A few weeks ago something momentous happened in our
household: Ryan finished his MBA [Master’s in Business Administration]. This
was something he’d been working on for the last three years—working all day in
his fulltime job and then heading to class a few nights a week. It is an
accomplishment we are thrilled he achieved, but I’ve even more thrilled to have
him back. Although I always found
plenty to keep busy with on my evenings along (namely, my own Master’s degree
and this blog), it’s going to be awesome to have him around—and without the
stress of schoolwork hanging over his head!
One of the things I missed most was cooking and eating
together. Although I was perfectly content in the kitchen by myself, it became
a tiresome, rushed affair. We’d burst into the door from work and I’d
immediately start working on dinner, sometimes before removing my coat. I’d
quickly plate his dinner and he’d eat in the office while doing last minute
homework or (most likely) catching up on sports news. He’d then rush out the
door and I’d settle in for eating my own dinner before working on the dishes.
That jig is hopefully a thing of the past!
We spent one of our first “post-degree” evenings putting
this meal together. It wasn’t anything fancy, but having a partner in the
kitchen made it infinitely more enjoyable. Ryan chopped greens and poached
eggs; I toasted breadcrumbs and shredded cheese. Our team effort paid off and
dinner came together effortlessly and flawlessly. The ingredients are basic,
but the simplicity of this dish is precisely what made it so good. Minimal
ingredients allow the tastes to stand out—tender greens mixed with toasted
breadcrumbs and salty Parmesan all encased in a runny egg yolk. It was nothing
fancy and yet, shared with Ryan at the
table. together. it was just perfect!
adapted from Cooking Light September 2012
Ingredients:
-1 piece of whole wheat bread
-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
-1 onion, sliced
-1 bunch (approximately 16 oz) collard greens, stemmed and coarsely chopped
-1/2 cup water
-1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
-4 garlic cloves, chopped
-2 1/4 tsp kosher salt
-4 large eggs
-8 oz whole wheat spaghetti
-2 oz Parmesan, shredded and divided
-1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400F. Pulse bread in a food processor to form breadcrumbs. Toss crumbs with 2 tsp olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until toasted.
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tsp oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the sliced onion and saute until golden, stirring frequently. Gradually add the greens, stirring to wilt after each addition. Add 1/2 cup water, red pepper, and garlic. Reduce heat to medium and cook, uncovered, until greens are tender (about 12 minutes), stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/4 tsp salt. Keep warm.
3. Bring a large pot of water with 2 tsp of salt to a simmer. Work with one egg at a time. Crack each egg and gently slide egg into the water. Cook for 3 minutes, just until whites are set. Use a slotted spoon to carefully remove egg (remove any remaining egg solids as well).
4. Bring pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 10 minutes, until al dente. Drain pasta and place it in a long bowl. Add 1 oz cheese, remaining 1 tbsp of oil, and black pepper. Toss to coat.
5. Divide greens among bowls. Top with 1 cup of the pasta, 1 egg, and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
