Adventures in cooking

[vanillafluffy]

A little while ago, I did something I've never done before: I fixed poached eggs for breakfast. I used the non-stick skillet gifted to me by pwcorgigirl the Christmas before last, added a splash of vinegar to the water per Gordon Ramsey (at least I *think* it was Gordon)---and they turned out quite edibly. The vinegar adds a nice tang.

It's literally been forty years since I last had a poached egg (okay, thirty-nine, but that really doesn't have the same ring to it)---the only time I ever had them was that ghastly summer at "fat camp". They were runny and nasty and raw-looking. I generally like eggs, but those were vile.

With that memory, I've been putting off attempting them on my own, but...I've plateaued in the low 280s, and while I own that fried eggs aren't the only things keeping the weight on---extreme sloth being another---I figure the way I dollop on the Olivio, Poaching versus frying probably saves me 300 calories per plate. Waist not, if you'll fogive the pun.

I wouldn't go so far as to say I've perfected them, but I don't think the technique is terribly complicated, either. (A little firmer around the yolks would be nice.)

I know, it's just breakfast, nothing earth-shaking, but sometimes it's all about the small victories.

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Comments

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Glad the skillet came into good use. I've never had a poached egg, but like all eggs as long as the yolk isn't runny, so it would probably get a thumbs up from me.

I was reading a Patricia Highsmith novel last year (she wrote The Talented Mr. Ripley and Strangers on a Train) that was set just after WWII. The two women in the story have a meal of poached eggs served on a bed of steamed spinach in a restaurant, and it sounded so good! No one would regard that as a proper meal now, so it made me think how times have changed.

[ang5fam.livejournal.com]

My Mom used to eat eggs on top of spinach~ I love that combo.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

It *does* sound good!

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[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I've been using it for fried eggs, but I'd really like the scale to make more downward progress. I know, it's only a number, but if I can change it for the better with a simple thing like water and vinegar, so be it.

Cracker Barrel used to offer a terrific spinach salad, which I miss greatly. The Highsmith variation sounds interesting! And being that it was post-WWII, eggs and spinach were probably on a short list of items not rationed (as rationing lasted til the early 50s, IIRC).

Btw, the light has arrived---thanks so much! It's very stream-lined and supple, and I can imagine it coming in handy for a variety of non-Nook related purposes.

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[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad you like the light. I have one similar to that and it's a handy little thing. When I can't sleep and don't want to wake up the household turning on a lamp, I clip it to my mini laptop for surfing in the dark. :)

I adore a good spinach salad. The other day we had lunch at a Mediterranean cafe -- the Scenic City abounds with wonderful little independent eateries -- and I got a spinach salad with roasted red peppers, garbanzo beans, feta cheese and pecans. It was just amazing.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the change of scene agrees with you!


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