This is an old favorite and was, apart form pancakes, the only way my children would eat eggs. They called them 'poofle' eggs, although I can't remember why. They are known by many other names, some more logical than others, including knothole eggs, bird’s nest, Hollywood eggs, and one-eyed Jack.

　　

Ingredients

Serves 2

　　2 slices bread, preferably whole wheat

　　2-3 tablespoons olive oil

　　2 eggs

　　

Step 1

First stamp a circle from the center of each slice of bread with a 2-inch cookie cutter and reserve.

　　

Step 2

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a frying pan or skillet over medium heat, add the bread and reserved rounds ('hats') and fry until the undersides are lightly golden.

　　

Step 3

Turn the bread over, adding more oil if necessary.

　　

Step 4

Carefully break the eggs and ease them into the holes. (Sometimes I drain off a little of the white, but this is not a rule.)

　　

Step 5

Reduce the heat and cook until the whites are set and the yolks are beginning to set, but are still soft.

　　

Step 6

Using a spatula, transfer the slices of bread and eggs to a plate, with their hats over the yolks, and serve.

　　Egg in the Middle, from How to Boil an Egg, all illustrations © Fiona Strickland, courtesy Phaidon Press