Let’s Break Some Eggs!

Today is Chocolate Macaroon and National Egg Day. Hum, don’t really see eating a boiled egg and a Macaroon at the same time. Today I think I’ll just stick with the eggs.

I am a very picky eater when it comes to poached or fried eggs. Heck, when it comes to any egg really. The whites must be cooked – not semi-done, not runny snot – cooked! At the same time in a fried or poached egg the real treasure is that golden runny yolk oozing out all over the place. And one more thing, when it comes to fried eggs no brown bottom. No crisp edge. Don’t even get me started on over-cooked omelettes!

Cooking the perfect egg takes time and patients. My favorite eggs are dirty eggs – eggs cooked in bacon drippings. The secret to this is once the bacon has been fried, move the pan off heat. Wait about 5 minutes for the grease to cool down, then crack your eggs one at a time and slip them into the pan. Continue to wait until the whites begin to set, then return the skillet to a low heat. You can either gently baste the egg in grease or wait until it is almost fully set, then flip for a moment, long enough for the top of the yolk to turn white WITHOUT cooking the yolk. Season with salt and pepper then slide out of the pan and onto a plate.

No bacon drippings? That’s okay. Warm some vegetable oil in your skillet. Once warm, do the same thing – move off heat, add eggs, wait until egg whites begins to set, return to heat and finish cooking. Slow is the only way to get an egg that is perfectly fried – at lease for me.

Perfect Fried Eggs
3 tablespoons Oil or Bacon Drippings
2 Eggs
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Heat oil or drippings in a skillet over medium heat until hot, about 2 or 3 minutes. Move skillet off heat.

Gently crack eggs one at a time, pour into the skillet. Let the whites begin to set, about 2 or 3 minutes. Return skillet to medium-low heat and let eggs fry undisturbed until the whites are almost fully set. Baste with grease to cook the white film over the yolks without cooking the yolk.

Plate and enjoy. Keep breakfast simple with just the perfectly fried eggs all on their own. Or with sausage links. Or better still, go all out with bacon and a slice of buttered toast.

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 Blessed day by day be the Lord,
who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.