Egg 'n' Onion Sandwich

Although some of my recent posts have been a bit less than noble nutritiously (The Cupcake Station, Brownie Ice Cream Pie) others have been very health-oriented (Cabbage and Fennel Slaw, Tropical Granita).

Well, today I'm making no pretense of preparing anything that's good for me. Today, I'm simply offering something that was good for my soul. Sometimes you've just gotta give in and do that for yourself.

And so, I recently indulged in a toasted bagel with a fried egg and sauteed onion ... an Egg 'n' Onion sandwich inspired by the old Jimmy Stewart movie "Harvey."

I have little use for new movies, and have seen virtually nothing current (which means nothing in the past several years, with the exception of the fabulous "The King's Speech"). One or two others, I might eventually get around to watching; but I'm pretty content not to sit and stare at a screen for 2 hours. (I stare at my computer screen for far too long already, without adding different screens into that mix!)

But I love old movies, MGM musicals in particular. I was raised on them, at the Regency Theater on Columbus Avenue in New York City, which only showed the old standards rather than new releases. And "Harvey" - full of sweet and eccentric characters - is a long-time favorite.

It's a screwball comedy about a man with a drinking problem and the family members who try to take care of him despite his, ahem, oddities. Harvey is the "pooka" - a benevolent character, manifesting as a 6' rabbit not visible to everyone - who watches over Jimmy Stewart's Elwood P. Dowd and helps to create some chaos.

At one point, without sharing too much and spoiling the movie (because I do, indeed, expect you to go straight to Netflix and watch it instantly!), Elwood's sister and niece are caught up in escapades with the sanitarium in which they're trying to commit poor Elwood.

The niece, Myrtle Mae, happens to develop an immediate crush on one of the employees who's been sent to the house to bring back a patient. Fortunately, she rather strikes his fancy, too.

And so Myrtle Mae, not socially adept, asks the man a not terribly romantic or flirtatious question: would he like an egg 'n' onion sandwich?

And he accepts.

It's bashert [bah-SHAYRT], which is Hebrew for "destiny."

Eggs and onions make a great pair, whether in omelettes or any other form. Add a slice of cheddar cheese to the Egg 'n' Onion sandwich, and you've got a perfect combination served on an "everything" bagel.

Egg 'n' Onion Sandwich

1 teaspoon bacon fat or butter
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 egg
1 everything bagel
schmear of Dijon mustard
1 slice cheddar cheese

Heat the bacon fat in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until just translucent.

Add the egg, being careful to keep the yolk intact, and nudge the onions into the raw egg to cook together. Cook until the edges of the egg are set and crisping. Carefully flip the egg and turn the heat off on the stove to let the underside cook while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Toast the bagel, and schmear the mustard onto it. Place the cheese on the bottom half of the bagel, top with the egg/onion, and then complete your sandwich with the top half of the bagel.

Makes 1 sandwich, which should be served with a napkin because the yolk will run. This is messy, but it's really good!