With all the last minute ”to do’s” before our trip to SAN FRANCISCO, this week has been more focused on trip itinerary than it has food! We’re also trying to empty our fridge before we head out, so the pickings have been SLIM! I will be eating PB + J for lunch every day this week. I love the stuff, but it gets old fast!
*SIDE NOTE: Next week is Operation Beautiful Week at The Healthy Apron! I will be having guest posters each day, writing about what makes them feel beautiful! Kicking off the week? Caitlin from The Healthy Tipping Point! Yes, the one who was on the TODAY show for her little Operation Beautiful creation! So be sure to check in each day!
Last night I decided to use up the eggs we had in the fridge and make breakfast for dinner! Eggs are perfect for a quick and easy meal, not to mention you get lots of health benefits!
- Eggs contain ~6 grams of high quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids (essential means our bodies cannot make these amino acids or building blocks of protein, so it is “essential” that we EAT them).
- Although eggs contain 5 grams of fat, only 1.5 grams are saturated or unhealthy!
- Eggs do not raise cholesterol! In fact, research has shown that consuming 2 eggs per day will not negatively impact your lipid profile! It might even help improve it!
- Eggs may prevent breast cancer! One study showed that women eating 6 eggs per week lowered their risk by 44%!
We try to buy the organic, free range eggs because they are healthier and actually taste better! Plus, it’s more humane for the chicks! Anyway, I love making egg “Mcmuffins.” I still say the “Mc” from all my days working at McDonalds…just habit.
Typically, I like to throw veggies in the mix! So with some leftover organic spinach, I concocted a creamy spinach, onion, and garlic egg “McMuffin.”
The prep: grated parmesan, chopped green onions, minced garlic, and 1 egg + 2 whites.
With a light coating of cooking spray, I added a handful of spinach. Once wilted, I added 1 small clove of garlic, sautéing ~1 minute.
The eggs were added, along with the onions and cheese. I tried to form the mix in to a patty as best I could, but it was definitely larger than the English muffin!
The final touch? A few sprinkles of dried rosemary and parsley (I prefer fresh but the fridge is BARE)!! Oh and I spread a thin layer of 1/3 less fat cream cheese to both sides of the English muffin. This is where the "creamy" comes in to play. The cream cheese melts perfectly in to the spinach, leaving you with lots of gooey bites!
So that’s it for my “breakfast for dinner.” The best part about eggs is that they are SO super versatile! There are literally thousands of ways to prepare them and with a little imagination, you can be a pro! I’m not usually good at making up my own recipes but eggs are so easy!
Creamy Spinach, Onion, and Garlic Egg “McMuffin”
Serves 1
- 1 egg
- 2 egg whites
- cooking spray
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ~ 2 T grated fresh parmesan cheese
- ~1 T part skim mozzarella
- pinch of dried rosemary
- pinch of dried parsley
- handful of spinach
- pinch of pepper
- 1 whole wheat English muffin
Directions:
- Combine egg + whites in a small bowl, add ~2 T water, and scramble with a fork. Paula Deen says that if you use water over milk, the eggs will be fluffier!
- Over a medium skillet sprayed with cooking spray, add spinach and when wilted, add the garlic, stirring for ~1 minute.
- Pour egg mixture over the spinach and add onion and cheese.
- Fold eggs over to form a round patty. The patty will be pretty large but try the best you can!
- Let eggs cook to desired consistency, sprinkling with herbs. Meanwhile, toast English muffin and spread each side with ~2 tsp of cream cheese.
- Add egg patty to muffin and enjoy!
Nutritional Profile (1 muffin): 347 calories, 13.2 g fat (6.4 g sat.), 29 g carbohydrate, 4.6 g Fiber, 30 g protein, 234 mg cholesterol
What is your favorite way to prepare the incredible, edible, egg?
Eggs are my favorite protein because they’re so versatile! I’ve been eating LOTS of them lately! I think my favorite way to enjoy them is in omelet form (with lots of cheese, of course!)
I love your healthy egg muffin recipe! Yum!
i love breakfast for dinner… i should make it more often!
You made your egg sandwich so decadent with all the herbs! yum.
i love it so much when bloggers make a healthy version of an unhealthy classic and it turns out looking better than the fast food version! THIS IS AWEOSME <3
We love breakfast for dinner! I like how you added so many different herbs – that makes it seem not so breakfast-like!
I also love breakfast for dinner. Eggs, veggies and some whole grain bread are wonderful in my book. Thank you for sharing some great and healthy dinner ideas with us!
I love eggs for dinner. They’re the ultimate fast food.
Yum! I love breakfast for dinner!
I came SO close to having breakfast for dinner last night, too funny.
I love eggs, poor bad wrap going on now. I love them scrambled with some pesto and red onion, on top of a bagel if I have time, mmm.
I think the thought that eggs increase cholesterol is one of the great food myths that needs to be squashed! Everyone I talk to things too many eggs are bad.
I love breakfast for dinner!!
I LOVE breakfast for dinner. It’s one of my favorites!
I don’t have a particular favourite way to make eggs, I like them all! I do like to keep a couple of hardboiled eggs in the fridge though for a quick pre-workout snack.
I never think to do breakfast for dinner. I’m not a big breakfast food person though. Hope you have a great trip!
How cool that Caitlin is guest posting!!! I can’t wait!!
I realllly wanted to go to San Fran this year, my hubby and I were going to make it our vaca…when we found out I needed a VERY expensive dental implant, our vaca went bye bye…so I look forward to seeing your pics!!
I Loooove breakfast for dinner. Breakfast is my fav meal, so I can eat it for lunch AND dinner
Yum! Does the egg recall effect your part of the world at all? I was kind of getting on a roll with making eggs and english muffins, and then all of a sudden there’s this egg recall that effects Minnesota.
Boo. That looks delicious, though, and I had no idea about the essential amino acids! Good to know!
LOVE breakfast for dinner. One of my favorites is an egg sandwich too.
Looking forward to next week.