Baked Eggs

Position the rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Generously coat 6 cups in a standard-size nonstick muffin tin with an obscene amount of oil or butter.

Carefully crack 1 egg into each muffin cup. (If you insist on intact yolks but can’t handle the pressure of having to crack the egg without breaking the yolk, first crack each egg into a small dish or coffee cup instead and pour it into the tin. If you break the yolk, just try it again.) Sprinkle the eggs with the bacon and slide the pan into the oven. Rotate the pan after 5 to 6 minutes, or when the egg whites begin to turn opaque, to ensure the eggs bake evenly. Bake until the whites are set and the yolks look partially set and a little jiggly, 8 to 15 minutes total, depending on how you like your eggs. (If you like your yolks runny, think 8 to 12 minutes; if you like your yolks some degree of hard-cooked, think 12 or more minutes.) Don’t worry if the tops of the eggs don’t look completely done, as the eggs will continue to cook while resting. The appearance is deceptive because the bottoms of the eggs cook faster than the tops.

Remove the tin from the oven and sprinkle the baked eggs with Parmesan, if desired. Let them cool slightly before removing them from the tin, using a knife to loosen the eggs from the edge of the tin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.