Tag Archives: Spring

May 22, 2017 Espirational Leave a comment

“An optimist is the human personification of spring.”
– Susan J. Bissonette

A Spring Recipe – Deviled Eggs

April 7, 2017 Espirational 3 Comments

When I think of spring and summer something that always comes to mind is deviled eggs. They are always a part of my Easter table as well as picnic food throughout the summer.

The other day I was talking to a friend about an upcoming potluck in our little community. I said, “We might end up with six plates of deviled eggs.” She laughed and then I said, “But I think everybody has their own special recipe so that might be okay.” And we continued to talk about how many different ways there are to devil an egg.

At my house the filling is moist (I use an olive oil based mayo), tart (we add vinegar) and bright yellow (lots of mustard). Our garnish of choice is paprika sprinkled over the top. Your preference might be sliced olive, pickle or something else.

Here is my basic recipe, but I go by color and taste rather than exact measurement so feel free to adjust to suit your own tastes.

Deviled Eggs

Ingredients:

6 eggs

1 t. vinegar (more or less)

1 t. prepared mustard (more or less)

2 T. mayo or salad dressing (more or less)

Directions:

1. Hard boil eggs using your preferred method. Cool and peel.

2. Cut eggs in half the long way.

3. Carefully scoop our the yolks using a spoon and put in a small bowl.

4. Arrange whites on your serving plate. If you have a deviled egg plate, use it.

6. Mash yolks and add vinegar, mustard and mayo to taste. Continue mashing and stirring until yolks are very smooth.

7. To put the yolks mixture back in the whites you can use a small spoon. When I worked in a restaurant I learned to use a pastry bag for this and love that method. If you don’t have a pastry bag you can use a plastic sandwich bag with one corner cut off on the diagonal. This is much easier, quicker and less messy than the spoon method.

Makes 12 deviled eggs. I like to use the whole dozen and make 24.

Celebrate the Small Things

Sometimes You Just Have to be Outside

April 5, 2017 Espirational 7 Comments

Yesterday was just one of those days that was just too beautiful to stay inside. We ate lunch on the porch, then reluctantly went back inside to get back to work. On my walk up the hill to get the mail I took a little detour by the lake stopping at the children’s playground to sit on one of the swings. Then I gave a little push off and before I knew it I was “pumping” my legs, going higher and higher. I imagined I was a bird, flying through the air.

Finally, reluctantly, I came back to earth and began the trek up the hill. After I got the mail I kept going around the loop at the top of the hill and passed the mailboxes again. It was just too nice to be inside so I kept walking. Then I saw one of my neighbors sitting on a bench and joined her for conversation beginning with it was just too nice to be inside. People drove by and talked to us, asking her if she was going to Bingo. No, it was just too nice to be inside. Finally a workman came to talk to her about a project she wanted done, so I headed back down the hill.

Bob was out on the porch with an empty popcorn bowl. I went in a popped myself some corn and joined him. After all it was just too nice to be inside. We did eventually go back in and get back to work, but were outside again for supper. It started to turn off cold so I went inside and eventually Bob joined me when it was getting ready to rain. I sat in my studio watching it rain, remembering what a nice day it had been.

Now I know you’re thinking, but you’re retired, it must be nice to be able to do that. We do still work, but we don’t punch a time clock anymore so we do have the flexibility in our schedules to just enjoy the weather from time to time. But no matter what your work or financial situation is, I hope you are able to take a moment to take a good deep breath of fresh air. Notice the flowers blooming. Listen to the birds singing and children playing. Maybe get outside and play a little yourself. Don’t let yourself get so busy planning and working for the future that you miss the wonderful, simple, here and now moments that bring such joy to our lives.