Can you even believe it’s back-to-school time already for many kids in the country? We have a little bit of a break going right now, but we’ll be following along soon enough. For parents with kids at home and teachers getting ready to return to the routine, knocking out a solid breakfast is often a big challenge. My solution? Let the kids do the cooking.
My son Ty has always had a love and knack for cooking. At the tender age of ten, he begged to try and actually executed a complicated Two Fat Ladies recipe for traditional British venison pasty. It turned out perfectly. We were all happy and impressed and – needless to say – have encouraged his continued presence in the kitchen. That’s my kid, friends. As home educators, our back-to-school routine is a little different than that of many people. In a nutshell, the boys are charged with getting out of bed, changing into day-clothes, getting food in their bellies, and being at the table – ready to tackle the day’s lessons – by a certain time. As often as not, Ty is voted the designated breakfast cook on account of his brothers’ affinity for his hearty creations.
Ty’s Best Breakfast Sandwich is a perfect example of his style. Two slices of buttered sourdough bread are stuffed with a meltable cheese, crispy hash browns and bacon, and scrambled eggs before being crimped, toasted to perfection, and served with hot sauce for his hot-sauce-fanatic-brothers. Part of what makes this particular combination so handy is that it can take advantage of leftovers from previous breakfasts or from brinners!
Ty’s tool of choice for this heavenly way to start the day is the Cook’s sandwich maker from JCPenney. Clocking in at $30 (and nearer to $15 on sale!) it’s a fantastic and inexpensive little number to have around to encourage your kids’ creativity in the kitchen. You should see how excited they get to try out new combinations in the sandwich maker. If you don’t have this handy-dandy little gadget, you can crimp the edges of your sandwich with a fork or press and toast it in a hot skillet or under the broiler.
Cook’s Notes
- Ty likes to use sourdough bread for his Best Breakfast Sandwich not just because of the flavour, but because it’s sturdy enough to being buttered, filled, crimped, and toasted.
- He starts with bacon and hashbrowns that were already cooked and leftover from a previous meal. He chops the bacon and reheats that and the hashbrowns together giving them a chance to crisp up even further.
- Ty advises you to leave a little ring of empty bread around the edges of your sandwich when filling them. That makes them easier to crimp and keeps the cheese from running out.
Ty’s Best Breakfast Sandwich
Ingredients
Per Sandwich:
- 2 slices sourdough bread
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
- 2 tablespoons leftover hashbrowns or home fries
- 1 slice of crispy cooked bacon, chopped
- 1 scrambled egg
- 2 tablespoons grated Monterey Jack or 1 slice meltable Cheddar cheese divided
Optional for serving:
- hot sauce
Instructions
- Heat a sandwich maker or place a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Butter the slices of sourdough bread on one side each. Assemble the sandwich on the sandwich maker or skillet by placing one slice of bread buttered side down. Leave 1/4-inch of empty space around the outside edge of the bread and lay in half of the cheese topped with the hashbrowns, bacon, scrambled egg, and remaining cheese. Lay the second slice of bread -buttered side up- on the sandwich and close the sandwich maker. If using the skillet, use a fork to crimp the edges quickly and carefully. The sandwich maker will toast it evenly on both sides at the same time, making it unnecessary to flip it. If using the skillet, flip the sandwich after the first side is golden brown. Either way, transfer the sandwich to a plate when both sides are beautifully golden brown. Serve while still hot with hot sauce, if desired.
JCPenney also keeps Ty stylish while cooking courtesy of the affordable and on-trend Arizona Jeans line. My guys are tough on clothes, and Arizona Jeans shirts and pants hold up well enough to be passed on down to the brother behind them in line. Given their low starting price, I’d call that a bargain and a half. And now – a chance for one Foodie with Family reader to enter to win a $100 JCPenney Gift Card! All you need to do is answer the following question: What makes your family uniquely you? How do you stand out?
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
- Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
- Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
- Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
- For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the [email protected] email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 8/18 -9/15/2014.
Be sure to visit the JCPenney brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
Oh man. I am SO with Ty on this breakfast sandwich. It is amazing!
Mindy C. says
We’re the disheveled family with three incredible (and incredibly different from each other) big sisters and one amazing baby brother who also happens to rock an extra 21st chromosome.
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says
YUM! Those sandwiches look delicious. And I love Ty’s shirt. I’ve been scouring stores for a good first day of school look for my 9-year-old.
Rebecca says
I got that shirt on sale for $9 marked down from $30! Quick! Make a JCP run and grab one! They’re Arizona brand!
Cassie says
Ty wins my heart today! I adore this sandwich. You can’t go wrong with sourdough!!
Jennifer says
This sandwich sounds fantastic. We are scrambling to get into back to school mode. My guys range from 6 to 19, so we’ve got most of the stages covered.
Mindi says
We just moved to a new state. My kids are getting ready to start new schools including my daughter who is deaf. she will be going to the state school for the deaf for this year.
Mindi says
https://twitter.com/mindiallen/status/501362486034313217
check out this breakfast sandwich and stylish kid! #sweepstakesentry
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
What a fun and delicious sandwich!! He definitely has real talent in the kitchen. And that little sandwich maker is something I just might need to find!
Kara S says
Our family is unique because we have a family business while homeschooling our youngest. We hope to train the kids so that one day they can take over the business!
Bren says
Our family is very special, we have 3 boys, ages 20, 17 and 11. We are always laughing and enjoy each other’s company. We go to football games and tailgate, we go camping and enjoy playing games together. I am a very lucky mom.
Karen D. says
We are homeschoolers who do school during the summer and take off in the winter to camp. (We live in Central Florida so summers are unbearable.) My kids like rugged clothes that last – cargo pants, jeans, Columbia fishing shirts, and hiking boots. Usually they prefer to wear their own distinct colors – my oldest has always worn green,. my daughter wears purple, and my youngest loves anything blue. It all started when they were little (3 babies in 3 years) and their cups, toothbrushes, etc. were color coordinated to tell them apart. It just stuck.
Karen says
Our family is uniquely involved in scouting. I opened my kitchen to 6 9 year old boys last night to make pizza and talk about what they want to do this year.
Lauren kelly Nutrition says
Wow, Ty this looks incredible! I can’t wait to make this!
Clare says
We had a sandwich maker when I was growing up. After my mother passed away and we were dividing her things, we all scrambled for the sandwich maker. They make the greatest grilled cheese or grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. One of eleven, I was always on KP duty.
Heather Spooner says
My family is unique because we encourage each person’s individuality. Whether its in cooking favorite foods, enjoying hobbies together, or learning something new together. Thanks!
Ginny McMeans says
Ty makes an amazing sandwich. The sandwich maker really makes it perfect and so easy for kids to use. Love it!
Samantha says
Big fan of breakfast sandwiches. Ty is such a great recipe developer! Also a very snazzy dresser!
Matt Robinson says
Ty is my kind of kid, this is exactly what we all love here!
Lora H says
The family that always does what they can to help. From charities to fundraising to smaller things like being a team parent (for my kid’s sports teams), and helping out at their school.
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
Well done, Ty! I’d totally eat that sammie for breakfast…or anytime for that matter.
Bara says
We all love each other and do what we can to help others, too.
Margaret says
Music defines my family. From a classical musician hubby to a metal-loving guitar master son to our ukulele playing & singing daughter. Me, I rock on the Ipod!
Miriam @ OvertimeCook says
Love the look of this sandwich! My family is unique because we have the weirdest sense of humor so conversation is so fun!
Nicole says
I used to love that Two Fat Ladies show! I had forgotten all about it. My family’s love of food is unique … okay, it’s more of an obsession!
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
I’m totally digging this sandwich. And you just have to love a kid that loves hot sauce!
evans s says
What makes our family unique is our heritage mix. My husband is Haitian and I am Dominican but our kids were born and raised in the US. We tell our kids about things were like when we were growing up and sometimes we say that’s how we wish they were raised like we were. However we enjoy the mix old and new and different cultures that make up our family
evans s says
https://twitter.com/talliana1/status/501415605153435650
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
omg how cute is this recipe (and that photo!)
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
So cool that your son loves to cook – and what a great recipe! It looks amazing!
Martine says
What is that ingredient? I’ve never heard of it before – leftover bacon?
Yum! Those look good. 🙂
WendyM says
The breakfast sandwich is awesome and contained with everything “breakfast”. My kids are awesome, as they’ve had to cook and clean when I’ve been on bed rest. They will not starve when they grow up!
Diane {Created by Diane} says
this looks like a sandwich my kids would love for breakfast. Our family stands out when they eat dinner for breakfast, yes they love leftovers at breakfast time, spaghetti, chicken, fried rice, you name it that is what they want! That is until they get a load of your sons yummy sandwich!
Amanda @The Kitcheneer says
This sandwich looks totally amazing! Sounds like you have a new chef in the family! Hope he continues to learn in grow in the kitchen!
Sandii says
Sweepstakes?! Our family is unique in that we are United Nations: I was born Down Under, hubby born in the good ole U.S. of A. and our two children born in Guatemala – one of Mayan decent, one of Spanish decent! We stand out because we all like to go caving! 🙂
livivua says
there are so many little things that make my family unique…..like we experience and do a lot of things as a family
livivua says
https://twitter.com/vivaciousgold/status/501452182202621952 tweeted
Kim Beaulieu says
Love that Ty loves to cook, and he looks stylish while he does it. This sandwich is brilliant, so cool he loves to cook and is so creative.
Mami2jcn says
We stand out just by the fact that we’re an ethnic minority living in an area with very few minorities. We speak 3 languages in our home so it’s a little unusual.
Mami2jcn says
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/501463859866382336
kate C. says
We’re unique in that we don’t have a TV and we’re all runners… so naturally we like to eat (and therefore, cook!)
Joan Wissert says
Ty, you look great! Our family is uniquely “us” because our diverse tastes still allow us to enjoy a breakfast together when everyone is home. For some reason, family breakfasts just seem better. The food tastes better, the conversations are more relaxed, and now that our girls are pretty much grown and on their own, the breakfasts spent together are even more special!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
I would cut my arm off for this sandwich!
heather says
Our family is unique because we have a love for the outdoors and animals. We love to bbq and go on trips down the river together.
Carla says
Bacon and hashbrowns in an easy, portable breakfast sandwich?! Does Ty deliver? 🙂
Nicole Dz says
We have two bright kids who are just so sillt, we are a unique family because we explore the outdoors, work together on projects, have our own garden we do together, we stay involved and active, & we create the best memories together. We find the fun in everything.
Nicole Dz says
Shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/501507948678348800
Elena says
What makes our family unique is that we speak 3 languages and we are born outside USA
Elena says
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/501509836903677953
Kelly D says
We are a pretty typical family, but maybe we stand out because 2 of us in my house are vegetarians and the other 2 are meat eaters. I am always trying to create meatless meals for my son and myself.
Kelly D says
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellysaver/status/501516482912595969
linda sch says
i’m korean and my husband is pennsylvania dutch/english/welsh/german/swiss german. my three kids are halfsies. My oldest is my son, Nathaniel. the younger two girls are 14 months apart and look like twins. almost every day of their lives, the girls are asked, “are you Hannah or Ellie?”
Jessica (Savory Experiments) says
Wow! These are amazing, I can’t wait to try them. I’m sure my niece and nephew will love them as well!
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
This is my kind of breakfast! So awesome!!
Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says
GREAT job Ty! I’ll have 2 please! You need to meet my 10 year old daughter – you two would have fun cooking together…she needs a cooking (kid) buddy!
steve weber says
We have an amazing sense of humor and are super easy to get a long with.
sara says
My girls are half English and while I wish they sported adorable British accents like their daddy they march to their own drums and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
sara says
tweet https://twitter.com/SaraMama/status/501599292713627648
Saniel says
I used to have this sandwich maker growing up. I remember coining home getting two slices of bread,butter, brush and whatever toppings we had and I’d make a sandwich or two. Loved the crispy edges! Glad to know it’s still around,Thanks
Natalie Yarbrough says
I tweeted on twitter and my twitter id is @yarbr012 : https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/487281653635497984.
Natalie Yarbrough says
My family stands out from the crowd because we hold true to our religious beliefs and have an amazing love for each other.
Angela {Mind Over Batter} says
Now this is my kind of breakfast situation! Beautiful sandwich!!
Mary says
Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! I love that Ty made this sandwich on his own!! What makes my family special? Ha, oh so many things…. wait, not that kind of special? I think that a shared love of all sci-fi, superhero, and lego creations makes us an all-boy world kind of special.
Amanda says
This looks so incredible! I need to make one now!
[email protected] Mom says
A fabulous hearty breakfast for the kids plus a great giveaway from JCPenny? Woot woot!
Lisa Brown says
i don’t think we stand out, we are a close and supportive family
Lisa Brown says
https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/501760702508728320
Toni | BoulderLocavore says
Don’t you just love it when kids want to cook? My son is the same way. He is a major pancake maker at 11 and is able to do it all unspervised at this point. Not only is your son clear a chef-in-the-making but he’s so handsome in the cute JC Penney clothes. I hope we’ll see more of his kitchen adventures on your blog Rebecca! Great giveaway!
courtney b says
i think we are special because we are unique and all love each other very much. we are a tight knit family
courtney b says
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/501785907037745153
D Schmidt says
What makes us uniquely us is our values, attitudes and humor.
D Schmidt says
Tweeted for a second entry https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/501798378422820865
Virginia says
I loved this post! His sandwiches look great and I love hearing about blooming chefs getting free reign in the kitchen! My middle daughter is a blooming chef. She’s got lots of ideas and just blossoms when given complete control.
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
My girls started cooking young and they’ve never stopped. Who knew how their ability to make some simple eggs would elevate them to most popular in college? 🙂
Great job by your little guy and doggone I would LOVE that sandwich for breakfast!
Christina Boucher says
I think my family is unique because I work at a church and my husband is training to be a minister.
amy pugmire says
I think every family is unique in they’re own way. I think we stand out because we just do us and don’t worry about what others think. NO kind deed goes unnoticed. I try to do something kind for someone each day.
amy pugmire says
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/502042262381924353
Cynthia C says
My family is unique because we all tend to go our own way and don’t follow the pack. We tend to pursue our own interests.
Cynthia C says
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/502066214735450112
Mary Jenkins says
I think my family is unique because we each have personalities and style so different from one another. My husband is a bit of a yuppy jock, I’m an artsy hippie chick and our daughter is pretty punk rock for a kid. We each have something different to bring to the table!
[email protected]
Rebecca says
I think our family stands out because we love each other so much and enjoy being together.
Kerry says
We probably stand out because my 14 year old is 6 foot 1 right now! He makes people turn heads for sure:)
Ashley H says
We are a bi-racial family with a beautiful baby so that helps us stand out.
Denise L says
My family is crazy, does that count? Oh, and my two kids are 17 years apart. Crazy, like I said.
Denise L says
Tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/502551600838492160
Kerry says
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/502614256571789312
Dandi D says
We are unique because we live very conservatively in a very liberal environment.
Dandi D says
I shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dandidaffyhill/status/502653976513630208
amy pugmire says
By doing something kind to someone everyday. (anonymously) whether its a smile, a favor a hug.
amy pugmire says
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/502681825865519105
mysweetiepiepie says
My family is uniquely me because we are all happy, fun-loving people.
Carolsue says
My family is unique because they all really get along and are willing to put others interests ahead of their own.
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Madeline says
Our family is unique because we volunteer together at the Humane League.
Madeline says
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/503652594305081344
Susan Smith says
Our family is unique because we live on a budget and don’t use credit cards.
Susan Smith says
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/503655158090571777
Jessie C. says
Personality and style make my family unique.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
Jessie C. says
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/503737868423266305
Cherice says
Our family is unique because we all share a love for music. We kind of have our own family band!
amy pugmire says
I think we are unique cause we try to be authentic and not worry about what people think about us.
amy pugmire says
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/504517780167614464
Dawn Monroe says
My family is unique in several ways. It’s a huge family! We have six kids, raised two nieces and nephews and we have six grandkids and counting. One of the best things about my family is our sense of humor.
Kimmy Ripley says
I think our family stands out because of our unique style of dress. We always make an effort to look fashionable.
Anna S. says
We are all very close to each other, but we still fight!
Vincent says
We like to road trip and visit friends near & far. People are often pleasantly surprised when we ask to visit even though we live far away.
Vincent says
How wonderful to have such a talented & industrious young man in your family!
tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/505833730275938304
Janice Cooper says
I think our family humor makes us stand out. My hubby always has a joke or funny come-back for any occasion. On my side of the family they love him.
Janice Cooper says
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/505890303556214784
Anne says
We just had a great example of what makes us, well, us: I was making dinner and glanced out the window, and there was a huge rainbow, the kind that goes all the way across the sky. I called out to my spouse, and we stayed out there looking at it and taking pictures until it completely faded.
We go out at night to watch the International Space Station pass overhead, or to watch meteor showers, or to look for auroras. We listen to loons, and rush outside when we hear osprey flying overhead. We know the world around us, and appreciate it.
Anne says
I just tweeted about Ty’s cool sandwich and this promotion:
https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/506589638262530048
rachel says
We’re mixed race so that always gets some looks.
sandra says
we’re all different
Susan Smith says
we are unique in that we actually like to spend time together and my children get along and don’t argue with each other.
Susan Smith says
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/508002405435572224
Gina M says
I like to think our family stands out because we are polite, hard-working, and generous.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Gina M says
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/508256961985802240
Stacey b says
My family stands out because because my kids are crazy, silly.
Stacey b says
Tweet https://twitter.com/MomOF2Boysz/status/508734805039931392
Barbara Montag says
We’re a unique family because we all look and dress differently.
And we all different personalities.
thank you
Barbara Montag says
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/508827313463914496
maria cantu says
My kids are so amazingly well-behaved.
anna pry says
my family is as unique as its individual members as all families are [email protected]
anna pry says
i tweeted https://twitter.com/thepryfamily5/status/510232284197171200
[email protected]
Danielle Meek says
My family stands out because my kids are very well behaved (when they’re not at home anyway) and both my boys look so much like my husband it’s always a topic of conversation.
Tabathia B says
How we love to have fun with each other
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B says
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/511502911801552896
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Amanda Whitley says
i think we are unique because each member of the family is very different from one another but we all get along great.
Amanda Sakovitz says
My family is pretty crazy but we love each other for who we are.
Amanda Sakovitz says
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/511538546831028224
Thomas Murphy says
We stand out because we all have a unique style of dress.
Thomas Murphy says
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/511637405561290753
Angel Jacklyn says
WE FOLLOW NO TRENDS, WE ARE OUR OWN BREED, LOL [email protected]
Angel Jacklyn says
TWITTERED FOR EXTRA ENTRY! https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/514974121487519744