Eggs and Violence

My father told me that a chef’s hat (aka Toque-Blanche or just Toque) has a hundred folds. The hundred folds pertain to how many ways the chef can cook an egg. So, a chef with a toque knows how to cook an egg in one hundred different ways.

Despite my skepticism, I made my own research.

Besides the purpose of making a chef look professional, the brimless hat was also for sanitary purposes. This helps to eliminate stray hair from falling into the prepared food. Rumor has it that King Henry VIII beheaded his chef because of a stray hair in the soup served to him.

The Great Charles Laughton Portraying King Henry
VIII in the 1933 film The Private Life of Henry VIII

King Henry VIII on Food Sanitation

Another story was about the ancient Assyrian chefs who overthrew unpopular monarchs by poisoning the dish being served to them. Only the loyal and trusted men became court chefs. To acknowledge their patronizing positions, chefs were allowed to wear the crown of their choosing. Well of course a golden crown would be too much for these chefs, so they fashioned a special hat after it. Thus, to depict the ribs on the side of a king’s crown, pleats or folds were added to a chef’s hat.

Traditional versions of the chef hat always include one hundred pleats. In keeping with the Assyrian hat theory, the reason for the hundred pleats is because a master chef knew how to prepare eggs in a hundred different ways. In that time and part of the world, eggs were considered to be a symbol for the universe and was highly regarded.

King Ashurbanipal of Assyria feasting 

with his with his Queen (668-626 B.C.)

Some say the toque can be traced back to the seventh century A.D. Chefs were considered learned men . Educated men did not always get the respect they deserved and were often persecuted. In these times, they often took refuge in the local church, wore same clothes that the local clergy were wearing as a disguise.

Now I know. Now I am hungry. Soon, "A Hundred Ways to Cook Your Egg". For the meantime, check some of My Speggcial Egg Recipes. Bon appétit!Ü

Assisting Editor: Ms. Yasmin Ann Maninang

Reference:

The Straight Dope
Timeline of World History
Project Gutenberg's Myths of Babylonia and Assyria, by Donald A. Mackenzie
Answers
Wise Geek
Big Green Egg
Nothing is Written: a FILM BLOG, by Groggy Dundee
KNGHNRYVIII

Eggs - The Secret to a Sexier You...

I <3 Eggs!

In a study conducted by Fiona Macrae, a Science Correspondent from Mail Online (on May 11th 2012), she stated that eggs could be the super food that can help fight the war against obesity.

Photo © Angelo Sy Barga

"Scrambled eggs contain the same amount of protein found in cereals." said Dr. Nikhil V. Dhurandhar of the Peddington Biomedical Research Center. Dr. Dhurandhar treated over 10,000 cases of obesity . He said that appetite suppressants can help bolster willpower.

Everyone is familiar with eggs and knows how to use them. It can be used for garnishing to side dishes and from appetizers to entrées. Eggs are easy to prepare and cost less than other sources of protein.

Egg Nutrients:

• It is a good source for riboflavin or Vitamin B2.  An essential vitamin required for energy metabolism process.
• Eggs are also a good source of protein. They are composed of amino acids that is necessary for proper growth and function of the human body.
• An excellent source of choline.  This helps pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects in their babies. Also a supplement in infant formulas.
• Abundant in lutein, zeaxanthin and carotenoids. These protect the eyes from macular degeneration.

Besides the benefits of this super food, I have learned a few tricks to make this ingredient into a wonderful part of my diet.

Here are some of My Speggcial Egg Recipes

Pepperoni and Chili-Cheese Omelet for Two

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 quick-melt cheese singles
• 1/8 cup of grated quick-melt cheese
• 20 pepperoni slices, quartered
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Pepper to taste
• Canola oil (spray or bottled)
• Hot sauce to taste (optional)

Cooking Directions

1. Heat a frying pan to medium-high heat and coat lightly with oil.
2. Spread pepperoni slices over pan and cook for about 25 seconds.
3. Set cooked pepperoni slices aside.
4. Add beaten eggs and tilt pan to even out the egg mixture. Cook for 30 seconds, or until eggs begin to set.
5. Layer chili powder, grated  quick-melt cheese, 10 pepperoni slices and pepper evenly.
6. Fold sides of eggs over the pepperoni carefully. Flip folded egg.
7. Layer 2 quick-melt cheese singles and the rest of the 10 pepperoni slices on top of the omelet.
8. Cook about 1 minute, or until eggs are cooked through and cheeses are nicely melted.
9. Serve with your favorite sidings.

Scrambled Eggs for Two

Ingredients

• 2 fresh eggs
• 1/8 cup of real mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon clarified butter or whole butter
• Salt and ground white pepper, to taste

Cooking Directions

1. Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl and beat it vigorously with a whisk. 
Note: More air bubbles means fluffier eggs.
2. Add 1/8 cup of real mayonnaise (optional)
Note: This is my personal preference, because I do not need to add salt. You can use 1/8 cup of full cream or whole milk. Just make sure that you do not end up diluting the egg with too much liquid.
3. Pre-heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat for 1 minute. 
4. Add the butter and let it melt.
Note: Do not allow the butter to turn brown.
5. Add the whipped eggs and let it set for 15-20 seconds.
6. Use a fork and an egg beater to lift and fold the eggs over from the bottom of the pan.
Note: Again, more air bubbles means fluffier eggs. Whatever utensil you use, you need to beat as much air bubbles as possible into the eggs while cooking.
7. Repeat process until there is a very small amount of liquid left.
8. Remove pan from the heat and continue folding the egg in and out to make sure everything is cooked. 
9. Set eggs on a serving plate while it is still moist and soft. 
10. Sprinkle salt and pepper if desired.
Note: You can add your own toppings like chopped fresh herbs, crushed bacon bits, grated/cubed cheese or pepper for aroma and taste.

Hash Browns topped with Ben's Eggs, Pepperoni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 quick-melt cheese singles
• 1/2 cup of sliced onions
• 20 pepperoni slices, quartered
• 2 hash browns
• 1/8 cup crushed potato chips (preferably cheese flavored)  
• Canola oil (spray or bottled)

Cooking Directions

1. Heat a frying pan to medium-high heat and coat lightly with oil.
2. Saute 1/2 cup of sliced onions for 30 seconds.
3. Set cooked sliced onions to drain excess oil.
4. Spread pepperoni slices over pan and cook for about 25 seconds.
5. Set cooked pepperoni slices aside.
6. Deep fry hash browns until they turn golden brown.
7. Set cooked hash browns on a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Turn if necessary.
8. Add beaten eggs and tilt pan to even out the egg mixture. Cook for 30 seconds, or until eggs begin to set.
9. Layer cooked sliced onions, 10 pepperoni slices and pepper evenly.
10. Fold sides of eggs over the pepperoni carefully. Flip folded egg.
11. Layer 2 quick-melt cheese singles and the rest of the 10 pepperoni slices on top of the omelet.
12. Cook about 1 minute, or until eggs are cooked through and cheeses are nicely melted.
13. Lay hash browns on a serving platter.
14. Put cooked omelet on top of hash browns.
15. Sprinkle crushed potato chips
16. Serve with your favorite sidings.

References:
DailyMail.co.uk - Why eggs for breakfast will keep those hunger pangs away until lunchtime
Home of the Incredible Edible Egg TM
Health·Alicious·Ness .com - Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Health·Alicious·Ness .com - Top 10 Foods Highest in Protein
WebMD.com - CHOLINE
About.com  - Low Carb DietsSearch: Eggs Really ARE Incredible!
MagicBULLETblog.com - 6-Second Scrambled Eggs