How To Boil Eggs

This egg cooking technique comes from a cookbook called Egg: From Benedict To Brulee. I absolutely LOVE eggs. You can put them in so many things, cook them in so many different ways and eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! What more could you want- they're eggs-traordinary?!? Okay, so that was a corny joke, but they really are one of my favorites and they're such a versatile food. Since Easter is just a few days away, and the kiddos (ages 2-92) are expecting to hunt down colored eggs, here are some tips for a perfectly boiled egg, without the grayish ring around the yolk (which is caused by over cooking). Cook your eggs accordingly and they'll turn out perfectly every time.

Soft Boiled Eggs

• Bring a saucepan of water to boil. Put the egg onto the spoon and gently lower it into the water. Lower the heat so the water is simmering, so it's not boiling and jiggling the eggs all over the pan.

• Cook for 4 minutes and then use a spoon to scoop out the egg. Transfer to an egg cup, slice off the top and eat. The yolk will be soft and runny (like the one on the cover) and the white will be just set.

Medium Boiled Eggs

• Follow the method above but allow the eggs to cook for 5-6 minutes before removing them from the water. The yolk, though still soft, is almost cooked and the white is fully set.

Hard Boiled Eggs

• Put the eggs in a saucepan and cover with COLD water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 9 minutes. Remove from heat immediately.

• Remove the eggs from the water, slice the top off and eat. The yolk should be fully cooked and only slightly soft in the center. The white will be fully cooked. If you're not going to eat the eggs right away or are going to dye them, peel them for deviled eggs, or use them in another recipe, cool them under cold water to stop further cooking.

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NOTE: Arrange the eggs in one single layer in the pan. Don't stack or overcrowd them in the pan. Also, there is no need to use a lid to cover the pot.

I have found it's easier to peel the eggs when they have cooled completely. I place the eggs in a bowl and cover with cool water. When the water and has come to room temp, I pour it out and add more cool water until the eggs have cooled completely.