Scotch Eggs

I just have to share one of my favorite breakfasts...Scotch Eggs!  I don't make these too often, usually on special occasions or when we go camping.  I like to make them the night before then reheat them when needed.


This is what you need...

Hard Boiled Eggs
Breakfast Sausage
Bread Crumbs


First, hard boil the eggs.  This may sound simple but for some reason, folks seem to have a hard time not overcooking the eggs.  You know when you get a yoke with green on the outside?  That's an overcooked egg.
I have chickens in my garden so the first thing I have to do is wait for two weeks before I hard boil the eggs.  Freshly laid eggs just wont hard boil nicely.  They just don't solidify correctly.
For perfectly cooked hard boiled eggs, place the eggs in a pot of cold water--enough to cover the eggs by one inch.  Bring the water to a rolling boil.  Boil for two minutes.  Cover and remove from heat.  Set a timer for 16 minutes.  When the timer dings, rinse eggs with cold water.  Let eggs cool then peel.

Dry peeled eggs with a paper towel.  Cut sausage into 1/2"-3/4" slices.  Flatten sausage and wrap around egg being sure to cover all of the egg and seal the edges.  I usually like to use Jimmy Dean Hot Breakfast Sausage.  I've tried using local made sausage but found the fat content to be too high.  The fat cooked off and left my eggs exposed.  Gasp!





Once the eggs are encased in sausage, roll them in bread crumbs.  Most often you will see Scotch Eggs deep fried but I prefer them baked.  Place the eggs on a cooling rack suspended above a cake baking pan. 

Bake in an oven preheated to 325F for 35minutes.  Serve with honey mustard for dipping.  Delicious!

 

 

I hope you give these a try.  They really are wonderful!

'Til we meet again,
Ms. Adventure




 

DIY "Retro" Lamp Shade

Earlier this year I picked up a great vintage lamp sans shade.  As you all know, vintage lamps are my Achilles heel.  This beauty depicts an Asian boy and girl on a boat.  I originally wanted a red venetian lamp shade but was unable to find one at a price I was willing to pay.  So it was time to get creative. 




I hit the local Target store and picked up a rectangle shade that would compliment the lamp nicely.  I think I paid about $12 for it.  Nice shape but boring, boring, boring.











I happened to have some vintage bark cloth curtains at home that I've been planning to make pillows out of for some time.  I picked them up at a local antique shop last year.  I love the colors and the pattern looks to be an oriental bonsai motif.



Step 1:  Wash and iron fabric.

Step 2:  Cut fabric for each side of the shade.  If using a drum shade you can cut one piece to cover the entire shade.  If the top of the shade is tapered then your fabric will end up more of a 'C' shape.                                                      Step 3:  Attach the fabric to the shade using spray adhesive.  Follow the directions on the can.

Step 4:  Attach bias tape to cover the edge of the fabric that was folded over the inside of the lamp shade.  This will give your shade a clean, finished look.  I used a product called Liquid Stitch to secure the bias tape.

 

Oooooh, doesn't that look nice!

 

Step 5:  Lastly, I added great chartreuse trim to cover the seams where the fabric meets at the corners of the shade.  I used Liquid Stitch to attatch the trim.

 

So overall, I ended up spending about $25 for the shade and all of the fabric, trim, bias tape and adhesives.  I think it turned quite stunning for a quick weekend project.

 

 

'Til we meet again,

Ms. Adventure