Restaurant Recreations [Hash Brown Breakfast Sandwiches w/ Jalapeno Ranch]

When I was in college [Go Noles!], the place to be for Sunday brunch was a little breakfast shop called Bagel Bagel.  So delish they named it twice?  Yeah right!  So delicious they opened up a second location in town... and then another on the other side of the state!  Hellooo success story!  Hopefully they expand to a town near you so you can experience the awesomeness for yourself =)

Since they didn't follow me to NC, it was only a matter of time before I recreated my go-to Bagel Bagel breakfast: a yummy wrap with fluffy egg, melted cheese, a crispy hash brown, and a side of zesty jalapeno ranch for dipping. I wanted to make sure it tasted just like the original, so I flew out to Tallahassee to eat there.  Kidding!  I flew out for friends and football, the food was just a bonus!  But I can tell you with 100% certainty that I have this restaurant recreation down pact! Yay!

Hash Brown Breakfast Muffins w/ Jalapeno Ranch

Bagel Bagel's Breakfast Wrap

Mine wins. Trust me =)

What's in it?

1-2 eggs

1 english muffin, toasted

1 frozen hash brown

1 slice of provolone cheese

Jalapeno Ranch [zesty and flavorful; not spicy!]

2 Tablespoons of your favorite homemade or store bought ranch dressing 

[Naturally Fresh is my favorite store bought brand... zero sketch in the bottle + all natural!]

1/2 teaspoon of diced pickled jalapenos

1/2 teaspoon of the juice from the jalapeno jar

a light sprinkle of each: red pepper flakes, paprika, minced dried onion, and garlic powder

If you don't do eggs - don't worry! 

This sauce is amazing on everything from sweet potato fries to zucchini sticks.

this. stuff. rocks!

Get Cooking!

First, preheat toaster oven or conventional oven to 450F to cook your hash brown.  Place hash brown directly on the rack for maximum crispiness.  While the hash brown is baking, prep jalapeno ranch by mixing all of the above ingredients.  Next, cook eggs [see below for my favorite technique] and toast your english muffin.  Add cheese and assemble sandwich.  Cut in half and dunk away!

My Eggcellent Technique: I always make a faux-omelette for breakfast sandwiches.  It has the fluffiness of scrambled eggs but, like an omelette, it stays together instead of crumbling all over your plate.  Crack your egg(s) in a mug, whisk with a fork and, after whisking, add a teeny tiny splash of milk to the cup.  I typically use coconut milk creamer and it works just as well as dairy!  Next, prep a frying pan with a little oil and turn heat on to medium.  Add you whisked egg to the pan and, once the egg starts to thicken fold it once or twice and flip.  Allow the other side to cook and flip again.  You cant mess this up, even if the eggs start to separate or some breaks off, you can just fold it into a little tower of fluffy eggs and pile it on your sandwich.  This technique gives the egg the same fluffy height of restaurant egg sandwiches without microwaving [which, most places simply nuke the eggs]  So yeah, super lengthy explanation for super easy eggs. Haha.  

That being said you can basically cook the eggs any which way you'd like [even with the microwave!] and pop em on this sandwich =)  Ooh! and adding veggies to the eggs is brilliantly delicious too! The photo below has spinach and peppers folded into the eggs.  Cooking for two? Just double the ingredients!  Here is a quick snapshot of the brunch I made Paul and I this weekend.  Its not a light breakfast but not super heavy either.  Plus, it keeps me full forever.  Love that!

So... How was it?

Better than the original!  I must have made about 8 versions of the jalapeno ranch before finding the perfect combination.  I tried fresh jalapenos, jarred jalapenos, fresh onion, dried onion, and every spice I could get my hands on.  The recipe you see above is absolute perfection and tastes identical to Bagel Bagel's jal-ranch.  I'm proud of myself... and also still full from breakfast =)

Break out of your breakfast routine one weekend and give this a try! <3

Speaking of breakfast routines, what did you have for breakfast this morning?