Cold Feet star Fay Ripley publishes Breakfast Pizza recipe for charity

Highgate actress and author Fay Ripley has donated a recipe in support of a children’s charity campaign.

The former Cold Feet star has concocted a recipe for an unusual ‘Breakfast Pizza’ in aid of Barnado’s Big Brunch drive, which it has launched to help disadvantaged children and mark its 150th anniversary.

The campaign asks family and friends to host a brunch to raise money. Find how to serve up your own big brunch by visiting: barnardos.org.uk/get_involved/fundraise/brunch.

“I sort of discovered this recipe by mistake when frying some eggs at a friend’s house,” Ripley says. “I suddenly realised they only had one pan, so I threw the rest of my ingredients on top in a last-minute panic.

“It was a big hit and has now become a breakfast, lunch and quick dinner regular, with those Italian flavours making it all look like a clever plan, not a silly mistake. Phew!”

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

100g chestnut mushrooms, sliced

6 large eggs

6 cherry tomatoes, halved

2-3 slices smoked ham a few fresh basil leaves

2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese

Ciabatta bread, to serve, warmed

Method:

Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the mushrooms for 3-4 minutes till soft. Take them out and set aside.

Crack each egg into separate cups or ramekins so you can quickly get them into the pan without breaking the yolks.

Now heat another tablespoon of olive oil in the same frying pan.

Gently slip each egg into the pan around the edges then one in the middle, so all the egg whites join up.