Monday, November 12, 2012

From the Simple Things to a Simple Eats: Breadless Sandwish

Why mushroom don't look good on a photo,
but tastes just out of this world?!

While I was on a road a few weeks back I received a phone call from a friend asking me to post some recipes for a simple meals on my blog. I almost choked from such an unexpected request. Then he added: "I made a borscht, following your recipe. It was very good, I just didn't know how big or small chopped pieces have to be. Would be nice if you give more details for the non-cooks like me". 
For a moment I was making non-articulated sounds, being very surprised by the whole conversation, and driving at the same time (for authorities: I have a hands-free set).
Making sure my eyes were on the road, I let my head spin a bit to process all I just mentally inhaled. 
Finally, a few moment later when I came back to the reality, I said something like: "Oh, yes! I am so happy that you read my blog and use my recipes! Sure, sure, when I am settled I will make a post with a simple recipe". 
And then we went talking about other things Life. 
A few days ago I caught myself wanting something simple for lunch, and I made this meal in one skillet and with only three main ingredients: one mushroom, one onion, and one egg. 
I served it and right before I was ready to dig into my lunch, I remembered my friend's request: he most definitely would want to make this, I better take a picture.

***

Breadless Sandwich

Ingredients:

  • 1 mushroom, sliced into 1/2 cm (1/4 inch) pieces
  • 1 onion, sliced into a 1/2 cm (1/4 inch) pieces
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste


1. Pre-heat the oil in a non-stick skillet, about 2 minutes. Stove setting is medium-high.
2. Add sliced onions, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and stir for one minute.
3. Add mushrooms, stir for another 2 minutes.
4. Move onion and mushrooms to the side of the skillet and beat one egg (tip: brake the egg into a separate dish before adding to the skillet. If it's rotten, you won't spoil the whole meal).
5. Cook the egg for a minute, add some salt and pepper to taste, and your quick meal is ready! 

***

You can serve it on a slice of bread, which will make it an open face sandwich. I didn't use any bread, hence my sandwich was breadless.  
Add some herbs and vegetables to it, poor yourself a cup of coffee or a tomato juice, and with a big and happy smile have a great lunch (or breakfast, or dinner)! :)

Here's where I was when my friend called me...


See you,
Marina



40 comments:

  1. What a lovely dish, Marina. Simple, but delicious I'm sure. I love the oozing egg yolk...
    Thank you for visiting my blog! I'm very happy to discover yours!

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    1. Hi Sissi, I am pleased to meet you as well. Thanks for leaving a wonderful comment... :) Please, do come back!

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  2. Hihihi, once I got similar request for detailed and simple recipe including steps starting from going to the farmer's market and buying appropriate ingredients. I have lots of friends that basically are not sure where they have kitchen in their apartments so such request are kinda normal for me. And of course I can't forget that around ten years ago I was also not a very well oriented person in the kitchen. But people sometimes change, hopefully I had changed over time, at least when discussing my kitchen skills ;-) But I always have sentiment for those that claim that they can't cook ;-) and then I patiently explain, confront, discuss and teach :-)

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    1. HI Joanna, isn't it funny how fast we forget that just a while ago we has a very same questions?! Good thing there are friends who keep reminding me of that time by asking a basic questions about cooking. :)

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    2. Yeah it happens all the time. When we achieve certain level of proficiency in any field let it be kitchen, yoga, car driving whatsoever we tend to forget how it is to be at the very beginning and starting and trying out completely new things. As you write it's good to have friends reminding that there are different people with different proficiency of their skills :-)

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  3. And of course the simple breadless sandwich looks soooooo delicious. Yum, yum :-D You convinced me. I think I will do something similar for breakfast tomorrow :-)

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    1. Add some dried dill too, it marries well with both mushrooms and egg. :)

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    2. dill sounds like a good idea :-D

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  4. What a nice surprise your friend:-)
    I agree cooked mushrooms are difficult for me to make photogenic...raw..better for me.
    They are exquisitely delicious..oui.
    This looks delicious

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    1. Aha, mushrooms are not photogenic at all. I tried many dishes and different lights, but the result is always the same. Some bloggers choose not to post mushrooms because of it's look, but I love mushrooms, and cook a lot with it, so I just decided I'll go for it! :)

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  5. wonderful yummy dish. Very appetizing indeed.

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    1. Thanks Alida! Nice to hear that it looks appetizing, as mushrooms are not a pretty "models" for a photo.

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  6. I am going to buy me some mushrooms and make this dish. There are some people who really need more detailed info, I try to be mindful but frequently forget.

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    1. And I tend to skip many details, thinking that everyone should know those details. :)

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  7. Aw, that's a wonderful request to receive from a friend. I always forget what it was like only a few years ago when I would've stared at a recipe with instructions to separate an egg white or even fluff my couscous--say what? It never hurts to go back to basics every once in a while. Thanks for sharing; and I miss good old 40 West!

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    1. With couscous is an important detail, even for an experienced cook if you don't make it often. I always forget to fluff the couscous... :) 40 West is so much fun, I'll be adding more post about my road trip in the near future. :)

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  8. This would make a perfect lunch, one that wouldn't leave me looking for a comfy, over-stuffed chair to nap in. Although you're right and it would still be good served open-faced with bread, I think I'd prefer it just as your picture shows. And as for the mushroom photos, I wish I could get mine to look as good as yours do here.

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    1. Aww, John, you are always so kind! Thank you! I tried to "dress up" those mushrooms by putting it on a nice plate from Italy... :) This new place we moved in also has better lights, I am learning to take photos in a new setting. Fun.
      I was thinking wouldn't be nice to have sometimes a pasta making party? I am still hesitating with making orecchiette... :)

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  9. Marina, nice to catch up with you; hope you settled down in your new place. That's a long move you did...wishing all the best in your new state, new job, and your new home!
    I love the simplicity of the mushrooms; which by the way are beautiful to me, they have their own natural beauty and flavor. Love it paired with the eggs. So comforting and delicious!

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    1. Hi Elisabeth, I am so glad to see you here, dear friend! :) Still unpacking, apartment is very small, so I have to be very creative about use of space. Par of my kitchen stuff is still in the boxes as there's no room in cupboards... scratch that, there's no cupboards: only two!!!! Imagine that, having only two shelves for all my kitchen stuff? I think I am going to build myself a very primitive shelf... Stay tuned for that project! :)

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  10. Hi Marina! I love how you introduced this recipe. You know it's actually interesting how many people want/like step-by-step pictures? Surprisingly a lot. Which is the only reason why I cannot quit taking step by step pictures... so many thank you emails and asking to continue. It's really a pain in the neck for blogger's perspectives (very time consuming!). But beginner cooks like your friend really doesn't know how the food "should" look like while cooking, I guess. Especially first time eating the food or even seeing the food. I really loved that you shared this recipe because I would never thought of "breadless" sandwich in my life and your meal looks so good (even mushrooms - that was my first thought of "ohh yummy!"). :)

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    1. Hi Nami, glad to see you here! Yes, I hear you, I also noticed that my step-by-step photo posts are most popular, but making them is very time consuming, you are absolutely right about that. And then I think of my kids using those recipes when they cook, and I do my best. I often involve my teenager in cooking, so I can take photos during the process. Most of the time though I do everything by myself: I prepare, I shoot, then I cook, then shoot again. Baking is a challenging one: need to wash my hands like zillion times before touching the camera... :) It's fun though, and I love doing what I do on my blog. It makes me happy... :)

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  11. Hi Marina! Thank you for visiting my blog! I like your simple recipe...I try to post simple recipes too. I take pictures step by step like Nami at Just One Cookbook and explain my recipes in details...I hope this helps a little bit. I love mushrooms combined with eggs and this is often my dinner rather than my breakfast/brunch! I lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas for a couple of months back in 1997...lovely State, especially in summer (I was there in winter too...VERY COLD!!). Nice to meet you.

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    1. Hi Rita, I am please to meet you here, welcome! How interesting that you lived in Arkansas. It is a beautiful state indeed, but summers are very-very hot now, and all we did last summer was stayed inside in air conditioner rooms. Local say that it's been unusually hot this few summers... We've been here only two years, so it is hard to compare. :) I am glad you liked my meal!

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  12. I love simple recipes too! While I do at times like complicated ones perhaps 1-2 nights a week, I cook simply more often! :)

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    1. You know, Lorraine, I often twist my brain around ideas off "what's for dinner", and my husband just asks to make like boiled potatoes, or a simple polenta, or some other very easy and quick meal. He says that I don't need to impress him, just go for an easy, he likes it that way... :)

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  13. Always gluten free, I love this simple no bread idea my friend :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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    1. Yes, Uru, I forgot to label it gluten free. Thank you! :)

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    1. I would love to share this lunch with you one day, Chris! :)

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  15. Marina, what a nice funny (in a gentle way) introduction for this beautiful 'sandwich' of yours. Checked, eggs, mushrooms, onions, carrots, all in fridge. Out they come now and that's for supper. Big cooking tomorrow.
    Ciao Carina

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    1. Thank you Carina! Easy meals makes my family and me happy! :)

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  16. Mushrooms -) You got me at "hello"! It is simple and delicious recipe. Perfect lunch for me. Thank you, Marina.

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    1. What can be better than simple, and with mushrooms. I love mushrooms, it's my meat! :)

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  17. Love that china, I hope your friend appreciates this post and enjoys the dish. :)

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    1. Hi Lindy, that china is Italian Deruta ceramic... :) I love it too, it makes me smile, and makes those mushroom look prettier... Have a lovely day! :)

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  18. I'd love this for lunch with extra mushrooms! And I tend to forget that not everyone is a seasoned cook who reads my blog! Good reminder :)

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    1. I am with you Lizzy about extra mushrooms, love-love mushrooms too! :)

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  19. Heck, I think almost all of my recipes are simple. ;-) But I know what your friend means, and this recipe is one anyone could not only cook but enjoy eating. Great flavors!

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Your warm comments put a smile on my heart.