BRUNCH! Healthy Eggs Benny

I love making brunch!  I know, what's that got to do with dinner?  Nothing.  I made brunch, so I wanted to share it with you.  Don't you love brunch too?  I had a beautiful packet of smoked mackerel from Whole Foods - you've seen the packet - with all the lovely black pepper on top.  Now I'm sure some of you (mom + Jaime) are thinking, smoked mackerel, YUCK!  Ok, Ok, you don't have to use it - substitute smoked salmon, or smoked trout - or even just bacon.  So back to my strategy - I had to think of a brunch recipe to be a vehicle for this yummy smoked fish.   I was thinking smoked fish and a perfectly poached or runny fried egg... but what about the foundation, the bread.  I was out of bread... and no english muffins.  What about a blini, pancake-type thing.  Like you get with yummy smoked salmon appetizers.  I'll do a savory pancake... top with the fish, top with soft poached egg, how about some greens and some sort of vinaigrette?  It's basically a riff on Eggs Benedict = bread+smoked meat+egg+sauce.  DONE!

And here's how to make it!

Healthy Eggs Benny
soft fried eggs (2 per person)
smoked fish (salmon, mackerel, or even bacon)
pancake mix
handful of parm
handful of mixed herbs, chopped
handful of arugula
couple of spoonfuls of vinaigrette
roast zucchini (I had some leftover spears, I'll chop and mix in with the vinaigrette - you could use any substitute, roast asparagus or even fresh tomato - or leave it out!)

Stackers:
This brunch recipe is more about making an assembly line than complicated cooking.  Once you get your pancakes made (just make them according to the box - plus whisk in your parm and herbs so that the mixture is more savory than sweet) keep them warm in the oven.  Then quick fry your eggs in a non-stick skillet and dribble in a few spoons of water so that the tops will steam and set (I hate the runny clear egg 'snot' on the top of sunny side up eggs and this method avoids that but keeps the yolks nice and runny - and the runny yolk is superb with the smoked fish and pancake, mmmmm.)  Get your fish ready and once your eggs are done - just assemble everything.  Pancake, fish, egg, spoonful of vinaigrette, top with a few arugula leaves + salt/pep.  Repeat.  DONE!  Enjoy.