Nothing in life is perfect. That’s what we tell ourselves, our kids, each other when life disappoints. It’s a platitude that seems to be thrown out increasingly often in our increasingly imperfect world.
On day 66 of unemployment in an incredibly oversaturated market, I feel the sentiment deeply. But I’m also here to tell you it’s a perfect damn lie.
Last year, when I embarked on a quest to lose 30 pounds of pandemic weight, I started a high-protein, low-carb diet plan that had me eating 2 hard boiled eggs every morning. Turned out the fam also loves a hard boiled egg and I found myself boiling about 6 eggs nearly every damn day. I’ve often said my life is a little chaotic. Every day is a little different. I don’t do well with routines. Let me tell you, friends, I finally found the one thing I could count on happening like clockwork in my life: boiling eggs (and baking chicken, but thats for another post). It honestly got to the point where I was so tired of constantly buying eggs, I seriously considered getting a couple chickens, but I don’t think City of Atlanta or my neighbors would take well to that idea.
So anyway, as anyone who’s ever eaten a boiled egg knows, some of them peel like magic and others end up with the whites in shreds before you’re done with it. Over the years, I’ve tried all the tricks to get them to peel perfectly… ice bath after boil, salt the water, you name it. The results, like my imperfect life were hit or miss. So last year, when I signed up to bring deviled eggs to the office Thanksgiving potluck, I knew I needed to get my shit together. I simply could not face the embarrassment (or frustration) of a bunch of pock-marked, sad-looking egg whites sitting on a platter. I mean, can you even imagine?
So I committed to trying one more path to perfection and hit the Googles. Low and behold, I quickly found The Pioneer Woman’s Easy-to-Peel Eggs recipe. Her stuff is solid, so I went for it. The gist: put your eggs in water that is already boiling. This part is key because of something about what it does to the membrane that attaches the egg’s innards to the shell. I’d gotten lazy and typically put eggs and water in the pan at the same time and just let them all heat up together, and that laziness was likely my downfall. Anyway, once you’ve got boiling water, drop your eggs in (I use a slotted spoon to put them in gently and take them out at the end) boil on a soft boil for 13 minutes and then put into an ice bath. So simple. And the eggs are always perfect. As in every damn time. And my Siracha Deviled Eggs and Pesto Deviled Eggs, along with a batch of classics of course, were divine.
So for six months now, we have enjoyed perfectly peeled eggs every single day. It is such a little thing, but it is consistent. It is easy. And when everything else in life seems crazy, it is the one perfect thing I know I can count on.
Peaches & Poppycock 