Slog - Comments on Eggs � la Nabocoque

Comment by Greg

Greg — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:58:21 -0800

The easier way, which prevents cracking, is to put them in the pan before you set it on the stove. Then when the water starts to boil, set the timer for 3 minutes. Take them out and eat. You break a lot fewer eggs that way.

Comment by KCip

KCip — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:03:23 -0800

sorry greg, your recipe sucks.

Comment by kid icarus

kid icarus — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:18:25 -0800

Absolutely wonderful. That made my morning.

Comment by boxofbirds

boxofbirds — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:34:34 -0800

Next time I write down a recipe I'm going to write it in the style of Nabokov.....

Comment by el ganador

el ganador — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:35:37 -0800

so is the water boiling? I wasn't clear.

Comment by EmilyP

EmilyP — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:35:45 -0800

"Hold them under the hot tap water to make them ready for what awaits them" is one of the best sentences I've ever read.

Comment by Jude Fawley

Jude Fawley — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:40:19 -0800

I like the "round end up" part.

Comment by Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:43:09 -0800

@4: I want an entire cookbook written like this. Get on it.

Comment by elswinger

elswinger — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:43:42 -0800

Greg's recipe is obviously for soft-boiled eggs.

Vlad's holding the eggs under warm tap water prior to boiling sounds intriguing.

Comment by Aislinn

Aislinn — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:45:17 -0800

@6: I feel that way about many of Nabokov's sentences.

Comment by laterite

laterite — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:58:54 -0800

@6: That's exactly what I was going to say. Whimsical yet tinged with dread.

Comment by Nathan

Nathan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:08:47 -0800

Vladimir Nabokov makes me feel inferior in every way: He writes --in his fourth language-- more eloquently and compellingly than I could ever muster.

Comment by George

George — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:41:41 -0800

above is ok for old fashioned in the shell soft...

Hard Boiled, here, easy, put them in the water - bring to a boil, some bubbles is the boil, turn off the heat, cover with anything, plate etc., let set for 10 minutes, take to the sink and pour off hot water, run cold to cool at once .... voila.... perfect hard boiled eggs that easily peel.

Soft boiled is silly, poach them...easy, perfect, no shell bits, better taste..

Egg Lover ( do a batch of Hard boiled and make deviled eggs )

Comment by Abby

Abby — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:46:09 -0800

@13: but then you don't get to use an egg cup. Or a tiny spoon. So really, what's the point?

Unless eggs Benedict is involved, in which case, carry on.

Comment by Chris

Chris — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:49:13 -0800

"Just like the
eggs in the
recipe by Nabokov

Don't stand, don't stand so, don't stand so close to me..."

Comment by Trueblood

Trueblood — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:01:34 -0800

"If, however, an egg cracks in the water (now bubbling like mad) and starts to disgorge a cloud of white stuff like a medium in an oldfashioned seance..."

That may be the single funniest sentence Nabokov ever wrote. That was the first time I've ever ACTUALLY spat coffee on my keyboard.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:53:33 -0800

@15: shame that Sting didn't know how to pronounce his name.

@12: English was actually Nabokov's first written language. He was raised trilingually, Russian, English and French, like all good little aristocratic scholars of the day. German came later.