Green eggs on toast, featuring Giovanni Rana pesto

The people at Giovanni Rana were kind enough to send me some pastas and sauces to try out and I really wanted to think of fun ways to experiment with them. You’ll see a recipe with their amazingly fresh ravioli next week, but this week, I was really excited to share this easy breakfast idea that takes ordinary scrambled eggs to the next level.

Giovanni Rana Pesto

Giovanni Rana hails from a small Italian village and has been making pasta for over 50 years. He started out making fresh pasta by hand and delivering it to customers on a motor scooter, and is now the man and name behind Italy’s number one fresh pasta purveyor. You’ll be happy to know his one-of-a-kind operation has expanded stateside and his products are now readily available in many stores. New Yorkers are particularly lucky, as there is now a Rana restaurant as well, aptly located in Chelsea Market.

Giovanni Rana’s pesto is as good as homemade and is made with 100% real Genovese basil. Besides this breakfast, you can mix it into fresh al dente pasta or use it as a condiment for sandwiches.

Giovanni Rana Pesto

(Yield: 1 serving)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter
2 eggs
1 tsp Giovanni Rana pesto
2 thin slices crusty bread (like ciabatta), toasted
4 slices brie cheese

Procedure: In a small bowl, beat eggs with pesto. Place a small skillet over medium heat; when it’s hot, melt butter in the skillet. Pour eggs into the skillet. Using a wooden spatula, gently stir the eggs, moving from the outside in. Continue gently stirring until the eggs are solid, and remove from heat. Do not overcook. Place eggs atop toast and cheese; serve immediately.

Giovanni Rana Pesto

If you had to eat the same one breakfast forever, what would you choose?

Disclaimer: I received complementary Giovanni Rana products for review on this blog. I was not otherwise compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Sandwich of the Month: Brie grilled cheese

With previous entries into the Sandwich of the Month category, there has been roasting, sauteing, grilling and even pickling - so with this super easy sandwich, you can say that I took the easy way out. And I guess you’d be right. Easy yet special enough for a Sunday morning breakfast. Easy yet so unique that you’ll wonder why the hell you never made it before. Easy and fast enough as to leave you with optimal time to enjoy a day-long marathon of Portlandia in bed with your boyfriend. Mmm…

Brie grilled cheese

The inspiration for this brie grilled cheese comes from the Mr. Rene sandwich at La Maison du Croque Monsieur in Union Square. Besides the contrast of savory cheese and sweet jam, what I love about this sandwich are the varying textures. Due to its rind and quick cooking technique, the cheese retains most of its shape after cooking and doesn’t get fully gooey, which I love.

Ingredients:

Butter

Sliced white country bread

Thick slices of brie cheese

Grape, strawberry or raspberry jam or preserves

Procedure: Preheat a griddle pan over medium-low heat. Butter one side of 2 slices of bread and place buttered side-down on a board. Spread 1 tsp of jam on one piece and top with slices of brie. Place second slice of bread on top, buttered side facing up.

Brie grilled cheese

Then place the sandwich on the griddle and cook 2-3 min per side, occasionally pressing down with a spatula, until the bread is toasted. Remove from griddle, slice in half, and serve immediately.

Describe your ideal Sunday morning breakfast.