I was a Boy Scout in the early 1970’s in South Carolina. Went camping in the Francis Marion National Forest, hiked the Swamp Fox Trail, and learned to cook small meals in a single pan over the campfire. The one I remember most was the Egg in a Frame. The Troop Leader impressed us by cooking the egg in the middle of the toast at the same time in the small pan.
Fast forward to 1994, when I bought my oldest daughter, then age 8, her first cookbook. That’s when I found out Betty Crocker had been teaching kids about the Egg in a Frame since 1957! Since it brought back youthful memories for me, it was the first thing we cooked together.
All the ingredients you need are bread slices, eggs, butter or margarine, and salt and pepper. You’ll also need a plate, frying pan or griddle, and a glass with a small mouth. I used to just butter the pan over medium heat, but the butter would be gone by the time I flipped the bread. Now I just spread softened butter over both sides of the bread slice before I cut the hole in it. Yes, that’s what the glass is for, cut a hole in each slice of bread and place the round to the side.
Heat your pan over medium heat and when hot, place the bread slices in the pan, then crack and add a single egg to the hole in each bread slice. Go ahead and place the round piece in the pan to cook at the same time. Cook until the egg whites are setting, then add salt and pepper. Flip it when necessary to cook the egg to your desired doneness. Serve it up. If you like your eggs over easy then the round bit of toast is perfect for yolk dipping!
Fast forward again to 2006. My youngest daughter (then 9) wanted to start cooking. Yep, “Eggs in a Frame†it was. She’s now 13 and cooked what you see in the accompanying photos. I helped make sure we were a lot neater about it than usual for the pictures!
By the way, since this has been around for a while (older than me) it’s called by many names: Eggs in a Basket, Eggs in a Picture Frame, the recipe is even on RecipeLion.com as Peek-a-Boo Eggs. And, if you’re in a festive mood, you can use cookie cutters for the hole instead of the glass. I’ve been known to use Christmas tree and snowman cutouts for the Holidays!
As always, please leave a comment if this sparks a memory for you or if you have a particular food memory you would like to share.
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i can’t find the eggplant recipe that was on the show 08-12-10 the fried breadless eggplant recipe made by the two male twin guest
Eggs in a Frame is a great dish. I also know it as “eggs in a hole” and “Pirate’s eye”. Easy and quick for supper when you just want something light yet tasty.
I’ve also seen it called “Toad in the hole” as a food in the UK.
I am 78 years old and i remember it when I was very young as being called a BIRD IN A NEST
JOHN – WHAT A GOOD DAD YOU MUST BE. I WISH MY DAD COULD HAVE SHARED COOKING MEMORIES WITH ME, BUT HE DIDN’T HAVE THE PATIENCE. GREAT RECIPE THAT WE HAVE ENJOYED WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE KITCHEN = SOME DID NOT LIKE EGGS, BUT LOVED PREPARING THEM FOR SISTER AND BROTHER. THANKS AGAIN.