Devilled Eggs

Cooking for a family is a bit like dating (stay with me), sometimes the best choice is right under your nose. Like deviled eggs. When was the last time you made them? 1984 with your mom? Never? It was like a bolt of lightening struck me when I remembered this classic snack, hors d’oeuvre, appetizer. Why haven’t I been making them? It’s the perfect kid food–Fun to eat, manageable size, nutritious. I also love the idea of them since you can add just about anything to those little devils and have them turn out yummy. So I did just that. However, you’ll have to ask Scarlett if they were yummy.   

Scarlett was pretty excited to work on this project. I think it’s all the hoopla of Easter. Ya, we’re coloring eggs! Ya, we’re painting plaster of Paris eggs we made! (Yes, I’m crazy. We did that.) Ya, we’re splitting hard boiled eggs, mixing up the yolks and then jamming all the stuff back into them! Kids love jamming stuff into things. Ever look into your shoes, random household knick-knacks, their nose, you can find stuff in there, you know?

I really gave this recipe a healthy makeover by completely omitting the mayonaise (yes, it’s true. Don’t be mad.) and replacing it with plain yogurt. You could easily use one of the mayonaise substitutes that are in stores like Soyanaise, but I just took a leap of faith. I also steamed and chopped some broccolini and added fresh, grated parmesan. I figured I go for broke on their nutritional value.

I have to admit, as we were mixing up this recipe I was feeling pretty smart for coming up with the idea. Scarlett was loving the yolk mixture and trying to eat spoonfuls of it before I could get it back into the eggs. It was all over her face. (Please see photo above.) She also had fun filling the whites. And, since deviled eggs don’t have to look like Thomas Keller was in charge of plating, it doesn’t matter if the kids make a mess of them.

Scarlett and I ate them for lunch on this occassion. She had them with cut carrots and some fresh fruit. I had a salad on the side. And, for the record, she thought they were so yummy.