Mely's Knock-off Mcgriddles

I can't remember how this happened but one fateful day I stumbled across "French Toast Bread" at Safeway, purchased it and realized it reminds me of the bread McDonald's uses to make their breakfast McGriddle sandwiches because the bread has small bits of maple syrup (or maple syrup flavored pieces?) in it. So without further ado here's my knock off version of McGriddle Sandwiches featuring:

Safeway's "French Toast Bread"

Ingredients:

4 Eggs
6 Strips of Bacon (or two sausage breakfast patties, pick your poison)
2 Slices of American Cheese*
Butter for Cooking

Cook your bacon or patties to your liking. I'm a freak and I like my bacon soft so it doesn't take me long.

Fry up your eggs in some BUTTAH! Remove from pan and set aside with your chosen meat.

Now is the fun part, smear a bunch of butter on your hot pan and lay two pieces of your bread. Pile each piece with 2 eggs, 3 slices of bacon (or a sausage patty) and a slice of American cheese.

Top each off with another slice of bread. Let the butter brown on the bottom of the bread and carefully flip and let your flipped side brown, this should take no longer than 4-5 minutes total.

I like wrapping these in foil and taking one to work or wrapping one in foil for Tony.

*I love Cheddar and real cheese as much as the next food snob but American is a must in this recipe, do the American thing.

Creamy Tomato Pennes

This recipe is great with ingredients out of your pantry, the only thing I needed to buy was the heavy cream.

What you will need:

• 1 box Pennes or any kind of pasta you like! - Cooked and drained
• 1 small tomato diced or a small can of diced tomatoes (optional)
• 1/2 small yellow onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 3 TBSP Olive Oil
• 2 cans Tomato Sauce
• 1 Cup of grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 to 3/4 of a pint of Heavy Cream
• Seasonings and herbs to taste, any kind you like! Salt, Garlic Salt, Italian Seasoning, Fresh Basil, Crushed Red Pepper --I used Italian Seasoning, Garlic Salt and Crushed Red Pepper

Start with a fairly large skillet and start heating your olive oil over medium high heat

While that's heating dice your onion and finely mince your garlic

Once your oil is hot add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent and the edges are golden

Add your tomato sauce, diced tomato and seasonings

Simmer your sauce on low to medium heat stirring frequently until thick and bubbly (about 7-10 minutes)

Add your cream, parmesan and diced tomato and mix really well and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add your pasta, mix and serve!

You could also choose to add any kind of protein you desire, Chicken, Prawns, or Italian Sausage but I kept it simple.

Enjoy!