I can make that cheaper...

I thought of a new idea for a series of recipes that imitate some yummy fast-food item for a lower price and much better health. Trent from The Simple Dollar did a great take on this, taking on the McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger, on the $1 menu. I’m also going to start this series with a McDonald’s item—the delicious Egg McMuffin for $2.95.



The Egg McMuffin: (300 calories)

Egg (25 cents, or 45 cents organic)
English muffin (17 cents—I buy 2 6-packs for $2)
American cheese (5 cents per slice)
Canadian bacon (75 cents per slice based on $5 per ½-pound)

Total cost at home: $1.22; $1.42 for organic

Make this at home with the same ingredients:

1) Melt butter or heat a bit of oil in a frying pan over low-medium flame. Slice a piece of the Canadian bacon and cook for about 2 minutes on either side, until it looks lightly crispy. Set the bacon on a plate in the oven to keep warm.

2) Melt butter in a pan over low-medium flame, and crack an egg over it. Break the egg and stir it around a bit. Add salt and pepper while it cooks, and flip the egg once it has solidified a bit.

3) Toast the English muffin, split into 2, while your egg cooks.

4) Place the cheese and bacon on the muffin while hot. Fold and cut your fried egg until it’s roughly circular, and place on top. Then dig in!


You don’t really save on calories for this homemade version, but you are avoiding high-fructose corn syrup, excessive oil, and god knows what else McDonald’s puts into its food. You can make this for less than half the price of the McDonald’s sandwich, and it’s incredibly easy. Use a whole container of eggs and English muffins, freeze them, and every morning stick one in the toaster oven to defrost for 20 minutes while you shower.

Variations:

I make this without the bacon, since I’m a vegetarian. I use organic eggs, and my cost per sandwich is 65 cents. Not bad for yummy deliciousness! I call it the Eggamuffin, which maybe doesn’t sound appetizing but is fun to say.

You can also use a hardboiled egg instead of a fried one, which is probably marginally healthier. Using HB eggs makes the sandwich taste eggier, which is good, but also makes a drier sandwich.