Luxe Eggs Florentine with Cheese Sauce

Florentine literally means in the style of Florence, Italy. Eggs Florentine traditionally consists of a poached egg laid on a bed of spinach and topped with either Hollandaise or Mornay sauce. All of this tops an English muffin.

Poached Eggs: 6-10 minutes

Spinach: 2 minutes

Cheese Sauce: See recipe

1. Spray saucepan with cooking spray.
2. Heat over medium-high heat.
3. Add spinach.
4. Cook, stirring frequently, until spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes.
5. Remove from heat.

NB: I omit the oil to save on calories. As an alternative, you could heat 1 tsp olive oil in the pan and cook the spinach in oil.

1. While egg is cooking, before cooking spinach, toast English muffin.
2. Place English muffin in halves on plate.
3. Layer spinach on top of both halves.
4. Place egg on top of spinach.
5. Spoon 1/4 c cheese sauce over eggs.
6. Sprinkle with Hungarian paprika, if desired.
7. Serve immediately.

• The eggs can be pre-cooked almost all the way done then re-heated in the same manner of cooking.
• The sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. Re-heat with 1-2 T milk to return to correct consistency.

Spinach is a nutrient powerhouse. Its deep green leaves are filled with fiber, iron, beta-carotene, potassium, and vitamin C (when raw). You may not turn into Popeye (unless you join the navy and find an exercise to overdevelop the forearms, but here are some of the ways eating spinach improves your diet.

• Healthy filler: One cup of raw spinach contains 3.5 grams of fiber – twice as much as other greens -- which aids in digestion and fills you up.
• Antioxidants: Beta-carotene helps fight heart disease and cancer as well. The beta-carotene along with the antioxidant lutein help protect the eyes from cataracts.
• Immunity: Spinach contains vitamin C which, of course, helps prevent colds. In addition, one cup of spinach contains more than three times the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A, which helps protect the body's entry points and helps fight infections.
• Skin: Vitamin E, another antioxidant, promotes healthy skin by nourishing the cells. Vitamin A helps the skin retain moisture.

If you don't have the time to make a cheese sauce, you can make a healthy alternative to an egg McMuffin.

1. Poach egg.
2. Toast English muffin or alternate bread (I used Sandwhich Thins).
3. Layer spicy Mexican cheese on bottom bun.
4. Add poached egg.
5. Add bacon or other meat (sausage, Canadian bacon, ham).
6. Add top bun.

A poached egg in an egg that has been cooked in simmering liquid. The classic method is to deposit the egg directly in the simmering water and stirring around the egg vigorously. I use an egg form. The egg is cracked into the silicone form and deposited in simmering liquid. I cover it and let it steam for about 6 minutes. This technically provides a steamed egg, but the consistency is similar to a poached egg.

Poaching eggs is the healthiest way, along with boiled, of preparing eggs. No external fat is used, so the egg's nutrition is not altered.