My grandfather lived less than a block away, but was over at my Mom and Dad's house house for dinner every night, after his wife died..Old Dutchman, who immigrated with his family when 5, he spoke English with the accent.. Gruff, and tough, and a man of few words, he typified the Dutch around Western Michigan.. hard as tacks, Heart of gold. My mom would send me over to him, when she thought he was lonely.. He only could fix cereal and his specialty- fried egg sandwiches! The Dutch are generally accepted as the egg eating champions of the world! We had a Dutch bakery in the neighborhood, that was only open two days a week. They made white bread, whole wheat bread, and oatmeal cookies.. Gramps would drive over there, and that's what he ate! I would have tea(with sugar and cream!) with him when I went over..(I'm about eight!) If it was lunch time, we would have a fried egg sandwich on whole wheat bread.. To this day, in Holland, MI and G.R, you can get this sandwich! I've had the flu or something, but last night-I fixed a fried egg sandwich..Gouda(pronounced Goud-da!) is a nice addition! I think the egg McMuffin was inspired by this humble treat!
I made pesto- and it was good stuff!
61 comments:
Yikes, hope you're feeling better.
re: the sandwich. Is there anything on the bread? Is it toasted? I make fried egg sandwiches and put mayo on the bread or usually English Muffin. I love em. A couple of times I've tried dressing them up; bacon, cheese, and some other things. I think once I sauteed some mushrooms. Anyway, plain ol egg and bread is the best. Less is more in this case.
Lea Ann
How sweet of you to visit some lonely man after his wife died. On another note, no wonders you used to run marathons after eating all that bread. That picture looks absolutely delicious, but it also makes me feel like running 10 miles. Lol. I wonder how many calories are in that?
Fried egg...with it cooked all the way through (anything gooey makes me gag..ok, get your mind out of the gutter) on white bread with miracle whip.
This was a tradition in my house when I was young.
Highlander- I make a killer omelette too.. This was just fetal position food.. when you want to eat in a corner like a feral animal...
Shelly- I have never cried at a funeral, like when he passed.. Tough old bird, solid as steel.
Ohn- Always fried through! Toppings all work.. People must revisit their past, before it's too late..
Excellent post. Like the stories
Griller- I've got stories, and as long as my memory lasts- I think I'd better tell them.. :)
I like to treat myself to a fried egg sandwich on Saturdays. Todays involved oregano, but sometimes I do basil. Hope you're feeling better!
Jules- Always feel better when you show up! Ever notice people with a good heart wash up on this blog? We need to organize! :)
I used to like a good fried egg sandwich, on an Italian roll, with salt, pepper and ketchup!
I'll bet that's feel good food. My son would love it!
I totally rocked a fried egg sandwich on Thursday night. I was completely impressed with myself. I'm posting it on my cooking blog this weekend. I was introduced to them only six years ago. That's kind of a shame. What a cool memory to have.
I like egg sandwiches too! Pesto! mmmmmm!
LOve fried egg sandwiches. I like to load mine with pepper, some melted cheese, and a squirt of ketchup, loose yolk, pure comfort.
Hope you feel better soon!
fried egg sarnies on wholemeal bread with sliced cheese is a staple part of this household LOL.... dam, does that mean Im a bit dutch :)
What loverly memories you have of your grandfather, I knew neither of mine....
sorry you have the flu :( or is that 'manflu' :)
(((Buff))) get well hugs...
and DONT wipe ya snotting nose on ya sleeve :)
x
ps...... yep that sums you up..... as hard as nails on the outside but as soft as sweet toffee on the inside lol I know someone else just like that, but sshhhhh dont tell anyone :)
x
Hope you get over the flu bug soon!
ootin- I've gotten into a dab of hot sauce on eggs...
BlueV- Just one of those things I have when nothing else sounds good..
Kate- Amazing how people all across the country seem to have a version!
Mona- Only one to mention the Pesto- Chunky style- it was delicious..
Donna- You can make one in about 7 minutes- which is nice!
Marmy- Eggs are a real bargain, and easy to fix- thanks for the well-wishes!
Chris- Me too!
The fried egg sandwich sounds very much like we do it in Norway. My daughter used to go down to my mother, like you did with your grandfather, and she always got a fried egg sandwich on whole wheat bread, and with pepper on top. Even now, when she's a cool teenager, she sometimes wants to "go back" to when she was eight and and comes down to grandma for a sandwich.
Anette- We lived by him until he died, then we moved to a new house.. I don't think my mom could look at his house every day when he wasn't there anymore..
Fried egg on a muffin (something like you'd get a burger on there) - we call it a banjo here and it's a favourite of mine. :)
Ake- You, I love.. For the fact that you explain the differences in our cultures and words, but show us common ground. This will save Earth! If we all would listen, instead of speak..
Last time I had a fried egg on a banjo it all got squashed in the strings during that George Formby song LOL
x
Marmy- I have to be the only man in the world that truly understands what the heck you are talking about! And that pretty much explains our odd behavior, and ongoing care for each other.. :) Don't cha think?.. Always wishing you the best.. Buff
I think you have that spot on lol (((Buff)))
x
Marmy- I have given my Blessing on you for 2010, and really hope things start rolling your way... being different can be hard- but rewarding..
Fanks, just a few months to wait then until life for once shines on me lol......Ive waited half a century for something good to happen lol
oye, you saying I aint normal lmfao
x
Marmy- I would have loved to see one day when you were normal.. I, at least learned to pretend! The gullible buy in!
Im just unique lol hahahahaha I think the other word for that is insane ;)
x
I hope you're feeling better. I make my fried egg sandwiches on toast, which I spread with a little honey. I know it sounds weird, but it's good.
Marmy- Welcome to my world..It works if you keep them afraid and puzzled,,,
Pam- We are odd, but care, do what you will with the meal, I approve.. :)
well then I did me job right this week........ well one tosser down and now one to go LOL be afraid, be very afraid :) these people seem to forget about my upbringing :) hard as nails ya know lol
x
When I was about 7, and everyone else around school was claiming to be Irish or Italian or some such, I started pestering my grandmothers as to "What are we?" Not understanding the response of "American", I kept up the questions until Grandma Violet one day responded that her husband's father had been from Denmark, and, as for herself, "Well, Baby, I heard we might have been Dutch." Yep, as I come to find out, pre Revolutionary War Dutch. Maybe that's why I bake?
Marmy- You got everything a human might need, and I've seen scary, and you ain't it! I've seen scary too- and I'm not afraid anymore.. It's the only thing I defend without fear.. be well- you got what it takes..
Margie- Embrace it, the Dutch are great people! My wife is more Dutch by blood than I am, but have spent my life learning about the culture.. I encourage anyone, anywhere to be proud of where they came from.. It is why America became great- our differences, and learning to understand them. No nation I know, ever did that, better that we did.. The nations that chastise us, have less than we do.. We have defended more countries in need than anyone- with our blood... All races, colors, and creed- are equals.. Welcome to America!
Hi BuffaloD, Although I am asian in origin my ancestors in particular are actually dutch ( from the colonial era). So we eat lots of dutch inspired asian food, its an interesting fusion...but great food nonetheless!
BTW... I love Gouda Cheese! & Fried egg sandwiches are always fantabulous ! : )
I truly enjoy reading your blog.
And not just for the fried egg sandwiches, either!
Nat- I love you already! Please visit often- I will be your new visitor, as you have the touch,,
The mum of one of the nippers I childmind is proper Dutch, she is married to an English bloke but they go to Holland every 6 or so weeks to stay with her parents and their home they have over there.......
She speaks with a right proper dutch accent and her surname is Reindeer..... now, aint that the coolest of surnames LOL
Im hoping when he goes to Holland in a couple of weeks time she might bring me back something other then bloody wooden clogs LOL
x
Nat- Trust me- Best Dutch cooking came from your style! Their cooking is bland, they love your cuisine! First spices they ever got! Killer bakers of sweet desserts- I guarantee!
Marmy- If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much..We have a blend of wisdom, clever, and humor that is not a bad blend!..Never trust a Dutchman until the deal is done- after that, their word, well, it's as good as gold...
my only concern is the story about the little boy sticking his finger in the dyke LMFAO....... cripes, wondering if that story ever reached doodle soil ;)
x
Marmy-I stuck my finger in a dike once... she damn near knocked my head off...I'm gonna die a misunderstood man...Unrepentant to the end- The Buff
Gene- Keep on keepin' on!
Oh you know I am a sucker for those family stories...How sweet was that...I always enjoy your revealing nature of your family stories...history is so important to me...and let's just face it there is something special about the food people prepare for us...especially someone as special as your grandfather...
My favorite restaurant makes a great egg sandwich on a fresh biscuit with either bacon or fresh ground sausage. Very good!! Plus, the restaurant has a fresh OJ machine. Double Yummy!!
Great memories with your grandpa. I used to take my grandpa McDonalds. He loved their cheeseburgers.
:)
x
Buffalo,
I grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch country and you are right - eggs rule! We even had Egg Bread or Yellow Bread as we called it.
Sometimes we would have eggs for dinner and now, if the husband has a long day working outside I make him a fried egg sandwich for breakfast. Ham, fried egg, cheese and sometimes arugula on buttered toast.
Mmmm... fills up and warms up the belly!
Thanks for the memories!
What a nice memory!!! My Mom used to make us fried egg sandwiches...on white bread. Sounds so plain but was delish. I eat them every now and then and it brings on the memories too!
Peace
(Hope you're feeling better)
Great memories of your time with your grandpa! I often reminisce about the awesome times with my Swedish Great-Grandmother (the one who instilled the love of cooking in me at a very young age).
And now I'm hungry for a yummy fried egg sandwich. :)
Darngirl- He was incapable of lying, and sat in the same spot on the same pew every Sunday, for decades..
Hit40- If my Grandpa went out for dinner- it would always be the fisherman's platter..I love seafood to this day!
Marmy- I smiled too..
GoodCook- They're a bargain, and very versatile in eating, baking, and cooking!
Odat- Eggs weren't just for breakfast around here..
Stacy- Dutch food was plain, and spices were used very little- the baking was fantastic!
I know double dutch - its that jump rope game -...LOL - I must eat an egg sandwich every 72 hours or so - but more curiously what is that 'pesto' concoction you have there?
egg sandwiches are the best hangover food!
DogB- Fresh basil we grew, chopped garlic, grated Parmesan and Romano, pine nuts, salt, and olive oil.. all was chopped by hand, which gives a chunkier texture I prefer to blender pesto.. I also use more pine nuts than some, as it gives it a more little body.. It was gone in a day!
Kris- More booze is the best hangover food!
My grandpa was a cheap junk food lover. He also liked Krispy Kreme Donuts. He died a rich man.
I love egg sandwiches. One of my favorites comes with the egg sandwiched in between two little pancakes. Hope you feel better soon! I prescribe more egg sandwiches for you.
Hit40- Mine lived frugally, and died leaving his old house- which wasn't worth much!
Pink- I like them all!
what a nice memory.
i LOVE gouda.
Tanya-Good memories are air-brushed by time.. but the content is real...
Fried egg sandwiches are a fave of mine. I cook the egg just until set so the yolk is still runny. I add cheese, of course, and sometimes ham. You end up with a sloppy mess that's just fantastic :). Foods like this that reminds you of you loved ones are the best. Your pesto looks awesome! Are those crunchy toasts you served it on? Just perfect!
I ate a lot of egg sandwiches as a child too, my dad would make them when my mom was under the weather...like the yolk fried, but the yolk runny...now I want breakfast, and it is 8:25 in the morning, but no supplies...
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