Maple Grilled Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich

Serves: to serve 4

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 35 Minutes

Ready In: 45 mins

6 thick rashers (slices) - back or streaky (side) bacon

2 - 3 tablespoons - maple syrup

8 thick slices - brioche bread

9 thin slices - Cheddar cheese

4 - eggs

6 - 7 tablespoons - unsalted butter

Allow the butter to soften at room temperature. Preheat the oven to moderately hot (Mk 5 - 375ºF - 190ºC). Lay the bacon rashers on an oven rack set over a baking sheet (to catch the drips). Bake for about 10 minutes until the the fat starts to render then baste on both sides with the maple syrup. Continue to bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until the bacon has caramelized and the edges just start to brown. Allow to cool on the rack for about 5 minutes, then cut them in half.
Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large non-stick frying pan (skillet) over medium heat. Crack the eggs into the pan and fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the white is set but the yolk is still runny (easy way to do this is place a lid over the pan while cooking).
Cut one of the cheese slices into quarters. Place four slices of the bread on a work surface and layer each with a whole slice of the cheese followed by three pieces of the bacon, followed by ¼ slice of the cheese, followed by an egg and finally another whole slice of cheese. Complete the sandwiches with the remaining bread then thinly and evenly spread the remaining (soft) butter on both sides of the sandwich using about 1½ tablespoons of butter for each sandwich.
Place two sandwiches into the frying pan over medium heat. Cover the pan with a lid and cook the bread for about 2 minutes until it is golden brown. Turn the sandwiches and cook for about 2 minutes more, uncovered, until the bread is golden brown and cheese is visibly melting. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches and go and enjoy food paradise for a while!