Gashouse Eggs (New York)

Whether you're calling it gashouse eggs, egg in a hole, egg with a hat, one-eyed jacks or baby in the hole, a fried egg in toast is having a moment. Popular culture could have helped to popularize other names in the mid-20th century. The 1941 film Moon Over Miami with Betty Grable uses the term "gashouse eggs," which may be a transliteration of the German word gasthaus, the word for a country house or an inn. Regardless of its name, the dish (and cooking process) is the same: A slice of bread toasts in a buttered skillet, minus its center, which has been cut out with a glass or a ring cutter. In the meantime, a fried egg cooks in the hole, seasoned as the egg sets. The cook then flips, browns, and serves with whatever accompaniments it warrants.

1 slice bread
2-3 Tbsp. butter
1 egg
sea salt
black pepper, freshly ground

Begin by using an inverted, sturdy glass 2-3" in diameter to cut a hole out of the center of the slice of bread. Set bread slice and round cutout aside. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Pan-toast bread and cutout on 1 side in skillet until golden, 2-3 minutes.

Turn bread and cutout over. Melt a small nugget of butter in the hole in the bread, crack egg into hole, and cook until egg is set, 2-3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve with toasted cutout for dipping in the yolk, if you like.

Makes 1 serving.