You need to notch it before you fry it.

What’s a good breakfast meat for your egg-and-cheese sandwich? Well, in the past, I’ve fried up tasty bacon, I’ve fried up single-packet Spam, I’ve even tested out scrapple.

But the most recent attempt to create a tasty start to my morning came from New Jersey.

Specifically, this product.

What you see here is a processed product that’s either called Pork Roll or Taylor Ham, depending on if you live in South Jersey (Pork Roll) or North Jersey (Taylor Ham). It can be purchased as thick cuts from the roll, or thin cuts in individual packaging.

But there’s one thing you need to know about this meat before you fry it.

You have to notch it.

No, seriously. You have to slice a little notch in the meat, from the edge to the center, before it goes in the frying pan. If you don’t notch the meat, the edges will crisp up before the center does, and the meat will curl up in the frying pan and not cook evenly. Trust me on this.

You can fry this little delicacy along with an egg (low to medium heat), then add a piece of American cheese on top, put it between two toasted pieces of bread, and you’ve got the traditional “Jersey Breakfast.” Supposedly a cure for most hangovers (although, being a teetotaler, I wouldn’t know if the sandwich’s purported hangover cure is accurate).

Now where can you get this meat? Price Chopper / Market 32 does sell this product, although you have to look in the deli counter, and not all Price Choppers carry it. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website for a location of stores that sell Taylor Ham / Pork Roll, as well as purchasing some branded hats, T-shirts and mugs.

I’m just saying … if you want to try a different way to start your morning, this pork roll / Taylor Ham stuff is actually quite tasty. Just sayin’ is all. 😀