It's that season again. Time to celebrate with the ever-present chicken egg at the center of attention. Whether you celebrate Easter or Passover this season seems to focus on the egg. So I started wondering, what's up with the egg? I spent some time digging into the history, and here's what I've found.
During the Christian festival of Easter the custom of giving eggs at Easter celebrates new beginnings. Eggs represent fertility and new life. It's believed by some that the egg represents the resurrection of Jesus, showing his unending life.
During the Jewish holiday of Passover eggs are dipped into salt water to represent the tears Jews suffered in slavery. During our families Passover Seder, my Bubbe (Grandmother) would always say, “Eggs are like Jews; the longer they are in hot water the tougher they get.” The egg at the Passover Seder also represents the beginning of new life. It’s spherical sharp has no beginning and no end representing the cycle of years throughout the history of mankind.
Regardless of your religion, the egg is one of nature's most perfect foods and can be part of a balanced diet. They're a great source of protein, contain all essential amino acids, boast vitamin B-12, vitamin E, A, riboflavin, folic acid, calcium, zinc, iron, and essential fatty acids.
To prepare the perfect hard boiled egg follow these simple steps
Start with good eggs even is size with no visible cracks.
Older eggs are easier to peel so by you eggs for hard boiling a week before you are going to cook them
Bring your eggs to room temperature. Let the eggs sit out over night or at least 8 hours. This will aid in cooking time and ensure the shells don’t crack during cooking
Cook eggs in a single layer covering them with about an inch of water. This will ensure a quick boil and even cooking
Bring water to a boil. As soon as the water boils rapidly remove the pot from the heat and cover with a tight fitting lid. Allow eggs to sit in hot water for 15 minutes for medium. Adjust the time a little less for smaller and a little more for larger
The most important part of the cooking process is stopping the cooking process. Drain the hot water from the eggs and add plenty of ice cubes and a little water. If you don’t cool the eggs quickly they will continue to cook, causing the yolk to begin to turn green and unsightly.
Gently crack the egg on a flat surface and remove the shell under cool running water.
Here is a helpful hint; If you are not sure if your egg is hard boiled? Place the egg in question on the counter and give it a good spin. If it whirls like a top your egg is hard cooked if it weaves and wobbles it still raw.
How will you honor the egg this season? I’d like to know… Tell us in the comments.