I know how to cook eggs approximately three ways...fried, scrambled and poached (at least, I've watched my hubby poach eggs). I can crack an egg without getting shell in the bowl, and I can separate an egg successfully...yep, I'm talented like that. Boiled eggs, however, have always scared me...there is nothing worse than runny whites...yuck!! Thank goodness for Fast Ed! Here's what I learned...
1. How do you store eggs?
The best way to store your eggs, is in the fridge, in the carton they came in. Throw out that plastic egg divider in your fridge door...it is useless! Egg shells are porous, allowing them to absorb all the surrounding odours and flavours. Storing your eggs in the original carton, in the fridge, allows them to stay at their freshest for up to four weeks. Eggs stored in the fridge will last seven times longer than those stored at room temperature.
2. How do you know if your eggs are fresh?
Place your raw egg in a bowl of water. If the egg lies horizontal in the bottom of the bowl; it's super fresh. If the egg lies on a slight angle; it's a few days old. If the egg sits vertically in the water; it's a week or two old. If your egg floats in the water...throw that sucker out! It is off and will make you dreadfully ill. Eggs have an air cell that forms at the blunt end. As the egg ages, the air cell increases in size...making it float.
3. How do you boil an egg?
To boil an egg successfully...place your egg in a saucepan of cold water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and cook for 3 minutes for a creamy yolk. If you like your eggs hard boiled, cook for 4 minutes. This may be a bit of trial and error depending on your stove top and the age of your eggs. It's best to use eggs that are a few days old...the fresher the egg, the harder it is to peel.
4. What is the best way to cut an egg?
Here's the tip...to cut your boiled eggs, use a wet knife. A wet blade reduces the friction on your eggs, and ensures a smooth cut. A dry knife will tear through your egg...not great for presentation in your salads!
5. Are eggs healthy for you and your children?
Yes! Eggs have had a bad reputation for years,...it's time to dispel those rumours, and add them back into your diet. Did you know you can have up to six eggs a week as part of a healthy diet? Eggs provide the highest nutritional quality protein of all food sources (just one egg provides you with 20% of your recommended dietary intake of protein). Eggs are cost effective, and are quick and easy to prepare. Cook them for breakfast for a great start to the day, or add them to your child's lunch box for a nutritious midday meal (provided your school isn't egg-free of course). For more nutritional information, please visit here.
All this talk about eggs must be making you hungry! To wet your appetite for eggs even more...check out the delicious dishes Fast Ed taught us how to cook!! I have included the recipes below.
Let me assure you, these meals are incredibly easy to prepare and equally as yummy. Your family will love you for cooking these dishes for them. My kids absolutely love the zucchini bread...it's a definite winner!
- Individual Gardeners' Frittatas
- Lentil and Egg Salad with lime-mustard dressing
- Cinnamon-spiced Zucchini Bread
Seriously...how tall is Fast Ed?!! I'm 5'3" and he absolutely towered over me. I had to ask him to duck down so that I could have a photo taken with him. lol.
btw - I confessed to Ed that I had never given Eme a boiled egg before because she has always said they are disgusting (even though she hasn't tried it). So what was it that actually made her try a boiled egg? Two things...firstly, I was given an "egg chair" to bring home, which she wanted to use in her doll's house. I said she couldn't have it until she tried an egg in it first.
The second reason...I showed her who Fast Ed was that night while we were watching Better Homes and Gardens, and told her that he said she should try eggs. Done (love the power of television...lol). Since then, she's had a couple of boiled eggs (with hard yolks...I'll work my way up to the runny ones), and the egg chair is still in the kitchen. Looks like the dolls will have to wait a while longer for a new chair! lol.
Do you regularly create dishes using eggs? What is your favourite way for you and your family to eat them?
Looking for some fab blogging reads? Head on over and visit the lovely ladies I met last week...
- Marissa - Marissa Writes a Blog
- Candy - Candy's Family
- Tenille - My Family Table
- Seana - The Mum's Diet
