-medium.
• When bread is very lightly browned on the bottom, drop 1 tsp butter into the hole.
• When melted, crack the egg over the hole and allow egg to drop into and fill the hole.
• Cook for 1- 2 minutes and then flip the bread with the egg and the bread circle over.
• Cook for about 2- 3 minutes, until bread is lightly browned and egg is set.
• Serve egg with the toasted bread circle for dipping.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BIRDS IN A NEST WITH BUTTER GRITS, GREENS WITH BACON, OVER-EASY QUAIL EGGS AND GREEN TOMATO AND GREEN APPLE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the chutney: Combine the green tomatoes, brown sugar, cider vinegar, curry powder, mustard seeds, fennel pollen, allspice, ginger, apple and red onion in a medium heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Taste and thin with chicken stock as desired. Adjust the seasonings to taste.
• For the greens and bacon: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp; remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Lower the heat to medium, add the garlic and shallot, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the chard and beet greens and let wilt for a few minutes. Deglaze the pan with vinegar, then add the sugar, nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, and a dash of hot sauce. Add some of the bacon back to the pan, and combine. Use the remaining bacon as garnish.
• For the butter grits: In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon of the butter to a boil. Add the grits and bring to a simmer. Stir, then partially cover, and cook, whisking occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Add in 1/2 cup milk, whisk and partially cover. Cook, whisking occasionally, for another 15 minutes.
• Add in the remaining 1/2 cup milk and cook partially covered, whisking occasionally, another 15 minutes.
• Add the remaining tablespoon butter and season to taste with salt. Use additional stock to adjust the consistency as needed. Serve the grits with the quail eggs.

BIRDS IN A NEST

Steps:

• Place a very large nonstick skillet over low heat. Add the oil and garlic clove into the skillet and gently infuse the garlic flavor into the oil. In the meantime, using a round cookie cutter or an empty can, cut out the center of all 6 slices of bread. Add the prepared bread slices to the garlic infused oil. Crack the eggs 1 at a time and drop them into their "nests" or, the center of each slice of bread. Drain and slice red pepper. Add a strip or 2 of red pepper to each nest. Season the birds in their nests with salt and pepper and sprinkle a little cheese into each nest. Gently turn the birds in their nests and turn off the heat. Let the eggs sit in their nests 5 minutes more, then transfer to a platter and serve.

EASTER BIRD'S NESTS

Steps:

• Cook and stir marshmallows, peanut butter, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until the marshmallows melt completely into the mixture, about 5 minutes.
• Put chow mein noodles into a large bowl. Pour marshmallow mixture over the chow mein noodles; stir to coat.
• Spray hands with cooking spray or coat with butter so the noodles will not stick to your hands. Scoop noodle mixture from bowl with an ice cream scoop and form into balls, hollowing the center out to create the nest. Arrange 4 chocolate eggs into each nest.