Aptly named, The Miss America Pie, is a recipe from Rick's friend, Leanza Cornett, Miss America 1993. It is unbelievalby good! Leanza prepares the breakfast Pie for Rick everytime he visits Leanza and her husband Mark Steines, host of Entertainment Tonight, and their two boys on the West Coast. "It's nice to be cooked for, for a change," says Rick. "And Leanza's recipe can be made vegetarian as well, for people like me!" Come to Rockcliffe to try it first hand!

Ingredients:

NOTE: ingredients are VERY flexible...this is a great dish to use up leftovers in the fridge!

2 TBS veg. oil

1 lb bulk sausage or chorizo (or, for vegetarians - SOYrizo or fake sausage crumbles)

8 oz mushrooms, coarsely chopped

1 cup cooked rice (brown or white)

1/2 cup canned black beans (optional)

1/2 cup canned corn (optional)

1 cup fresh salsa, drained

1 cup sour cream

7 eggs

1/4 cup cheddar cheese, or monterey jack cheese or a combo of both -- shredded

2 TBS chopped cilantro or parsley

1. Heat veg oil in large skillet, brown sausage or chorizo, making sure to crumble it (use the back of a wooden spoon or fork).

2. Once sausage is browned, mix in mushrooms, black beans, corn, and rice. Heat for about 5 minutes on medium heat.

3. Stir in drained salsa and sour cream, and let simmer for about 7 minutes.

4. Using the back of a wooden spoon or spatula, flatten the mixture into an even surface in the pan.

5. Crack the 6 eggs around the sausage mixture, creating a circle of eggs around the inside edge of the pan. Crack the 7th egg in the middle of the pan and cover, turning heat to low.

6. Cook for 8 minutes on low heat, covered. After 8 minutes, remove pan from heat, sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top of the "casserole" and cover for 3 minutes, so that the cheese can melt.

7. Salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle chopped cilantro or parsley on top. Slice like a pie and serve hot!

Bon Apetit'!!!

xo
Leanza Cornett, Miss America 1993