Baked ham, egg & cheese bread rolls

You know me, I’m all about using stuff up and this recipe came about one lunch time when I, well, wanted to use stuff up. We were sick of the regular bread rolls and sandwiches we’ve been eating all summer holidays and, just before Christmas, things were a little tight, as they always are. 

I had four round bread rolls that were a little on the dry side. I put them in a baking tray lined with paper.

‘Pinching’ from the middle top of the bread rolls, pull out as the bread until a ‘bowl’ forms. (I usually pop bits of bread like this in the freezer for bread crumbs.)

I beat a couple eggs, added some chopped ham and topped the rolls with grated cheese. You could crack an egg straight into the bread roll but I’m not that big on eggs so if it’s mixed with something else I can tolerate them better.

Pop in a warm oven until cheese melts and rolls are golden brown. These would be perfect for a lunch box, lunch or a light dinner served with a side salad. You could go crazy with what you put inside them and it’s a great way to use up leftovers. Freeze them for later on to have on stand by. (Also great for a quick breakfast-on-the-go idea.)

Baked Ham, Egg & Cheese Rolls

• 4 round bread rolls
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 slices ham/bacon, chopped
• 1 cup grated cheese

1. Preheat oven to 170 deg C.
2. Place bread rolls on a baking tray lined with paper.
3. Scoop out inside of each bread roll until a bowl is formed.
4. Add chopped ham/bacon to beaten egg mixture and pour into bread roll.
5. Top with grated cheese and place in the oven.
6. Cook until cheese is melted and rolls are golden brown (approx 10-15 mins).

Ned Kelly Pies

Ned Kelly was an Australian bushranger living in the 1800’s and famous for making a ‘suit of amour’ out of sheets of steel, which he wore to a gunfight at Glenrowan, Victoria. He survived the gunfight but was captured by police and eventually hung in 1880. Some might say he was like the equivalent of Jesse James. Whatever you think, he is an Australian folklore legend.

[photo source]


Don’t ask me what the association is between Ned Kelly and a bacon, egg and cheese pie but the bakeries here in Australia have been making and selling them for ages. Meat pies are an Australian national dish. I’ve got a pie maker and it’s great for using leftovers for pie fillings as well as making a ‘Ned Kelly’ pie. I use the pie maker a lot in the cooler months.

Even though the pie maker is supposed to be ‘non stick’, I spray with oil, just in case. I use frozen puff pastry and cut out circles to use as the base and the tops of the pies. You can use sliced bread as well for the pastry cases.

Fill with chopped bacon, beaten egg (2 eggs makes 4 pies) and top with grated cheese. Put on the pastry tops and cook for 12 minutes.

These are good served hot or cold. I guess I have something to thank Ned Kelly for.