Maple Walnut Scotch Eggs
They say the best things in life are free. If I really believe that, I probably got some ‘splainin to do to Courtney as to why so many boxes show up on our door step… but seriously, can we talk about completely irrational excitement about free things?! If you’ve ever tried to shop at Costco on a Saturday you know I’m right. Was it really worth shoving that little girl out of the way for that 1 oz smoothie sample? I know she’d already had four and most of it’s on her face anyways, but still. And do you really want to wait six minutes for that batch of the spanakopita they have on special in the freezer section to finish cooking so that you can get your 1/4 piece? Of course it was and of course you do, because it’s FREE!
Although it only took a couple of stomach aches for me to learn to steer clear of the Costco samples, I still have my demons. Take Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day (#freeconeday!) for example. I get slightly more excited about Free Cone Day than I do about my birthday (except last year, when my birthday was also National Doughnut Day, so I got a free doughnut on my birthday!). Until this year that is, when my hopes and dreams were abruptly shattered by the news that Union Station would no longer be participating in Free Cone Day. While I somehow survived the disappointment, it got me wondering just why we are so enthralled with $Free.99. Although I could certainly afford to splurge and spend $2 to buy myself a kiddy cone, I did that exactly zero times last year. And if you offered me $2 to spend thirty minutes to an hour doing pretty much anything, I’d tell you my time is worth way more than that. Yet for whatever reason I’m willing to spend that same amount of time waiting in line for $2 worth of ice cream… and I’m clearly not the only one! It’s the magical power of FREE I tell you, the feeling your getting a deal!
Speaking of, these Scotch eggs are great deal… egg AND pork for the price of one! I’d never made Scotch eggs before. My first impression was that these were missing something, that they needed more flavor, and maybe they are. But they’ve been growing on me throughout the week! Maybe the flavors or melding or maybe it’s my expectations that have changed, but I’ve been enjoying these more each day! Also, are Scotch eggs always the size of a baseball!? I’d assumed six Scotch eggs would mean breakfast for three days, but I quickly found out that one of these babies with some fruit or veggies is more than enough!
Maple Walnut Scotch Eggs
Adapted from Popular Paleo
Ingredients:
- 6 hard-boiled eggs
- 24 oz ground pastured pork
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup + more to glaze
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, + a couple tablespoons extra for garnish
- 1 Tbsp Almond butter to glaze
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using your hands, combine the pork, maple syrup and 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts. Once well combined, divide into six even portions.
- One at a time, flatten each portion into a circle slightly larger and thinner than a burger patty. Carefully wrap it around your boiled egg and seal completely. Gently roll it into a ball shape. I did this on parchment paper.
- Combine 1 T almond butter and 2 T maple syrup and brush it on Scotch eggs. Sprinkle with remaining walnuts.
- Place Scotch eggs on a baking sheet that has been greased or lined with parchment paper (either will work) and bake for 30-40 minutes until well browned.
Makes 6 Scotch Eggs (3-6 servings)
