Eggcitement

By Michele

The decades-old jingle “The Incredible, Edible Egg” is a tune that occasionally crosses my mind when I crack an egg. Go ahead sing it, you know it! 1978 video about incredibleeggs My love for eggs is decades-old as well. As far back as I can remember (let’s say sixty years), my mom routinely made eggs for our family on Sunday mornings. She prepared my eggs sunny side up, while my brothers liked their eggs over easy, and my dad liked them poached. I don't have a great memory of how my mom liked her eggs, as she was always busy prepping them for us. I’ve since asked her, and she said she likes them over easy. Occasionally, she would make a huge pan of scrambled eggs, with a side of bacon or spam, which all of us enjoyed.

I can’t wait to show my mom the various recipes I’ll be sharing with you today. But first, as you know, eggs had a bad rap for a while. That has changed. Studies show that an egg contains two-thirds of daily recommended cholesterol intake, and that regular egg consumption does not increase the risk of heart disease. Of course, moderation is suggested. Enjoy no more than seven in a week. My dad, at 95, and my mom, at 90, have been enjoying two eggs for breakfast thrice weekly, while at the same time having normal cholesterol.

Back in the day, I’m sure my mom didn’t have all the purchasing choices to make when it came to buying eggs from the supermarket. Today, we have many choices - white vs. brown, caged vs. cage-free, organic vs. non-organic, free-range, or pasture raised.

Did you know that an egg’s shell color doesn’t indicate the quality or nutritional value of an egg but rather the breed of the hen that laid it. Hens with white feathers tend to lay white eggs and hens with red feathers tend to lay brown eggs.

Further, the color of an egg yolk is determined by a hen’s diet. Like shell color, it has nothing to do with an egg’s nutritional value. If you crack open your egg to discover a dark yellow yolk, the hen was probably fed green vegetables. A medium-yellow yolk would indicate a diet of corn and alfalfa while a light-yellow yolk could be the result of eating wheat and barley. Besides the protein they deliver, eggs provide a significant amount of choline, a key nutrient for brain health. The recipes below will surely help boost your cognitive power.

Let’s get cracking with the incredible edible egg! Egg Nests

Serves 4

Ingredients: 4 eggs, separated Pinch of salt 1 tsp of everything spice mix 10-12 slices of cooked bacon 2 cups of fresh spinach ¼ cup of crumbled feta cheese Preparation: 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place parchment paper on medium baking sheet. Set

aside.

2. Using four ramekins, place one egg yolk in each, and place the whites in a medium mixing

bowl. 3. With electric mixer, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form.

4. Gently fold in everything spice.

5. Spoon four mounds of egg whites onto prepared baking sheet and using a spoon indent

centers to form nests. 6. Bake until slightly golden, about 3 minutes. 7. Remove sheet from oven and carefully pour egg yolk into center of each nest. Return to

oven and bake another 3 minutes.

Assembly 1. Place ½ cup raw spinach leaves on each of four plates in a circular pattern. 2. Top spinach with 2-3 slices of cooked bacon. 3. Place egg nest in middle of circle and sprinkle with feta cheese. Note: Another option is to use pancakes instead of spinach, followed by bacon and egg nest.

Garnish with drizzle of maple syrup.

E.A.T. (egg, avocado, tomato) Toast

Serves 2

Ingredients: 2 slices of bread 2 tbsp of mayo 1 large tomato, sliced 1 avocado, sliced 2 eggs, fried with sprinkle of black pepper 2 slices of cooked bacon, chopped Preparation: 1. Toast bread. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on each slice. 2. Add sliced tomato and avocado in equal portions. 3. Top each slice with fried egg. 4. Scatter crisp bacon over all.

Cup of Noodles with Poached Egg

One serving

Ingredients: 1 container of Cup of Noodles, 2.5 oz size 1 egg Black pepper to taste

Preparation: 1. Follow directions for cooking on Cup of Noodle soup container. 2. Once fully cooked. Set aside 3. Poach one egg and slide on top of soup container or place soup in bowl and top with

egg. 4. Sprinkle on black pepper.