Fried Green Sage at the RC Cafe

You know when you wake up and you feel like you could eat a herd of elephants? Well, that was me Sunday. And after this feast (which did not involve hunting endangered species) I felt much differently...

CRISPY SWEET POTATO HASH WITH FRIED EGGS

(this is based on a Foodnetwork.com recipe, which you can follow the link to above)

THE GOODS - I halved the Foodnetwork recipe to make enough for 3 hungry people

1/2 stick unsalted butter, divided ($1.99 for 2 sticks)
6-8 fresh sage leaves, divided ($1 for one bunch, more than enough)
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes ($0.79)
1 cup water (FREE)
1 Vidalia or sweet onions, chopped ($0.40)
6 large eggs ($0.80)

Grand Total:  $4.98 for 3 people - $1.66 per person!!!

THE WAY

Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 sage leaves and fry quickly until crisp, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Reserve.

Add the sweet potatoes to the skillet, toss until coated in the butter, then add the water and the remaining 8 sage leaves. Bring the water to a simmer and cook the potatoes, uncovered, until the water has evaporated and the potatoes are just fork tender, about 10 minutes. (I like them crispy so I really let them crisp!) If there is any excess water in the pan, remove it with a large spoon and reserve. Continue cooking the potatoes, scraping the pan frequently with a spoon, until crusty brown, about 10 more minutes. Add a tablespoon of the leftover cooking liquid or fresh water if the potatoes stick or begin to scorch.

Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, adding water as necessary when the pan gets dry, until deep golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer the onions to a serving bowl. Wipe out the pan, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, and fry the eggs, 2 at a time, to your preference. (I like mine sunny side up, baby.)

Plate the potatoes in the center of 4 plates with the caramelized onions alongside. Top each plate with 2 fried eggs, garnish with a fried sage leaf and enjoy.

In my case, have a guest kind enough to treat you to a blackbottom (a.k.a. chocolate cream cheese) muffin, chocolate croissant, and 3 foot long baguette to serve alongside your sweet feast.You'll be ready to go back to sleep in a jiffy.