Baked Tomatoes with Bacon and Eggs

This is a wonderful breakfast dish, and pretty enough to serve to overnight guests. Serve it with toast and your favorite jam. It is really, reallly better when you have access to summer home-grown tomatoes.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 4  tomatoes
• 8  slices bacon
• 6  eggs, lightly beaten
• 1⁄2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 4  scallions, thinly sliced
• 2  tablespoons fresh basil, chopped or 1⁄2 teaspoon dry basil
• 1⁄4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2  ounces monterey jack cheese, cut into 2 x 1/4 inch thick slices

Directions

1. Using a sharp knife, cut 1/2 inch top off the stem end of each tomato.
2. Discard top end and scoop out pulp from tomato leaving a thick shell.
3. Sprinkle inside of tomatoes with salt.
4. Invert on a paper towel to drain for 15 minutes.
5. Heat a heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon until crisp.
6. Crumble and set aside.
7. Whisk together next 4 ingredients with salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.
8. Stir in bacon and set aside.
9. Arrange tomatoes in a shallow baking pan.
10. Place in oven and bake 5 minutes.
11. Pour 1 Tbs.
12. melted butter in each tomato.
13. Fill tomato cavities with egg mixture.
14. Top with strips of cheese and bake at 400°F.
15. for about 10 minutes or until eggs are just set.