Nearly went out to my local coffee shop for one of their breakfast sandwiches (a commuting standby when I was going into the office every day) when I realized I could make one at home. Using a leftover sausage patty, a fried egg, and a slice of American cheese, I came away a couple bucks better off and very satisfied with my solution.

The Process

1. Toast an English muffin. Get it fairly crispy. I like Bay’s plain.
2. We alternate between bacon and sausage for our breakfast meat. I like the pre-sliced sausage patties (1 1/2 ” diameter)—available from several companies—as the shortest path between hunger and breakfast. Sausage: Pop a leftover breakfast sausage patty into the microwave, covered with a paper towel to avoid spatters, for 30 seconds on high. Bacon: Fry one slice of bacon until crispy. Drain off the grease on a paper towel and cut the slice in half.
3. Fry an egg in butter, using a spatula to pull in the edges continuously until the egg sets and is just a tad bigger than the muffin. Better: Use a 2″ diameter cookie/biscuit cutter as a mold for the egg. Wipe a bit of buter on the inside edge to help the egg not stick when cooked.
4. Butter the toasted muffin. For an extra treat, spread a bit of your preferred jam (mine is blackberry) on one half of the muffin. This adds a sweet surprise as you eat.
5. Assemble the McDad: Make a sandwich with the muffin slices, egg, sausage, and some American cheese, or any cheese that will melt well. Microwave for 20 seconds or until cheese is melty the way you like it.
6. Enjoy with a good cup and the satisfaction of saving a little dough.