10 Best Ways to Cook Eggs - Recipes

Eggs are one of the most versatile foods around. They can be used in recipes for baked goods or casseroles, but they also stand alone as a great food by themselves. Besides being versatile, they are cheap, low in calories (depending on how they’re made!), and inexpensive. Here are ten of my favorite ways to cook eggs.

1) Scrambled Eggs

This is easy. Throw several eggs in a non-stick pan, pour in a little bit of milk, and mix. Stir occasionally until eggs are thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also spice scrambled eggs up with chopped jalapenos or tomatoes, and even top them off with cheese or salsa.

2) Fried Egg

Well, we called it a fried egg where I grew up. Put an egg in grease or oil and cook it on both sides until cooked. I always liked them cooked just enough to cook the white part but leave the yolk soft. Others like them cooked longer so that the yolk hardens. You pick! Then add salt and pepper to taste.

A fried egg might be “country talk” for an egg over-easy, which involves cooking an egg on one side, and then turning it over once during the cooking process. An egg that is cooked sunny-side up is not turned, but some cooks baste the top by splashing the oil up onto the yolk.

3) Poached Eggs

I didn’t really discover these until I was an adult, and I love them! Someone made them for me, and I was hooked. I bought a four-egg poacher. The eggs go into round holders in the pan, and water boils underneath. Take the eggs out when they are just past the slimy stage. Eat them with a little salt and pepper. Also, try mixing them with crushed crackers.

4) Omelets

Omelets are a bit more complicated, but, boy, are they yummy! I like to take three eggs for a good-sized omelet. Mix eggs with a little milk. Pour into non-stick pan sprayed with cooking spray. Cook slowly so as not to burn. Have your ingredients ready beforehand that you want to put in your omelet. Once the bottom of the omelet starts to hold together, you can add your fillings. The possibilities are endless. Use any combination of cheese, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, scallions, tomatoes, jalapenos, black or green olives, bacon, ham, or any other of your favorite fillers. Be creative. I love a spinach and cheese omelet! Take spatula and fold one side of omelet onto the other side. Let it cook until egg is no longer runny. You can top your creation with sour cream (my personal favorite), salsa, or even a Hollandaise sauce.

5) Fried Egg Sandwich

Simple and filling! Just fry an egg like we talked about earlier. Cook it enough so that the yolk isn’t too soft and spilling out of your sandwich. Put the egg between two pieces of your favorite bread with mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip, if that’s your preference). Add cheese, if you’d like. Even a thin piece of ham is tasty on an egg sandwich.

6) Boiled Eggs

If you can boil water, you can make this easy treat. Put water in a pan, bring water to a boil, and boil as many eggs as you want for seven minutes. Perfect every time. Eat these eggs plain or chop up in salads. You can also make devilled eggs or egg salad and other “salads,” which I will discuss shortly.

7) Devilled Eggs

These little "devils" sure are tasty! Run cold water over your boiled eggs. Peel and half them. Separate yolk with spoon. Mix with mayo, a squirt of mustard, and sweet pickle relish (to your taste). Add salt and pepper. Spoon into halved egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika.

8) Egg (and other) Salads

For egg salad, chop up your boiled eggs with mayo, a squirt of mustard, salt and pepper, and your choice of the following: sweet or dill relish, chopped dill pickles, or green olives. I’ve tried them all, and they are all excellent…or should I say eggs-cellent! For other "salads," follow these instructions, but add ham, chicken, turkey, or tuna, to make ham salad, chicken salad, turkey salad, or tuna salad, respectively. You get the picture.

9) French Toast

With French toast, you don’t taste the egg as much, but this is a great treat! Mix up about one egg per two or three pieces of bread. Add milk and vanilla flavoring to egg mixture. Sop bread with it and fry in small amount of oil or cooking spray. Turn to get both sides browned. Sprinkle with cinnamon and/or powdered sugar. Top with syrup.

10) Quiche/Breakfast Casseroles

Now we’re getting more complicated. Find recipes in your favorite cookbooks or through Google searches if you want to challenge yourself with these egg recipes. I’ve made several. They’re not really difficult. They just take more time and sometimes more ingredients.

When you search for a recipe online, type in the ingredients you want in a quiche, breakfast casserole, or other item. I've listed below a couple of sites that will bring up some great recipes!

Enjoy your eggs!

August 2011