Perfectly Poached Eggs

For me, there is nothing more satisfying than that moment when you break that yolk to see a delicious, orange waterfall oozing out onto the plate. It is such an easy recipe to make and the excuse that 'I didn't have enough time for breakfast' simply can not be tolerated! Trust me, being a student myself I look for something quick, healthy and nutritious in the morning to kick start my day and this does the trick every time. 

Let me introduce you to my chickens. We actually have 3 chickens called: Daphne, Barbra and Eve. They are fantastic and each has their own personality. Daphne is the energetic, talkative one that likes to run down the garden to greet you when the car comes into the dive. Eve is 'Miss Independent' and likes to strut around the garden acting like she owns the place. Barbra is the hormonal one, she gets broody often and likes to think she'll one day be a mother but I'm afraid that will not be the case.

Each one of these wonderful ladies have something in common: their mouthwatering eggs. You can tell that the eggs are completely organic and free range by the golden-orange colour of their yolk. It is also particularly noticeable when making sponge cakes as it makes them more golden inside. 

For 1: 

- 1 or 2 free range egg(s)

- 1 pitta/ slice of bread

- smoked salmon

- balsamic vinegar 

- salt & pepper for seasoning

- chopped coriander for decoration (not essential)

Method:

• Put the pitta/bread into toaster and the water onto boil. Crack the egg into a cup. Once the water has boiled, stir the water to create a whirlpool in the pan. The secret is to add a tiny splash of balsamic vinegar into the whirlpool, and this ensures the egg will stay together in the water. 

• Pour the egg into the whirlpool and you'll notice the egg begins to cook straight away. It'll look a little messy around the edges, but do not worry! Depending on the pan, a fresh egg will take maximum 2 minutes to cook. Test the egg by removing it with a slotted spoon and gently pushing the yolk with a teaspoon. If it feels too soft, put it back in for a minute or two.
• When complete, serve on warm pitta/ buttered toast and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. I like to add smoked salmon and decorate with coriander for taste.

Top tip:

Try to use the best possible eggs you can afford. Better eggs will mean better flavour. You will notice that if the yolk stands up and the white isn't watery, your eggs are fresh to go!

Enjoy!