My Scotch Eggs

A 'Scotch Egg' usually consists of a shelled hard-boiled egg, wrapped in a sausage meat mixture, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. My version is healthier, and I think, yummier.

Step 1: Ingredients

6 hard boiled eggs
6 pieces of cooked and drained bacon
6 slices of American cheese
non-stick spray

for corn muffin:
1 1/4 Cups all purpose flour
3/4 Cup corn meal
1/4 Cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
1 Cup milk
1/4 Cup vegetable oil
1 egg
fresh cracked pepper
salt
parsley for garnish if desired

Step 2: Boiled Eggs

Put your eggs into a pan of luke-warm water and sprinkle a little salt in the pan. Put on high heat and allow eggs to come to a rolling boil. Once eggs come to a boil, turn off the burner, set timer on 15 minutes and allow eggs to sit.
Once done, rinse the eggs and shell them. Set eggs aside.

Step 3: Bacon

I like to cut the bacon with cooking scissors before cooking, but you can just crumble the bacon after it's done cooking.
Once the bacon is cooked, drain on paper towels and set aside.

Step 4: Corn Muffin

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine all the dry ingredients then add the milk, egg, and oil until just blended but don't over-mix.
 

Step 5: Assemble

Spray a large muffin pan liberally with non-stick cooking spray.
Fill each muffin cup about half full with corn muffin batter.
Sprinkle bacon pieces on top of corn muffin batter.
Place a boiled egg on top of bacon.
Sprinkle fresh cracked pepper and salt on top of egg.

Step 6: Bake

Bake your assembled Scotch Eggs at 400 degrees. Check them at ten minutes, they should be plumped up but not browned at the edges.
You can put cheese on at this point and cook another five minutes, if you plan to eat them immediately.
Or continue to cook another five mintues without the cheese if you intend on cooking them in advance and re-heating them later in the microwave.

Step 7: Yum!

Once the Scotch Eggs are done, allow them to cool in the muffin pan for a few minutes.
Run a knife around the edge of each muffin and pop each muffin out gently.
Sprinkle fresh cracked pepper, salt and parsley over each egg.
Enjoy your Scotch Egg!

Some variations could include using veggie bacon or turkey bacon instead of regular pork bacon.
Fresh dill is also very good added to the batter.
For a richer variation, make a Hollandaise sauce and spoon over the Scotch Egg.
For a spicer variation, toss in a few drops of hot sauce in the corn meal batter and spoon salsa over the top.