Big Breakfast a Great Way to Start the Day!

Working at home; staying at home. More people are turning to big breakfasts to start the day.

One of my favorites is Joe’s Special, a retro one-dish meal invented in San Francisco in the 1920s as a simple supper. There are many recipes for this classic but everyone agrees on three main ingredients: eggs, spinach, and ground beef.

Make a basket of sourdough toast to serve as an accompaniment.

If a big breakfast is not your thing, serve Joe’s Special for a simple supper, as was originally intended when the recipe was developed.

Banana Bread is another easy recipe to add to a big breakfast menu.

Joe’s Special

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove minced garlic
• ½ pound lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano or basil
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 5 ounces pre-washed baby spinach
• 6 large eggs, beaten
• Sourdough toast (optional)

In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion becomes soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add ground beef, breaking up the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon, and sauté until beef is browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in oregano, hot sauce, salt and pepper.

Add a handful of spinach to skillet, stirring; as spinach wilts, making more room in the skillet, add another handful; continue to stir and add handfuls of spinach until all the spinach has just wilted. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, if needed.

Add the beaten eggs and as they begin to set around the edges, lift the edges to allow the eggs on top to settle to the bottom of the skillet. Stir gently a few times. When the eggs have begun to set but are still moist, remove from the heat and serve immediately with sourdough toast.

Makes 4 servings.

Tips:

• Instead of ground beef, you can use ground pork, chicken or sausage meat.
• Add sliced mushrooms when sautéing the onions, if you want to incorporate more vegetables.
• Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese or grated Cheddar to finish.
• Serve with additional hot sauce, if desired.
• Serve as as a sandwich filling in pita bread for a more portable meal.

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