All About Eggs

I've been thinking about hatching and about eggs. An egg is a protective shell that protects the embryo and houses its nutrients. Well then, how magnificent is the EGG? I just love the idea of hatching and emerging from something that also provides nourishment and protection. I just love Hatching Eggs! And eggs are even more special than you may know.

The egg is often referred to as nature's most perfect food. Why is that? I was taught this over and over in my training. Because it is considered a complete protein. Very few foods qualify as a complete protein. A protein is "complete" if it contains all 9 amino acids needed for growth and repair of the body's tissues. Complete proteins come from animal sources such as meat and dairy. I believe the egg is underrated and under-consumed. The egg got a bad rap in the past from some erroneous research that got published regarding dietary cholesterol. The media jumped all over this to sell papers and play like Chicken Little. Yes, eggs contain cholesterol. But dietary cholesterol is not believed to elevate blood cholesterol as is was once thought. More confusion again. Regardless of that bad information, we absolutely MUST HAVE cholesterol or we will die. This is a fact. The patients I nurse with the lowest cholesterol look SO sick!! When it comes to cholesterol, lower is NOT neccesarily better. But I digress.

Cholesterol is manufactured by the body and is absolutely essential (like the 9 essential amino acids found in the egg) for hormone production and many other functions. Unless you are allergic there is no reason not to consume eggs regularly. One of the reasons I love them so much is their simplicity and versatility. They can be boiled ahead of time, peeled when warm, and stored in the fridge for a quick grab, high protein, low carb snack. I also love to make mini quiche muffins in large batches and keep them in the fridge and freezer. Eggs freeze great! Can be reheated from cold or frozen state so easily and eaten on the go. You can add anything and everything to them. I love to add spinach, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, you get the idea!
To make the perfect boiled egg: place eggs in saucepan and cover with water. If possible pierce them first with egg piercer (I adore my egg piercer). Add a splash of vinegar to the water for easier peeling. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and cover with lid. Set timer for 16-18 min.s. Run cool water over the eggs and peel while warm. This method gives me tender, near perfect eggs every time. Even better is starting with room temperature eggs but I don't have the patience or forethought for that!

Check out thehatchedegg.com for my mini quiche recipe.

So, while you're hatching, eat more eggs!

Wishing you wellness,
Patrice

Quote of the Day

"The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg,
not by smashing it." Arnold H. Glasgow