How to Make The Welcome Home Warrior Omlette

This is a recipe that is about welcome home from the war comfort food. It was a tried and true favorite of mine prepared by my late wife Zena, my Warrior Princess, the morning after my return from deployments, exercises, and the wars. It is not about healthy eating, calorie reduction or watching, nor would I recommend it to any one with a cholesterol problem. This is about giving your warrior something special that he/she could not get at any DFAC or any restaurant, this is about one of the things they have missed the most and that is home cookin’. Enjoy.

Ingredients

6 ea Fresh Eggs (yes I said 6, it’s not a typo)

4 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese grated, (use their favorite you know better than I what that is)

8 oz Chopped Ham (chopped Sausage, or Bacon work as well)

2 oz Mushroom Pieces

Dollop of Milk (maybe 1 oz probably less)

1 tablespoon Tomato Paste

1 or 2 chopped scallions

2 tablespoons of Butter

In a 3 cup measuring cup mix the eggs, milk, 1/3 of the scallions, and milk with a whisk till smooth. Add a pinch of the grated cheese, mix again.

Place a medium skillet on the burner set just to the high side of medium, add the butter and let it melt and cover the bottom of the skillet, Add the egg mixture. While it is cooking Brown the ham. Scallions and mushrooms in a small skillet on high, PAM the pan first or add a little butter there as well, once browned add the tomato paste and reduce to med low. Stirring occasionally, By now the eggs should be firming up (I liked mine cooked through and through but I know some like them thinner) It should show some signs of fluffiness, when it’s right for your taste, add the rest of the cheese and the mix from the small skillet to one half of one side, turn the other side carefully over the side with the mix, give it about 45 seconds and flip the whole thing over for another 30-45 seconds and serve on a big plate.

My Zena also fixed hash browns and a side of Bacon along with Fried Bread (an English Favorite) a 12 oz glass of Apple Juice, a 12 oz glass of Milk (Chocolate Milk was a special treat) and a Mug of Coffee.

There are two elements in this special meal that make it so. The first are the fluffy eggs. Omlettes prepared in the army are by necessity thinly fried on a grill, good enough as they go but run of the mill at their best; same with most restaurants. I’ve generated many arguments by both men and women on the second element, but I swear, a soldier can taste the love when you make it so. It’s in there.

So on a final note, I pass along a hug from me. When I was deployed to Iraq and troops and friends would go home on R&R or for rotation I would give them this instruction:

On the third day home, when your wife/mom/hubby/dad is just doing what they do, (washing dishes, whatever) go up and give them a hug and tell them “That’s from Big John, for being here for one of his friends” Here’s some to all of you for the same. XXXOOO