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Sunday 2 December 2012

TWO POACHED EGGS AND A MUFFIN!

Good Morning to you,

Have you noticed that everywhere you look, we are reminded that Christmas is just around the corner. I adore Christmas, but it is a time when we will consume much more food than we normally would. 
We will eat turkey with all the trimmings, we will enjoy Christmas Pudding with Brandy cream.  I dare not even think about how many Mince Pies, covered in cream or custard, and slices of Christmas Cake with delicious marzipan and icing,  we will consume.
So, before Christmas I enjoy simpler foods and one dish I enjoy very much, is poached eggs on a hot buttered muffin or a thick slice of toasted bread.

There are numerous ways to make poached eggs. Some people love using an egg poacher, but I tend to find they make the eggs rubbery. Other people swear by microwave ovens, but to be perfectly honest, I am not a lover of microwave cooking.  Some people cook the eggs in a pan of water and add a dash of vinegar...I've never found the need to do this, because the secret, I believe, lies in using the freshest eggs you can find.  For me a perfect poached egg is one which is cooked for three minutes, then when I cut into the egg the yolk flows like a river, over my breakfast muffin. Absolutely delicious. 
So I thought today, I would share with you  how I make my poached eggs.
Before I start, could I ask you to use the freshest eggs possible. I buy good quality, free range eggs. I realise  you will spend a little more money on free range eggs, but believe me it is worth it.  The way you will know if you have a fresh egg, is when you immerse the cracked egg into hot water, if it keeps it's round shape while it is poaching, then the egg is fresh. If the egg starts drifting around the pan and the white of the egg does not hold together, then the egg is old.



Firstly, decide on how many eggs you wish to poach. It could be one, it could be two, it could be three or if you are like us, we poach four and have two each. Well, you know the saying,  "Eat like a King for breakfast, Eat like a Prince for lunch and Eat like a Pauper for supper!"


Half fill a wide, non-stick pan with  water.
Place the pan of water on to a hob, over a high heat,  until the water is bubbling.
Whilst you are waiting for your water to boil cut your muffin in half.  I am speaking now as if you are making one muffin with two eggs.

Cut the muffin in half and toast. Turn off your grill and let the grill cool a little. Place your muffins back under the cooled grill and leave them there to stay warm.


When the water is boiling, crack one egg  into a cup and pour the egg gently in to the pan of water, then crack the second egg into a cup and lower that one into the water, as you can see in picture two.  The eggs are now fully immersed in the water and as you can see, they are holding their shape.
Bring the water back to the boil, you can see this happening in picture three. Lower the heat and  simmer. Time your eggs for 3 minutes, longer if you prefer your eggs firmer, the choice is yours.

Butter your muffin halves so they are ready to receive the delicious poached eggs.
When the correct time has elapsed, switch off the heat. Using a large slotted spoon, gently, remove the eggs from the pan, do this gently and allow the water to drip from the egg for a couple of seconds. Place the egg on the muffin and repeat the process for the second egg.


I am not sure why I am showing you three photos of the poached eggs, obviously I was very pleased with these little round beauties!

  
Place the muffins and eggs on a plate, sprinkle with sea salt and black cracked pepper and there you have it, a delicious breakfast or lunch.

I hope you enjoy making and eating these poached eggs.

I know we did, they were scrummy!

This week I will be joining,


Have a lovely day and I will see you later in the week.








28 comments:

  1. Hi Daphne! I have never made a poached egg. When I think of all the cooking I do, it is amazing that I have never tried it. I make soft boiled eggs and serve them on toast, but not poached. I really must try it. I agree with you about free range eggs. So much more delicious! Thanks for the cooking nudge!

    Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Susan, Poached eggs are a simple meal, but one which a lot of people have problems making, so I thought it would be fun to show how I cook poached eggs. I hope you do try, as you will never turn back, you will be making them at least once a week! Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  2. This is my favorite breakfast. I love poached eggs! Interesting to see how people *poach*!

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Snap, "Snap" my favourite breakfast/brunch aswell. I'm so pleased I showed everyone how I poach eggs, as I think it is something which is so easy, but people think that it is so difficult to achieve the lovely yolk. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  3. Hi Daphne,

    Those eggs look delicious.

    I love poached eggs and find them real comfort food, served with toast or a muffin smothered with butter - yum!

    I got beautiful eggs last week from a friend who has 9 chickens, the eggs were freshly laid and I cooked them that day and they were so tasty.

    I hope that you have a lovely week and that whatever you have to do gets done!

    Take care

    x Fiona

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Fiona, Oh, how lucky are you to have eggs that fresh. I remember when Danielle came home earlier in the year, she bought me a dozen fresh eggs from her friend's hens, and I have to say, they were the best eggs I have ever eaten.
      We are thinking about Christmas decorations at the moment, and it's time to pull the ladder down from the loft and hunt for the "twinklies". Enjoy your week, Best Wishes Daphne

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  4. mm-m-m-m I loved poached eggs and yours look so delicious I could eat a couple right now, except I just had my Weetabix for breakfast
    Love that saying (eat like a ...), and haven't heard it before.
    Enjoy breakfast.

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Linda, I love Weetabix.....very satisfying first thing in the morning, but my favourite breakfast is poached eggs. I can't remember where I heard the phrase "eat like a" but it is true, I sleep much better if I eat less for my supper. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  5. Good morning Daphne. What a delicious looking post. I have never been able to master a fine looking poached egg as mine are always helter skelter over the muffin and look a little sad. Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. I will give your way a try! Have a lovely week. Debbie

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Debbie, I am so pleased you enjoyed the post about poached eggs. I know it is a simple dish, but one not everyone can cook, so I thought it would be fun to include it....mind you, George was "champing at the bit" waiting for his eggs whilst I took the photograph! Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  6. Hallo dear Daphne!Hope you're fine!I love poached eggs!And your photos are amazing as always!Hope you've got a nice weather!Have a lovely week-December month!
    Dimi..

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    Replies
    1. Kalimara Dimi, Yes, I am well, busy thinking about Christmas decorations at the moment. We are sisters at heart aren't we as I love poached eggs aswell. Have a lovely, warm, day today. Best Wishes Daphne

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  7. Hello, Daphne,

    A poached egg on toast or an English muffin (as we call them on this side of the ocean) is such a simple and delicious meal. Sometimes I add just a little bit of freshly grated cheese on top. I can't say I've perfected poaching, so will try your advice.

    -Karen

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Karen, Oooh, that is a good idea, adding freshly grated cheese on top of the poached egg. This dish is just getting better and better! I have found cooking the eggs in a wide pan and using fresh eggs really work, it really is that simple. Let me know what you think. Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  8. One of my favorite lunch snacks. I would never have thought that I would ever read a tutorial from someone showing me how to make good poached eggs. But I enjoyed seeing your step by step method. Not so very long ago my son asked me to give his Danish wife a demonstration on 'how to cook a perfect poached egg', it was almost like yours.
    Good thinking Daphne for reminding us to cut back, before the Christmas festivities. Best wishes Barbara

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Barbara, I was cooking poached eggs for breakfast the other day and decided it would be a good idea to show how I cook them, as so many people I know use an egg poacher, which just isn't the same. Sometimes, I think it is the basics that people want to know about.

      I eat simply before Christmas and afterwards for a couple of days aswell.....my stomach always thanks me! Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  9. They look delicious! I am going to give this a try because I love eggs.

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Mary, I'm so pleased. Do try, you will not regret it. When you have cooked poached eggs once, you will be cooking them at least once a week. Let me know how you get on. Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  10. NEM ME FALE EM COMILAÇA NO NATAL...KKKK
    ADORO OVOS DE TODO JEITO, E AQUI TEMOS OVOS FRESQUINHOS!
    ME DEU FOME E VONTADE ...BJSSS

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Lena, So you love eggs aswell, especially baked eggs. I have never tried cooking them in the oven before, so I will give this a go. Have a wonderful day, in that beautiful country of yours. Best Wishes Daphne

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  11. You can make me breakfast any time! Yum! :)

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    1. Good Morning Gina.....and you would be welcome at my breakfast table anytime. Have a lovely day. Best Wishes Daphne

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  12. Daphne,
    It looks delicious. I just realized I haven't had poached eggs for a very long time, (I don't want to admit this publicly but I've never cooked a poached egg ever) so the detailed instructions will help. Thank you, I can't wait to try making them.
    Have a nice day,
    Connie

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  13. Good Morning Connie, Yes, poached eggs are really lovely. Please do not worry about admitting that you have never cooked a poached egg, I think you will find a lot of people are the same. Do try to cook poached eggs, as when you have cooked them once, you will never look back.....your husband will love them. Have a lovely day, Best Wishes Daphne

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  14. Es una delicia siempre está en mi desayuno bien escalfado muy bien hecho,Bravoooo....abrazos y abrazos.

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  15. Daphne! hi! oh my land, i love poached eggs. those look so good. i broke my camera. poop. i am going to borrow a daughters but i think it is a bad camera. what am i gonna do? dang.

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  16. Daphne, you will be proud of me when I tell you I have no microwave here. Your poached eggs are stunning. I have had them before but have not been brave enough to cook them. Your excellent lesson may spur me on. Olive

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  17. I love eggs and your poached eggs look really yummy. I've never done poached eggs by dropping in water like that but it sounds easier than cleaning the little cups I use. ;o)

    Remind me what Christmas puddin is. That an the creme sounded delicious.

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Dear Friends,

It is so wonderful to know you enjoy reading Ivy, Phyllis and Me! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment. I really do appreciate it.

Best wishes to you.

Daphne

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