Best Little Birds In A Nest Recipes

BIRDS IN A NEST

Steps:

• Place a very large nonstick skillet over low heat. Add the oil and garlic clove into the skillet and gently infuse the garlic flavor into the oil. In the meantime, using a round cookie cutter or an empty can, cut out the center of all 6 slices of bread. Add the prepared bread slices to the garlic infused oil. Crack the eggs 1 at a time and drop them into their "nests" or, the center of each slice of bread. Drain and slice red pepper. Add a strip or 2 of red pepper to each nest. Season the birds in their nests with salt and pepper and sprinkle a little cheese into each nest. Gently turn the birds in their nests and turn off the heat. Let the eggs sit in their nests 5 minutes more, then transfer to a platter and serve.

LITTLE BIRDS IN A NEST

Steps:

• Pound the meat into sheets about an eighth-inch-thick. Place a slice of prosciutto on each, lay a sage leaf in the center and roll tightly, pressing constantly, tucking in the sides to make compact cylinders roughly three-and-a-half-inches long. Set aside, uncovered.
• Peel the eggplant and cut the flesh into large julienned strips - about the size of big french fries. Set aside.
• Cut the zucchini into julienned strips slightly smaller than the eggplant. Set aside.
• Put two tablespoons of the oil in a large, nonreactive saucepan over medium-high heat and heat until it almost smokes. Add the julienned eggplant, zucchini and salt, stirring well. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the eggplant is thoroughly soft and the zucchini barely translucent, about 15 minutes. The mixture may stick at first but will loosen as cooking proceeds. Remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon and keep them covered in a warm place. Reduce the heat to low.
• If necessary, add just enough additional oil to the pan to film the bottom. Add the garlic and orange zest and cook, stirring, for three minutes. Stir in the orange juice and tomatoes and simmer over medium heat for about 12 minutes, or until the sauce is thick.
• After the sauce has cooked five minutes, warm four large serving plates. Put the remaining tablespoon of oil in a wide, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add the butter. Put in the beef rolls seam side down and cook until they are seared. Turn with tongs and continue cooking, shaking the pan, for about five minutes, or just until meat is nicely browned. Interior should remain pink. Remove the rolls, keeping them warm.
• Pour the vermouth into the skillet and boil, stirring to get up all browned bits, until reduced to about two tablespoons. Stir in the tomato sauce and any juices collected under the vegetables.
• Spread the sauce evenly over the plates. Make nests of the mixed vegetables and arrange two beef rolls on each. Serve at once.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BIRDS IN A NEST WITH BUTTER GRITS, GREENS WITH BACON, OVER-EASY QUAIL EGGS AND GREEN TOMATO AND GREEN APPLE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the chutney: Combine the green tomatoes, brown sugar, cider vinegar, curry powder, mustard seeds, fennel pollen, allspice, ginger, apple and red onion in a medium heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Taste and thin with chicken stock as desired. Adjust the seasonings to taste.
• For the greens and bacon: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp; remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Lower the heat to medium, add the garlic and shallot, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the chard and beet greens and let wilt for a few minutes. Deglaze the pan with vinegar, then add the sugar, nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, and a dash of hot sauce. Add some of the bacon back to the pan, and combine. Use the remaining bacon as garnish.
• For the butter grits: In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon of the butter to a boil. Add the grits and bring to a simmer. Stir, then partially cover, and cook, whisking occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Add in 1/2 cup milk, whisk and partially cover. Cook, whisking occasionally, for another 15 minutes.
• Add in the remaining 1/2 cup milk and cook partially covered, whisking occasionally, another 15 minutes.
• Add the remaining tablespoon butter and season to taste with salt. Use additional stock to adjust the consistency as needed. Serve the grits with the quail eggs.

BIRD'S NEST BREAKFAST CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups.
• Mix hash brown potatoes, salt, black pepper, olive oil, and 2/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese in a bowl. Divide mixture between prepared muffin cups and use your fingers to shape potato mixture into nests with hollows in the middle.
• Bake in the preheated oven until hash browns are browned on the edges and cheese has melted, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove hash brown nests.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk eggs and water in a bowl until thoroughly combined; season with salt and black pepper. Pour equal amount of egg mixture into each nest; sprinkle with bacon crumbles and 1 teaspoon Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in the oven until eggs are set, 13 to 16 minutes. Let cool in pans and remove by sliding a knife between potato crust and muffin cup.

BREAKFAST BIRD'S NEST

Steps:

• Lay bread on the counter or a plate.
• Using a wide topped glass, cut a circle out of the center of the bread.
• Over medium heat, melt 1 tsp butter in a non-stick skillet.
• When heated, lay both pieces of bread (the circle and the piece with the hole) in pan and reduce heat to low-medium.
• When bread is very lightly browned on the bottom, drop 1 tsp butter into the hole.
• When melted, crack the egg over the hole and allow egg to drop into and fill the hole.
• Cook for 1- 2 minutes and then flip the bread with the egg and the bread circle over.
• Cook for about 2- 3 minutes, until bread is lightly browned and egg is set.
• Serve egg with the toasted bread circle for dipping.