Home on the range

Deviled egg is a better egg

Leah Eskin Home on the Range

March 25, 2012

Set cold eggs in a single layer in a medium pot. Pour in cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring just barely to a boil. Cover. Pull pot off heat. Let stand 16 minutes.

Cool:

Remove eggs with a slotted spoon, and submerge in a bowl of ice water. Cool 10 minutes. Crack gently all over, and peel under cool running water, starting at the wide end.

Cut:
Trim about ¼ inch white from each end. Cut in half crosswise. Scoop yolks into a small bowl.

Smash:
Add butter, mustard and a pinch of salt to the yolks. Use a fork to mash thoroughly.

Fill:
Set whites on a platter, open ends up. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Scoop yolk mixture into a pastry bag (or simply use a spoon or knife) and fill whites.

Decorate:
Zest long fine strips of lemon. Top each egg with curls of zest. If you like, fancy things up with a couple of capers or a few grains of caviar. Enjoy.

Leah Eskin is a Tribune Newspapers special contributor. Email her at leahreskin@aol.com.