I can't believe it's not Maccas...

**Rouge** · June 6th, 2010, 11:44 AM

We had a maccas breaky today... at home!

I got inspiration from $120 Food Challenge Blog (If you haven't checked it out do... she feeds a family of 4 on $120/fortnight and she's a real foodie, and doesn't resort to processed rubbish!)

So we had oven baked hash browns. And DH & I made Bacon & Egg Muffins. I poached the eggs in the microwave... I remembered how my mother used to do this and did some googling and found the perfect recipe and it was PERFECT! And so easy to clean up. We used grated tasty and wrapped each muffin in parchment to keep them together and to help the cheese melt. Then we popped them all on a tray and into the oven for 5 minutes (after the hashies were cooked, we turned the oven off and popped it all in there). It was FANTASTIC! The kid devoured there's! And for a total cost of:

Muffins: $1.99 for a pack of 6 (on special)
Eggs: $1.10 for 6 (free if you have you're own chooks

)
Bacon: $1.70 for 4 long rashers (we buy in bulk)
Cheese: $0.50
Hash Browns: $1.00 (for 4)

Total for 6 Bacon & Egg Muffins with 4 Hash browns: $6.29

And they tasted HEAPS better. The Eggs weren't rubbery, the yolks were gooey, the bacon was great and the cheese was REAL!

**jackrose** · June 6th, 2010, 11:53 AM

Awesome!!!!

**Astrid** · June 6th, 2010, 11:57 AM

Ooh, sounds like something we should do here. Must get some hash browns for the freezer!

**PumpkinZulu** · June 6th, 2010, 12:00 PM

My mum did this for my little brother and I when we were kids, can't beat it. We called them Mummy McMuffins

Linkage to $120 food blog? Or maybe I'll just google it...

**Rouge** · June 6th, 2010, 12:02 PM

I think blogs are ok? I should know that right? LMAO!

The $120 Food Challenge

**Rouge** · June 6th, 2010, 12:02 PM

But you all missed the most exciting part!!!! POACHING EGGS IN THE MICROWAVE!!!! 80's microwave cooking FTW!!

**Astrid** · June 6th, 2010, 12:16 PM

Well, spill then on the poaching.

I remember there were individual egg poachers in the first microwave starter kit I bought.

**Rouge** · June 6th, 2010, 12:21 PM

Ok you put in about 1cm water in a microwave safe mug or ramekin (we used ramekins). Then crack your egg into the water, then cover with cling film. Then the first couple of eggs are trial and error (depending on your microwave). The first 2 I did on high for 1 minute as suggested but they popped and exploded through the cling film. Then I put the power on 40% and cooked for 1min 40 and go the PERFECT poached eggs. I remember my mum used to do it with a buttered mug but they always exploded. this way worked perfectly. and they didn't stick to the ramekin. So easy cleaning too.

**Astrid** · June 6th, 2010, 12:24 PM

I am kicking myself for giving away mum's ramekins. I had them for ages and did not use them. In the past few years I realised that I need them back!

**MantaRay** · June 6th, 2010, 12:38 PM

Wow Rouge, that sounds like an awesome breakfast. I'll definitely have to try your egg poaching secret. I've never had a success poaching on the stove and I love poached eggs. I even have some ramekins!!

**Rouge** · June 6th, 2010, 12:41 PM

Awesome MR

Just remember you may have to play a bit till you perfect it depending on your microwave, but it only took 2 goes for me, and the 2 that did explode were edible and still tasted great!

**ss_storm** · June 6th, 2010, 12:58 PM

Rouge- if you poke the eggs with a skewer they shouldn't explode. You can do the yolk carefully and it won't break.
Mum used to cook us eggs in the microwave like that all the time

I'd like to know where you buy 6 eggs for $1.10!

**Rouge** · June 6th, 2010, 01:07 PM

Fruit & Veg, Coles specials, Aldi... usually if I'm desperate I can get 12 xlarge eggs for $2.29 or if I am not povo I'll buy the free range grain fed eggs which are a bit more exxy

But for the purpose of this recipe I had cheap eggs!

I didn't have to poke them, and they didn't explode

I just had to get the temp right

***Beema*** · June 6th, 2010, 01:07 PM

oooohhhh I LOVE poached eggs as does DH, how many watts is your microwave Rouge?

I always make our bacon and egg muffins at home they taste sooo much yummier soo much cheaper and I use the 9 grain muffins too!

Try this hotcakes recipe, it is a ripper and the closest thing I have found to creating Macca's hotcakes and sooo much cheaper!!!

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla (or more if you like alot of vanilla)
1 3/4 cups milk (more or less to make smooth consistency)

Directions
1. Mix all dry ingredients in a med. size bowl.
2. Then add enough milk and stir until smooth.
3. Add eggs.
4. Add vanilla.
5. Stir again.
6. If needed, add more milk. The batter should be a bit on the thin consistency side.
7. Let these set for about 5 min, and they will thicken a little.
8. Drop batter on either a ungreased griddle, or a non stick fry pan on medium heat. The first pancake is always the test to see if your pan is on the right heat. You can make these any size you want, I do some that are piklet size for DD and bigger one's for us

This recipe can also be halved. And, these freeze up great! I freeze them for my family for a quick breakfast, or after school snack.

That adds your next course to your Macca's breaky @ home

**Nai** · June 6th, 2010, 01:09 PM

Sounds awesome!

We do, "I can't believe it's not that exxy cafe up the street" - DP does poached eggs, grilled mushrooms, spinach and tomato on thick toast with real coffee. It doesn't cost anywhere near $15pp either!