Deviled Eggs

As a precursor to my Easter Eggs post, I decided to give some step-by-step instructions on how to make the perfect hard boiled egg. It may seem counter intuitive, but you're not really supposed to boil them. I'll explain...

1. Place up to a dozen eggs in the bottom of a sauce pan (I don't recommend doing more than a dozen at a time).
2. Fill the pan with cold water to about one inch above the eggs.
3. Cover and heat on high just until the water starts to boil.
4. The moment the water starts to boil, remove the pan from the heat.
5. Place the pan either on a cold burner or a trivet on the counter top.
6. Let the eggs sit in the hot water, covered, for 10 minutes.
7. After 10 minutes, drain the hot water.
8. If you're going to eat the eggs hot, transfer the eggs to some cold water for about two minutes. This will make them cool enough to peel but they will still be hot in the middle.
9. If you're going to eat the eggs cold such as deviled eggs or egg salad, transfer the eggs to a bowl filled with ice water for about 10 minutes. Then move the eggs to the refrigerator for at least one hour to completely cool.

This gentle cooking method will ensure that the eggs are perfectly cooked and you don't get that green ring around the yolks.

Ok, now that you know how to make the perfect hard boiled egg, here's my recipe for deviled eggs!

Deviled Eggs

Makes: 24 deviled eggs

1 dozen hard boiled eggs

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp celery salt

paprika

• Cut the eggs in half length-wise. Remove the yolks and place in a bowl. Set the whites aside.
• Mash the egg yolks with a fork.
• Gently mix in the mayonnaise, mustard, onion, garlic, and celery salt.
• With a spoon or a piping bag, fill the egg whites with egg yolk filling.
• Sprinkle the eggs with a little bit of paprika. You'll want to wait on this step until right before you serve the eggs. Otherwise the paprika will stain the egg whites a strange purple color. It doesn't change the flavor, it just looks a little weird.