Save Money: Eat Eggs for Dinner

on January 22, 2009 at 4:00 PM

Here's a healthy, budget-friendly dinner idea: eggs! Just one egg packs six grams of protein and up to 13 essential nutrients. You can whip up scrambled eggs and pancakes for a fun breakfast-for-dinner treat for the kids; fancy it up with an egg frittata; or go European with these quick, rustic bistro egg sandwiches.

Bistro Egg Sandwiches adapted from Food Network Magazine

6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

1-2 teaspoons mustard

1 baguette, halved and cut into 4 pieces

4 large eggs

salt and pepper

1/4 pound ham

2 oz cheese (gruyere or cheddar are good but any type will work)

1 cup greens

Preheat broiler to high. Mix 4 tablespoons butter with mustard in small bowl until smooth. Spread butter mixture on cut sides of bread. Place buttered-side up on a baking sheet and broil until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Crack in the eggs. Season with salt and pepper and let cook until the yolks just begin to firm up and then edges are slightly crisp (about 3 minutes). Assemble sandwiches: Top 1 bread half with slice of ham, one egg, cheese, greens, and second bread half.

About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.