Diary of a Kentucky Cook

Don't forget what is truly important, the simple and basic things in Life. Honesty, Pure Emotions, Gardening, Cooking, the Joy of Creating and sharing Recipes and to be blessed by the majestic beauty of Nature. Once you find out what makes you happy, try to do THAT for a living.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

HAPPY EASTER DEVILED EGG RECIPE IDEAS

H A P P Y
E A S T E R
Dear Ones !


Another GORGEOUS Morning here in the hills.
Those beautiful yellow and black butterflies are flittering (and doing so at their own risk, We have one cat who loves to stalk and torment butterflies). They are all over the cherry trees, yesterday there were so many, from a distance it looked like our cherry tree had yellow blooms !
The Easter Bunny left my honey a little 'basket' of goodies (of course the wicker basket that I had gotten second hand and washed up almost 2 months ago would not stand upright for anything in the world, treats kept spilling all over the place, so around 2:30 a.m. I ended up having to use a warm bath canner as an Easter Basket. The bag of Easter grass had been stolen, er, confiscated and shredded by another playful kittie last month, so I used dark green tissue paper as grass).

I have a stockpot of eggs boiling. Not for dying, but for deviled eggs. You know it sure makes you feel old when you are more concerned about dying your hair, instead of dying Easter eggs in time for Easter Sunday.
*sigh*

We are having a tightly-budgeted, but Yummy Easter dinner.


EASTER MENU

Crock pot Chicken Breasts w/ melted monteray jack cheese
canned sweet peas (drained and warmed with butter and a lil salt)
Mac & cheese or Shells and cheese (still deciding on the pasta but I always use Velveeta and then any leftover shredded cheese I need to use up. Also milk, butter, salt and white pepper)
deviled eggs
hot rolls w/ butter
iced tea
for dessert:
cinnamon bread w/ white glaze
and
Granny Smith apples, either sliced or fried.


This is how I make my deviled eggs

Place eggs in a stock pot with enough water to cover them.
I salt the water a little, supposedly that helps to keep them sticking to the shell.
When they start to boil, I set my timer for 10 minutes.
Let them boil for ten full minutes.
Carefully drain the hot water and add cool or cold water and let them set a bit.
The next part is up to you.

Seems like everyone makes eggs like their momma used to.

Here are some Options I have heard about:
Some place the cooked eggs directly in ice water.
Some drain all water and shake the pan so they will crack on each other and try to peel them hot.
Some put them in the fridge to cool and then peel.
Some drain the eggs, place the saucepot in the microwave on a potholder to cool and forget about them. Realizing in the next couple of days that something smells bad in or around their microwave and well, you know the rest...


The main thing is to get all of the shells and shell slivers off of the cooked eggs
It is very embarrassing to have someone bite into an egg and
get a crunchy one :)


In Most Southern Kitchen we always
garnish our Deviled Eggs with a sprinkle or 2 of paprika,
"just for a little color" at least that's what my mom used to say.

Slice your eggs lengthwise, being careful not to damage the egg itself.
take out the yolks and place them in a small bowl.
If you do have an egg or 2 mess up on you, dice it up in the yolk filling mixture.

You can mix and match any of the filling ingredients,
experiment if you like. I prefer mayo instead of miracle whip. You can use dollups of any type of MUSTARD. I am not real crazy about mustard, but this is one dish where you really need the mustard flavor to bring out the 'devil' in those deviled eggs. Spicy Brown, plain Brown, Honey, Yellow, Jack Daniel Mustard, any flavor you like.
I know one lady who uses diced green onions, another likes diced green peppers, jalepeno peppers, you can use garlic salt instead of regular salt, the ingredients are up to you.

If you have never made deviled eggs, boil up some eggs and make some small batches of filling, a few teaspoons or dollups of this and that until you get a filling you like.
I will list some examples of how we like our eggs, #1 is kinda plain and simple but dee-lish-eee-us.



Deviled Eggs FILLING RECIPE #1

mayo or miracle whip
prepared yellow mustard
pickle relish
sprinkle of brown sugar
salt
seasoned pepper



Deviled Eggs FILLING RECIPE #2

mayo or miracle whip
prepared honey mustard
hot dog relish
salt & ground pepper



Deviled Eggs FILLING RECIPE #3

mayo or miracle whip
prepared spicy brown mustard
a little brown sugar
relish
salt & pepper


ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT IDEAS

any type of onion, diced
diced pimentos
olives, black or green
diced bacon or bacon bits
garlic (I personally do not care for garlic in my deviled eggs)
any type of green or red pepper, diced
splenda / sugar/ brown sugar
hot dog relish
regular relish
chow chow
ground black pepper
seasoned pepper & garlic blend
your favorite seasoned pepper blend
cumin
any of your favorite spices can be used
be sure and add a little taste it, then add a little more.
You can always add more, but you can't take any away...


The timer just went off, I need to 'do up' my deviled egg filling.
My eggs are finished boiling and I haven't even found my box of hair color yet.
;)
Be sure and toss out your egg shells for the birds or put them in your compost bin.

I need to get moving.

Have A Safe and blessed Easter.
Jesus is the reason for the season.

God Bless you, today and always.

Linda & Brian






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