If you’re a hockey fan, you probably know the annual World Junior Championship (WJC) is in full swing in Ottawa. It started on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) and the gold medal game will be played on Jan. 5.

So far, Canada’s team has fared very well. Fingers are crossed that the streak will continue tonight with the highly anticipated match between Canada and the U.S.

I wouldn’t count myself as a true hockey fan, however I’ve been known to watch the occasional game. With a husband who scouts for the Kitchener Rangers, sometimes I don’t have a choice!

Modelling the Get Cracking Canada! tattoos we gave out at the Dec. 28th game of the World Junior Championships

Since Egg Farmers of Canada and Egg Farmers of Ontario are sponsors of the WJC, I attended Sunday’s game at Scotiabank Place – Canada vs Kazakhstan. It was egg promo night so a few colleagues and I handed out “Get Cracking Canada!” thundersticks and tattoos, as well as recipe cards for Pizza Frittata.

To get into the spirit of the game, we decided we should wear the tattoos we were giving out. The tattoos proved to be quite “permanent”! The one I put on my hand didn’t wash off easily after the game, so I decided to leave the tattoo on my face alone instead of trying to scrub it off. I did get a few comments and curious stares as I waited at the Ottawa airport for my flight back to Toronto. Once home, the tattoo came off with a little effort and a washcloth!

The Pizza Frittata recipe cards proved to be a popular giveaway. Most people like pizza, and a frittata (an open-faced omelette) is an easy thing to make. The cool thing about the cards is that they have a small packet of seasonings (containing mostly dried herbs) stapled to them.

We give out these cards at many of the events Egg Farmers of Ontario attends. (I mentioned them and provided the recipe in my April 28th post, but I didn’t show what the cards look like. For convenience, I’ll provide the recipe again below.)

At first people are curious about the card, or more accurately, they’re curious about what’s in the packet. Sometimes the contents get mistaken for seeds….or for something illegal that can be smoked!! We had numerous comments about the latter at the game. Not so sure about that hockey crowd!?!

Once they know what’s in the packet is legit(!), people of both genders and all ages are usually pleased to take home the card. Occasionally they say they’ll use it in pasta or on their regular pizza. Of course, we tell them it will only work if used on something that has eggs in it!

On the back of the card we provide a list of the seasonings in the packet. That way,  once it’s used, it can easily be recreated again. The seasonings are things most people probably already have in their kitchen cupboards or could easily get at a bulk food store or grocery store. Failing that, Italian seasoning could be substituted.

Recipe for Pizza Frittata

Here’s the recipe in a slightly more readable format. Give it a try!

Pizza Frittata
(Makes 4 servings)

1 tablespoon (15 mL) olive oil
1/2 cup (125 mL) diced onion
1/2 cup (125 mL) diced sweet green pepper
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) sliced mushrooms, 8 oz/250 g
2/3 cup (150 mL) sliced pepperoni, 3.5 oz/100 g
8 eggs
1/4 cup (50 mL) grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning Mix (packet or recipe below)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup (125 mL) pizza or tomato sauce
3/4 cup (175 mL) shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat oil in a 10-inch (25 cm) non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, green pepper and mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are soft. Add pepperoni; cook for 1 minute.

Beat eggs and Parmesan cheese in medium bowl. Stir in seasoning packet (or Single Seasoning Mix recipe below) and salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture over vegetable mixture in skillet. As egg sets at edges, use spatula to gently push cooked portions toward the centre of the skillet; tilt skillet to allow uncooked portions to flow into the empty spaces. When frittata is almost set, place pan on upper oven rack under pre-heated broiler to cook top.

Remove from oven, spread with pizza sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Return to oven until cheese melts. Cut into wedges and serve.

Tips: Frittata recipe can be halved for small skillet. Frittata can also be cooked completely on stove top; proceed as above, cooking frittata until set before adding pizza sauce and cheese, then covering skillet with lid to melt cheese.

Seasoning Mix:

1-1/2 teaspoons (7 mL) dried oregano
1 teaspoon (5 mL) dried basil
1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) onion powder
1/4 teaspoon (1 mL) dried thyme

Combine seasonings in a small bowl; stir until blended. Use as directed above.