#ewew cooks Big Breakfast

I'm a big fan of Big Breakfasts and I'm not alone in this predicament (I'm sure) as these Big Breakfasts are so popular that every brunch place in town have them on their menu.  So, I do like to make it at home whenever I can as it's pretty easy to do.

But my homemade version can be as expensive as those served in restaurants as I don't compromise on the quality of store-bought goods that go towards the making of my Big Breakfast.  And here's the list of items that's a must-have on my plate of Big Breakfast.

First up, you start off any plate of western breakfast with eggs.  I like to use "Kampong" Eggs @ RM3 (for 5) as I find these free range eggs have the best tasting yolks.  I would suggest that you cook the eggs first when your non-stick pan is at its cleanest.  This is my sunny side up egg (coz scrambled eggs need a bit more work)!

[#Note: But, you can use any eggs of your choice.  Well, indulge me for a while (if you can) on my favourite subject...and P/S: this is specially for Mun :D  Here's a comparison of the eggs (commonly found here) and their colour, side by side.  The 1st row are the regular eggs (typical grocery store eggs) where the yolks are pale yellow and the shells are thinner (the cheapest and least tasty of the 3).  The 2nd row are those eggs low in cholesterol or high in omega-3 where the yolks are more orangy and the shell has a light brown hue (healthier choice or marketing gimmick?).  The 3rd row are kampong eggs (the ones I like best) where the yolks are bright orange and plump, the whites are firmer and the shells are whitish and thicker (the costlier and best tasting one of the 3, also nutritionally better, comes from 'happy' chickens, and the best option for soft-boiled eggs).]

Next, you got to have ham like this Spam Luncheon Ham @ RM9.98 (for 4 pcs/RM4.89 per 100g).  Pan fry until you get a nice sear to enhance its fragrance.  I like the taste of this one as it has both the taste of ham and spam in one...best of both worlds!

Of course, you must include sausages (of any type).  I would usually pick those processed breakfast sausages but the vendor recommended that I buy these Fresh Oxford Sausages @ RM12.58 (for 2 pcs/RM6.29 per 100g)...ooo, the name 'Oxford' sounds so 'posh' already!

Oh, why did I listen to her?  These sausages were fresh (meaning you have to cook them from scratch) and, because they were so thick, they needed a long time to cook (over very low heat, otherwise they'll burn).

Obviously, with my kind of patience, mine didn't cook through and I had to cut them up into pcs and throw them into the pan again.  Flavour wise, they definitely tasted better than the processed sausages (in fact, this one had a bit of wine flavour in it) but it's just too much of a hassle, if you ask me, so stick to your processed sausages (which will cost less as well).

Another super important item on your Big Breakfast platter is the must-have bacon.  A breakfast plate without bacon...is just not breakfast.  The world is a happier place with bacon!  I chose Premium Streaky Bacon @ RM14.12 (for 6 pcs/RM6.99 per 100g) because the fatty parts will enable the bacon to crisp up beautifully.  I would normally cook the bacon last as it tends to make your pan sticky + it releases a lot of oil (that needs to be discarded).

OMG, this bacon is to die for...super crispy, fragrant, salty....everything a bacon should be!
 

For the side show, get some Swiss Brown Mushrooms @ RM8.99 (or you can use white button mushrooms) and sauté them with a little olive oil and season to taste with salt and black pepper.

I prefer the taste of brown mushrooms compared to white ones (+ they also have a longer shelf life).  You can also throw in a couple of greens to make it 'healthier' but, let's face it, who are we kidding?

A Big Breakfast would not be complete without a hash brown.  I use Simplot Hash Brown @ RM8.50 (for a box of 10 pcs).  Pan fry with a little olive oil until nice and crispy on the outside.

Assemble your platter with 3 pcs of crunchy bacon, 2 slices of spam luncheon ham, a freshly grilled sausage, a sunny side up egg, a crispy hash brown and some sautéed mushrooms.

Serve that with 2 slices of toast with Lurpak Butter (slightly salted) @ RM7.50 (for 10 pcs) and Heinz Strawberry Jam @ RM5 (for 12 pcs) or any butter/jam of your choice.  I bought a mixed pack that had other flavours (like Apricot and Marmalade) but found only the strawberry jam to be acceptable, taste wise.

And that....ladies and gentleman....is my home cooked Big Breakfast that's as good as any Antipodean Big Breakfast (I think)!  These are just the brands that I usually use but you can substitute with your own favourite brands...not a problem.

If I were to add up my (slightly decadent) homemade Big Breakfast it will cost me about RM25 for one serving.  Not cheap, eh?  Cost wise, it may look like it's more expensive than, say, Antipodean's but this is not just any Big Breakfast....this is an Extra Big 'Big Breakfast' ;)  It'll surely please (and fill up) your 'man'...and (in some cases) your 'woman' too :D :D  For smaller eaters, I would suggest that you reduce the portions accordingly (which would bring the price down to a more acceptable level of about RM15 a serving).

All we want for Christmas (or Boxing Day) morning is.......a Big Breakfast?  Who wouldn't!

It's the most magical time of the year...

Serves 1 'Big Appetite'---b..u....r..r...r..p....p (oops, excuse me)!!