How to turn excess crumpets into a hearty breakfast – recipe | Waste not

They’re full of childhood nostalgia, and a packet rarely lasts long, but if you happen to have leftover crumpets, here’s an eggy, cheesy way to use them up

Crumpets have a surprisingly short shelf-life, as I found out while taste-testing for the Food Filter column. I even had to have a hurried freezer clear-out to make room for 10 open packets (although, admittedly, a lone packet rarely lasts even a day in our house). On the off chance that you need to use up a packet of crumpets (or find a packet on clearance, which they often are) and fancy treating yourself, I thought I’d share one of my favourite childhood recipes combined with a new one, both of them from my mother. She says it’s based on a Jamie Oliver recipe with egg, bacon and chilli, though I’ve topped mine with Marmite and cheddar, and they’re a wonderful treat with or without the Marmite. Other possible toppings include stilton and apple chutney, and gruyere and walnuts, both of which grill beautifully.