By Eileen and Paul Goldfinger, Cookery Editors at Blogfinger.net
Having Italian bread, soft boiled egg, cheese and coffee is not actually a “heart healthy” breakfast, since it contains saturated fats, carbs, eggs, and caffeine. But it is delicious, and respect must be paid to those courageous immigrants who came to America. (home of Shepherd’s Pies) and gave us this.
The health aspects of this sort of breakfast are controversial. Eggs, perhaps 3-4 per week, are considered to be fine, cheese has fat (? good fats) and protein, and bread is, as my father used to say, “The staff of life.” Some Irish butter is great with the bread.
My mother liked to have a cigarette after her coffee, but that’s another story.
So if you would like this breakfast, you could, in my opinion, fall off the wagon and do it on occasion, with the proviso that you get the best of all components.
The Italian bread comes from a source that is the finest near OG, and that is Antonio’s Gourmet Salumeria at 2201 Sunset Avenue in Ocean Township. It is a terrific place to get a wide variety of Italian food “to go.” And they are 10 minutes from the Grove. It is a family business just as it probably was in Italy.
We were there today, and I asked if they have Thanksgiving in Italia. “No” was the answer, but with food as it is from that part of the world, every day is thanksgiving.
The cheeses are pecorino. (Italian—sheep’s milk 12 o’clock;) provolone (Italian-cow’s milk at 9 o’clock); and brie (French at six o’clock.) What’s missing is my favorite—Stilton. (English.) Susan at Cheese on Main in Ocean Grove is a fine source, and her Stilton is the best.
I liked to get the pecorino which the Italian baker at the Sunset Farmers Market (Asbury) would bring every Saturday in season, but the market closed this past Saturday. He also has good breads as does Cheese on Main. (French).
As for eggs, here is a link to our article about the health benefits of eggs called, “Eggs–bad for you or not? An over-easy review from the Blogfinger Off-shore School of Medicine in Ocean Grove”.
Eileen makes a perfect soft boiled egg by bringing the water to a boil and then dropping the egg in for 4 1/2 minutes.
Coffee isn’t worth drinking unless it tastes great and opens your eyes. Caffeine is the most popular addictive substance on Earth. Its pharmacologic effects are short acting, but it gets the job done.
If you are unhappy with your coffee at home, start with freshly roasted beans. You will need a coffee grinder and a drip machine such as the Bunn home model with filters. Grind the coffee right before using.
It isn’t easy to choose a coffee bean, and taste is a matter of taste.
We use Kenya AA beans shipped freshly roasted from Greene Brothers in Hackettstown, NJ. It’s a little pricey, but very good. Ask for Gizelle or Brian. They even have the Bunn machines.
Our formula is one heaping tablespoon per cup and then one more for the “pot.” You may need to experiment on all the steps just discussed. I make the coffee in our house and I always get rave reviews; and now you know my secret.
And another secret to enjoying wonderful food: Don’t eat alone and turn on some music.
KRISTIN CHENOWETH from the Broadway Cast Album of Promises Promises
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