eggs – WHAT TO HAVE FOR DINNER TONIGHT

With it being St David’s Day yesterday, I thought it only right to share a Welsh recipe today. This particular recipe is one my Nain (Nain is Welsh for grandmother for those who don’t know) used to make often.

My Nain, who lived on Anglesey, was a fantastic cook; we used to love visiting for the delicate scones, fruity bara brith and melt in the mouth Welsh cakes.

This recipe was a speciality and we used to eat it with crispy skinned baked potatoes. I didn’t have time for baked potatoes today, so we had it with crusty bread rolls instead to mop up the cheesy sauce.

Anyway, my Nain gave this recipe to my mum, who also used to make it often throughout our childhood. When I was desparate for a comforting, nostalgic meal one day I asked her for the recipe – and now I’m sharing it with you. It is tasty, cheap and easy, and I hope you enjoy it as much as my family has.

I just googled ‘Anglesey Eggs’ to see if it is a well-known dish, and it seems others do know of it. The recipes I found had potato in them though – that’s not how our family make it!

This will serve 3-4 and takes around 40 minutes to make.

Anglesey Eggs

3 medium leeks

6 eggs

30g butter

20g plain flour

1 pint milk

80g cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1. Preheat the grill to high.

2. Slice the leeks and add them to a frying pan with 10g of the butter. Saute over a medium heat for 5-6 minutes until soft.

3. Meanwhile, hard boil your eggs in boiling water for 6 minutes. Once they’re done, run them under the cold tap for a couple of minutes, then gently peel them.

4. For the sauce, melt the remaining butter in a saucepan then stir in the flour. Cook for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat. Gradually whisk in the milk, then put it back on the heat and cook, whisking all the time, until thick. Stir in most of the grated cheese, and some salt and pepper.

5. Transfer the leeks to an oven proof dish. Lay the eggs on top (keep them whole), then pour over the cheese sauce. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and the smoked paprika, then put under the grill for 5 minutes or so until golden and boiling. Iechyd Da!

It was always going to be a lazy day today, after the shock to the system which was the first full week back at work after the Christmas break. I love lazy Saturdays, and the opportunity to cook a nice breakfast (well, brunch) is a rare treat.

The other half’s favourite food is eggs, and so that was his request. To be more precise, his request was three eggs.

The weather isn’t nice today, so I wanted to make something gooey and warming. Baked eggs is perfect for this, with a roll of warm, fresh bread for dipping. I’ve added a touch of chorizo and smoked paprika to mine too, just to add a little extra warmth.

This takes 20 minutes, and will serve 2. (I had one egg and hubby had three, most would probably have two each).

Smoked Paprika Baked Eggs

40g chorizo

1 onion

500g smooth passata

1 tsp smoked paprika

4 eggs

10g cheddar cheese

Bread rolls, to serve

1. Preheat the oven for 200 degrees.

2. Chop the chorizo into small chunks. Put in a frying pan over a high heat and cook until the oil has started to run out. Add the onion, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Pour in the passata and smoked paprika; bring to the boil.

3. Pour the tomato mix into 2 small ovenproof dishes. Make a small well in the centre of each using a wooden spoon, and crack 2 eggs into the centre of each dish, being careful not to break the yolks. Grate a little cheese over the top of each, and put in the oven for 10-15 minutes depending on how well you like your eggs cooked. Enjoy!