The Good Egg

The good egg cooked in the scrambled egg recipe is very popular for breakfast. Many like a little milk in their scrambled eggs which makes them softer and moister. I prefer them without thus making the eggs more solid. Besides a simple recipe of scrambled eggs, you can add many ingredients in them for extra taste like the following: onion, chives, pimentos, olives, shrimp, salmon, mushrooms, crisp bacon pieces, ham, sour cream, cilantro, salsa, sprouts, grated cheese, cottage cheese, spinach, tomatoes, oregano, corn, green peppers, hot peppers, blue cheese and fresh dill.

Some feel bad asking how to boil eggs because it seems so simple. Actually, there are little tricks to boiling eggs so it never hurts to ask questions. Eggs should be about a week old and at room temperature when boiling. There are two methods of boiling the good egg. One is that you bring a pan of water to boiling before you put the eggs in and the other is that you start the eggs off in cold water. In either case the eggs should lay in a single layer and the timing of the cooking starts when the eggs start in the boiling water. In the cold water method you would start the timing as soon as you see a few bubbles from the boiling water.

The following will give you a guideline for how long to cook the eggs for the degree of doneness that you would like.

• 4 Minutes…The white is only partly set and the yolk is still liquid.
• 6 Minutes…The white is firmly set and most of the yolk is set with the center soft and dark in color.
• 8 Minutes…Both the yolk and white are firmly set, although the center of the yolk is still tender.
• 10 Minutes..Yolk and white are firmly set and the yolk is pale yellow.

An overcooked egg is longer the 10 minutes and the white of the egg becomes rubbery and the yolk is dry and crumbly. I always cook more than a layer at a time. I bring the water to a boil first and then add the eggs. I cook them for 14 or 15 minutes and they turn out great. For eggs that must be peeled, ice immediately after draining the water off. This helps the shells to easily be removed.

For poaching the good egg, use the freshest eggs that you can. Bring two inches of water to a simmer in a shallow pan. Carefully break the eggs into the hot liquid. Turn the heat off and cover with a lid. The eggs should be done cooking within 3 minutes. When the whites are opaque and the yolk is covered with a thin layer of white, carefully lift the eggs out of the pan onto a plate.

The good egg fried perfectly should have a firm white and creamy yolk. Eggs can be fried in various fats like bacon grease. When the fat is sizzling break the egg carefully into the pan. Reduce the heat to low and cook gently basting until the white is set and the yolk is firm.

The good egg baked can be prepared in individual dishes or several together baked in small ovenproof dishes. Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Melt ½ teaspoon butter in each dish and break egg in dish. Season with salt and pepper and bake in oven for 4 to 5 minutes or until the eggs are set.

There are many other egg recipes; some are a little more complex. Most egg recipes are easy but some take a little more time. There are many recipes like quiche recipes, the soufflé recipe, strata recipe and omelet recipes that serve well for a special breakfast, lunch or for a brunch menu.

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

• 1 Package frozen hash browns
• 4 Slices bread in pieces
• 1 Pound sausage, browned and drained
• 1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 Beaten eggs
• 2 Cups milk
• Salt/ pepper
• 1 Tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Butter a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Spread bread pieces on the bottom of dish. Layer hash browns over the bread. Spread the meat and cheese over the potatoes. In a separate bowl blend together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper and pour over the layers. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Other egg recipes include many delicious desserts like the flan recipe, pound cake recipe, egg custard recipe, or a sponge cake recipe. A crepe recipe can be served for breakfast, lunch or adapted to a delicious dessert. My all time favorite use for eggs has been making my homemade egg noodle recipe and then with the whites I always made my angel food cake recipe. They both are delicious.

ANGEL FOOD CAKE RECIPE

• 1 Cup flour
• 1 Cup powdered sugar
• 12 Egg whites, room temperature
• 1 ½ Teaspoon cream of tartar
• ¼ Teaspoon salt
• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• 1 ½ Teaspoon vanilla
• ½ Teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Measure flour, sift it and measure it again. Add powdered sugar to the flour and sift together 2 times; set aside. Place egg whites in a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and cream of tartar. Beat on medium high speed until foamy. Gradually start adding the granulated sugar by a tablespoon while beating. Beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the flavorings and the sifted flour mixture. Carefully push batter into an ungreased tube pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until lightly brown. Immediately invert the tube pan on a bottle and let hang until cake is cold before removing from pan.

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