California Dreaming Breakfast Parfait In a Jar Recipe & short story, by, Gina Meyers

If necessity is the mother of invention, then that's exactly what happened yesterday while in Palm Springs, California. Let me tell you a little bit more about what happened. Me and my friend Saki took a road trip together for the first time. I drove us down to Palm Springs, California and we had plenty of time to talk as the trip down to the desert takes about six hours from Fresno where we both live. (Side note, she's a graphic designer and a photographer, and I'm a publisher and a cookbook author, and we are both very entrepreneurial, so the ideas were flying). I told her about a restaurant that me and my daughter Lauren dined at in Reykjavik, Iceland last summer where our entire meal was served to us in separate jars, including the appetizer and dessert. So the idea was percolating from the beginning of the trip but didn't officially get put into practice until yesterday morning.

Ok, maybe a lot of people are doing this, but up until Iceland I never really thought about it much, putting foods in a jar. Sure, baby food comes in a jar, jam, and so do my favorite Cara Mia Artichokes. But that was the extent to it.

So this morning, I decided to get creative in the kitchen and to whip up... wait for it, California Dreaming Breakfast Parfait In a Jar, a healthy breakfast composed of fresh spinach, sliced tomatoes, hard boiled egg, bacon all layered with Parmesan, Romano and cheddar cheese.

And remember, forget lunch being in the bag, you've got breakfast, lunch, and even dinner in the jar!

California Dreaming Breakfast Parfait In a Jar
Fresh spinach
1 hard boiled egg
2-3 strips of lean bacon (or turkey bacon)
1/2 of a small roma tomato
1 cheddar cheese stick (cut into bite sized pieces)
Romano, and Parmesan cheese, shredded (optional)

Directions:  in a small saute pan, add about 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil and two large handfuls of spinach. With a wooden spoon,  slightly saute the spinach until it wilts. Keep an eye on the spinach, it cooks quickly.  On medium heat, once the spinach is cooked, set aside. In a small to medium sized pot, place water, 3/4ths of the way full and place an egg or two in the cold water. Heat the water on medium-high heat and cook the eggs for 8-10 minutes. The water will be boiling, if needed you may place a lid on the pot. Next, on a microwave safe plate, place two to three strips of bacon and cover with a paper towel. Microwave for two minutes and check, sopping up any excess bacon grease with the paper towel. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes as needed for taste preference and crispiness. Once your egg has cooled, crack and discard the shell. If in a hurry, place your hot hard boiled egg in an ice bath of ice and cold water, this will make it cool down quicker.
On a cutting board, with a knife, cut bacon into bite sized pieces, dice up the hard-boiled egg, and dice the tomato into bite sized pieces. Layer the spinach, bacon, tomato, cheese and hard boiled egg in the jar. Can make the night before, just add the tomato in the morning. Can take your California Dreaming Breakfast Parfait in the car, on the go!

For a super quick breakfast, try The California Dreaming Breakfast Parfait In a Jar Express. Simply place two eggs in the Mason Jar and mix with a fork, add a little shredded cheddar cheese and spinach and place lid and shake. If needed, add a little milk a Tablespoon. Remove lid and place in microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or until eggs are fully cooked and fluffy.

Introducing The Breakfast Parfait In a Jar
On the go, no time to have a real meal. Take it with you. Health is important, don't jeopardize your health by not eating right. For these and other meal ideas, check out Gina's cookbooks, http://www.ginameyers.com

If you are ever in Iceland, check out Icelandic Tapas at: SmakkBarinn Food In a Jar Restaurant