Ok, Your Weekend Plans *Definitely* Involve This Perfectly Cheesy Breakfast Sandwich

Welcome, everyone, to my delicious little corner of Cosmopolitan. Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Alyse Whitney—recipe developer, dip queen, co-host and guest judge on Netflix's Easy-Bake Battle, and now your resident food whisperer.

Let's kick things off with my favorite weekend ritual. It's a low-fuss, high-reward version of self-care that normally involves me crawling back into my unmade bed, still in pajamas, to rewatch episodes of The O.C. Tucked into my cozy duvet cave, I have a TV tray on my lap—holding something very eggy and very cheesy—and a big ol' glass of creamy cold brew in my hand. (Pausing to say I see you, people screaming, "But the crumbs!" to which I respond that it's still worth it, and in my case, what the tray doesn't catch, my dog Miso definitely does.)

Anyway, I consider all this a romantic gesture I do for myself because, yes, romancing yourself is a real—and, IMO, pretty necessary—thing. It's pretty easy too: This egg sandwich falls somewhere between my most simple (avocado toast) and most showstopping (smoked salmon Benedict) brekkies. The sausage is homemade and the eggs are cooked like a square omelet with gooey American cheese inside. The patties also freeze perfectly, so Future you can bust one out for a killer bite whenever the craving strikes.

How's that for some eggcessively (sorry, but I do love a food pun) scrumptious me-time? If you're in the mood for even more "damn, that looks good" snacks and full-blown meals that require the absolute bare minimum on your part, you know where to find me. I'll be here for you all year.

Everything Bagel-Inspired Breakfast Sandwich

Makes 6 patties (save some for later!) and 1 sammy

Yes, You *Can* Make Your Own Patties

• 1 1/2 pounds ground pork

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning plus more for coating the patties

• 20 cranks freshly cracked black pepper

• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

• 1/2 teaspoon canola or vegetable oil

Now, THE Sandwich

• 1 extra-large egg

• 1 teaspoon milk (or water)

• 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

• 1 slice American cheese

• 1 English muffin, sliced in half and toasted

• Ketchup or hot sauce (optional)

1. Place the pork in a large bowl. Combine all of the seasonings in a separate small bowl, then mix them into the pork using a spatula. Mix in the syrup.

2. Divide the mixture into 6 equal pieces and roll them into balls, then flatten each until you have round patties that measure 4 inches across. Sprinkle a thin layer of everything bagel seasoning on both sides. (Now is a good time to freeze any extra patties by separating them with parchment paper in a plastic freezer bag.)

3. In a small (6-inch) nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat up the oil. Add your patty and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until its internal temp gets to 165 degrees.

4. Whisk the egg in a bowl with the milk and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the butter to a skillet over medium-low heat. Pour the egg in and tilt the skillet so it coats the pan. Rip the cheese slice into 4 squares and layer them in the middle over the egg. Using a spatula, lift up all sides of the egg and fold them over the cheese. Place a lid on top, turn the heat to low, and let the cheese melt.

5. Stack the meat on the bottom half of the English muffin, followed by the egg, ketchup or hot sauce (if desired), and the muffin top. Enjoy immediately, preferably with a generous helping of Seth Cohen on the side.

Want more of Alyse's "omg-that's good" recipes? Highly recommend following her on Insta.

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