When the shelf holds only cooking spray, an honest fried egg dinner is what you make. The spray gives you the nonstick surface and the start of golden, lacy edges without fussing with a heavy pour of oil. Serve with buttered toast and you have dinner.

Serves 2. 15 minutes, 10 at the stove.

About 390 calories a serving, 16 g protein, 30 g carbohydrate, 23 g fat. From USDA figures for 100% of the ingredients; amounts are the recipe's.

Cook mode

1. Heat a small skillet over medium heat and spray with the cooking spray two or three times, working quickly so the alcohol evaporates and leaves a thin nonstick film.2 min
2. While the pan heats, toast four slices of bread in a toaster or under the broiler until golden, then spread each slice with one-half teaspoon of butter.5 min
3. Once the skillet is hot enough that a drop of water beads and rolls, crack four eggs into the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the whites are set but the yolks are still loose, about three to four minutes, tilting the pan to baste the tops with the hot oil from the bottom.4 min
4. Slide two eggs onto each plate alongside the buttered toast and serve at once.

Note For softer edges, reduce heat to medium-low and cook longer. Fried eggs keep cold for one day wrapped in foil. Serve with hot sauce, a sliced tomato, or bitter greens on the side to cut the richness.