An Oldie But a Goodie...

Have you noticed when you go to potlucks, pitch-ins, communal dinners, that it is always the Women with Years that bring in Deviled Eggs?  I may be terribly wrong in this assumption, but in my range of experience, this is the case.  So I say to you Younger Readers, Let Us Bring Back the Deviled Eggs!  Let us Preserve Egg Farms everywhere by living retro with the recipes!

And you don't really have to fear the cholesterol and calories; there are 'modern' ways to get around that....And just how many half eggies can you eat with a meal?  Maybe two?  So get your protein and preserve the favorite potluck food of Your Grandma's Generation!

Here's the recipe that I made up the other night:

Sparky's Deviled Eggs:

*1 dozen eggs, hard boiled *

1/2 cup light mayo or miracle whip

1/4 cup mustard

2 tbsp horseradish

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp season all

1 tsp fresh chopped parsley

1 tsp chopped fresh chives (optional)

1 tsp dried minced onion (real onion makes it too soggy)

Half the hard boiled eggs lengthwise and place the yolks in a bowl.  Mash with a fork.  Add the ingredients, mixing well.  Go to a Yard Sale and find a dandy vintage deviled egg plate.  Or borrow one from an elderly, neighbor, friend or relative.  Yeah; they'll  have one.  I had two until Eldest Son took off with one my Mother in law gave me years ago.  It had a chicken on it and I believe he was going to try to find a small football helmet to fit on the chicken.  True Story.

Place approx 1 tbs of mixture into the well of the egg white.  Sprinkle with paprika and some parsley.  Sweet.  You'll feel like donning your best apron and serving them for supper (baked ham, sweet potatoes, wilted lettuce and orange jello salad with shredded carrots in it)

* This is the way my mom fixed hard boiled eggs; it rarely fails me.
Place the desired amount of eggs in a saucepan.  Cover with water.  Bring to a boil.  Cook for about 3 minutes.  Turn off heat but leave the pan on the burner. Cover.  Go vacuum or clean your bathrooms or sweep the kitchen.  Run the pan of eggs over cold running water.  Crack the eggs well on the edge of the sink till they fall off sweetly.  Perfect hard boiled eggies, right?*

We Have to Go Back, Kate!

Back in the day,
(don't you dread that opening??)
Before pre packaged, helper-helper, microwave, fast food options,
We made do.
'We' meaning my mom and her generation. What I was raised with.
Supper usually had no easy quick options. (at least none that you would be so brash to share)
A Shepherd's Pie supper was a convenient way to re invent your leftovers.
And my family enjoys it.

Did I tell you that I rarely listen to recipes and even when I use them, I change, alter, dare I say, improve them.
And last nights Roast Reconfiguration was a hit to the two men that I feed around here. Only complaint? Not enough!

So here is my current Shepherd's Pie (isn't it funny that I made it on 'Lost' night...Get it? Shepherd? Jack? Oh never mind......)Recipe

Jack Shepherd Pie (yeah, I know....!)

Leftover Roast (beef, pork, hamburger) will do; amounts will vary(of course)
Leftover roasted carrots
Leftover peas (plus some additional frozen peas I threw in for good measure)
1 cup beef boullion
1 tbs minced dry onion
2 tbs tomato paste
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp Seasoned Salt
Fresh ground pepper
2 tbs flour
2 Cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup cubed fontina cheese (or any soft, mild cheese)

Spray inside of a 1- 1/2 qt casserole with a Pam like substance.
Chop leftover veggies and meat (minus mashed potatoes) and place in casserole.
Add cubed fontina
Mix seasonings and tomato paste in heated boullion.
Mix in flour. Blend well.
Add thickened mixture into leftovers and mix well.
Throw in those extra peas. Or any other vegetable that you like; If canned, drain first.
Spread mashed potatoes over top of it all. Spread to seal.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over potatoes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes till it's hot and bubbly and slightly browned.
Yum.
We added a mixed green salad. Dinner rolls would have been divine if we weren't all watching our carb intake....

Enjoy this new look at an old recipe!