Bottomless, Boozy Brunch: fried eggs, roasted potatoes with fresh herbs, and cheesy mushroom caps

Inspiration abounds when you're open to it, even in old and familiar places.

I'm just back from Chicago.  Yes yes...you know it's got good pizza, Italian beef and hotdogs, historic architecture, 2 competing newspapers, rooftop bars with majestic views, and some pretty impressive sports history.  But I was blissfully reminded on this visit...twice!...that it's the home of the bottomless, boozy brunch.

I tell you it's like heaven, but with endless pitchers of bloody marys (which is kinda what I thought heaven was like anyway).

Chicago's a friendly city, so on the weekend between Christmas and the new year, invite some friends over and do it up like they do:  a laidback, low ley, unpretentious brunch with bottomless drinks and endless laughter, music with a cool funky vibe, and good times that last until the dinner hour.  Don't you think your friends deserve a little bit of heaven, too? :)

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(WHAT YOU WILL NEED)

eggs (2 per person)
large stuffing mushrooms, cleaned (2 or 3 per person)
russet potatoes, you decide how many
shredded cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses
sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary, chopped
English Muffins
beef broth or consommé 
olive oil
butter
salt/pepper

whatever drinks you'd like to serve

The potatoes cook for 60 minutes.  Time it so that when you take them out of the oven, everything else is done.

Roast potatoes:  preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut potatoes in bite size pieces.  Toss in bowl with a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper, and fresh herbs.  Place on baking sheet and roast for approx. 50-60 minutes.

roasted potatoes--see the brown crusty bits? mmmm

In the meantime, prepare mushrooms:  if there are stems in the mushrooms, remove them.  Place mushrooms in a pan and add a tiny piece of butter in each cap.  Pour beef broth around them, and bake in oven for approx. 50 minutes.  So, after your potatoes have been in for 10 minutes, put the mushrooms in the oven next to them.

pour beef broth around and place in oven

Important:  with 10 minutes left to go on the oven, place shredded cheese inside mushroom caps to melt.

finished mushrooms

5 minutes before the mushrooms and potatoes are done, fry your eggs (I like mine in brown butter) and toast your English Muffins (I like strawberry preserves)

Serve immediately with your favorite drinks

bloody mary with a beer chaser