Egg in the Middle

Instructions

1. Butter the bread Lightly butter both sides of the 1 slice bread using about 1 tablespoon butter or cooking oil so the bread toasts evenly in the skillet.
2. Cut the center hole Use a round cookie cutter, the rim of a drinking glass, or a canning jar screw ring to cut a hole in the middle of the buttered 1 slice bread. Remove the buttered circular cut-out and set it aside.
   The canning jar ring makes a perfectly sized center and toasts evenly.
3. Heat the skillet Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat and lightly coat the bottom with some of the 1 tablespoon butter or cooking oil.
4. Toast the bread and cut-out Place the buttered slice of bread with the hole and the small cut-out round into the skillet. Let the 1 slice bread and the bread round begin to brown on the first side.
5. Add the egg Crack 1 egg into a small bowl or cup, then gently pour the 1 egg into the hole in the bread. Alternatively, crack the 1 egg directly into the hole in the bread in the skillet. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the egg if desired.
6. Flip the cut-out Check the small bread round for browning. When the bread round is lightly golden, flip the bread round so both sides of the bread round toast evenly.
7. Flip the main slice When the egg white around the yolk has mostly set, carefully flip the slice of bread holding the 1 egg using a spatula. Turn the bread and egg gently so the yolk does not break.
8. Finish cooking Cook the flipped bread and 1 egg until the egg reaches your desired doneness. Use the toasted bread round as a guide—if the bread round is fully browned, the egg is usually close to ready.
9. Serve Remove the Egg in the Middle and the toasted bread round from the skillet. Serve the 1 egg-in-the-middle slice hot, with the toasted bread circle alongside.