Cornbread Brunch

Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

Start by seeding and finely dicing jalapeño. If you want a spicier effect, you can leave the seeds in. Wash your hands thoroughly once done.

Finely chop the fresh herbs and set aside.

Sift all of the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cornmeal) together.

In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, milk and melted butter.

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until the dry is just incorporated. Then fold in jalapeños, herbs and corn. Do not over mix.

Spray two loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray and pour in the batter. You can also use a rectangular cake pan. Bake 30 - 40 minutes.

Test for doneness with a fork. If it comes out clean, the cornbread is ready. Let the cornbread cool for a few minutes before loosening the edges with a knife. Turn out onto a cooling rack.

The cornbread can be made a day or two in advance.

Place a rack on the upper third part of the oven and preheat to broil.

While the broiler is heating, slice the cornbread into approximately 1" -inch thick pieces. Place onto a baking sheet.

Place the cornbread into the oven for a minute or so, or until the one side is lightly toasted. Remove and set aside.

Using oven mitts, carefully move the top rack back to the middle position and turn the oven to warm (approximately 150ºF).

Mix together the pesto and the olive oil. This will thin down the pesto and make it easier to drizzle over the eggs.

*Note: For the pesto you can make your own or buy it.

Be sure the tomato sauce is hot before you spoon it over the cornbread.

Spoon about two tablespoons of the sauce over each slice of bread and top with a tablespoon or two of goat cheese, if desired.

Place the corn bread into the oven to keep warm while you poach the eggs. If you like, you can also put the plates in the oven to warm them up.

To poach the eggs, use a pan that is at least 3" -inches deep. Fill approximately three-quarters full with water. Add the salt and vinegar.

Once the water comes to a gentle boil, reduce the heat to just below a simmer. Gently add the eggs one at a time. Once done, the whites should be firm to the touch but the yolk should still be soft. This should take about 2 to 4 minutes.

Note: Make one or two extra eggs if you are making this for guests, just in case any eggs break. The eggs can also be cooked ahead of time, which is a great time saver.

To assemble, remove the warmed cornbread and plates from the oven. Top each piece of cornbread with a hot poached egg. Lightly season the egg with salt and freshly-cracked pepper. To finish, drizzle the plate with a bit of the pesto and serve immediately.