Herb Baked Eggs from The Barefoot Contessa

These are so delicious and so elegant! I love to make them just for John and me, but I've figured a way to make a whole bunch of them at once so the kids can enjoy--they're such foodies and they always want to eat whatever the "grown ups" are eating. I just use a lasagna pan instead of the individual gratin dishes and it comes out fine. I also use dried herbs if I don't have fresh and it's still delicious.

Buon Apetito!


Herb Baked Eggs

1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
12 extra large eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
salt & freshly ground black pepper
toasted French bread or brioche bread, for serving (of course at Schamelot it's always Pane Rustica!)

Preheat the broiler for 5 minutes and place the oven rack 6 inches below the heat.
Combine the garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley and Parmesan Cheese and set aside.
Carefully crack 3 eggs into each of 4 small bowls or teacups (you won't be baking them in these) without breaking the yolks (It's very important to have all the eggs ready to go before you start cooking).
Place 4 individual gratin dishes on a baking sheet.
Place 1 TBS cream and 1/2 TBS of butter in each dish and place under the broiler for about 3 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Quickly, but carefully, pour 3 eggs into each gratin dish and sprinkle evenly with the herb mixture, then sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
Place back under the broiler for 5 to 6 minutes, until the whites of the eggs are almost cooked (rotate the baking sheet once, if they aren't cooking evenly).
The eggs will continue to cook after you take them out of the oven.
Allow to set for 60 seconds and serve hot with the toasted bread.