Oeuf Egg Food

EGG MAYO

Steps:

• Prepare the hard-boiled eggs: Put the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so that the water is at a strong simmer and cook, uncovered, for 7 minutes. Drain the eggs into a colander, and run them under cold water.
• Return the eggs to the empty pan, shake the pan vigorously to crack the shells, then peel the eggs under cold running water. Rinse them and keep them covered in the refrigerator until needed. (They should be used the same day.)
• Prepare the mayonnaise: Put the egg, lemon juice, mustard, vinegar and salt in the container of a blender; pulse to mix. With the machine running on high speed if your blender has two or three speeds, or on medium to medium-high if your blender has more speeds, slowly and steadily pour in the oil, stopping halfway through to scrape down the sides of the container. Every blender is different, so it's hard to say how long it will take for the oil to be incorporated and the mayo to set. Taste and see if you want to add more lemon juice, mustard, vinegar or salt. Scrape into a clean container, cover and refrigerate until needed. (The mayo will keep for up to 4 days.)
• To assemble the dish, you'll need about half the mayonnaise to cover the 4 hard-boiled eggs. You want the mayo to be thin enough to just coat the eggs - it should come off the spoon in quickly dissolving ribbons - so, if needed, thin it with a little hot water. (You might need 3 to 4 teaspoons; check as you go.) Taste, and see if you want more salt and some pepper.
• Cut the eggs in half lengthwise and place them on a platter, yolk side down or up. Spoon the mayonnaise on top, coating the egg and allowing some to slip over the sides. Garnish the eggs as you like. Serve with bread, of course.

OEUFS A LA NEIGE

Steps:

• For the meringue: Heat 1-inch water in a 4-quart saucepan, covered, over high heat until it simmers, about 8 minutes. Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer.
• Combine the sugar and whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and set over the simmering water. Whisk continually until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture lightens in color, doubles in volume, and reaches 140 degrees F, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Place the bowl on the stand mixer and, using the whisk attachment, whisk on high until stiff peaks form and the meringue has cooled slightly, approximately 7 minutes. Set aside.
• To form and cook the oeufs: Place the milk, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and vanilla bean into a 2-quart saucier, cover, and set over high heat. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, approximately 5 minutes. Uncover, decrease the heat to low, and maintain a temperature of 180 to 190 degrees F.
• Use a 1-1/2 ounce disher to scoop the meringue, 4 at a time, into the milk, and poach for 3 minutes. Gently flip with a slotted spoon and cook until firm to the touch, another 3 minutes. Remove to a tea towel-lined half sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining meringue mixture, maintaining the temperature of the milk to make sure it does not boil. Hold the meringues at room temperature until ready to serve, or store in an airtight container over night. (Can be made a day ahead and stored, and kept covered in the refrigerator.) Decrease the heat to low and keep the milk warm in the pan.
• To finish the neige: Whisk together the egg yolks, kosher salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium mixing bowl until well combined and slightly lightened in color, approximately 2 minutes. Slowly add half of the milk mixture, whisking constantly. Return the entire mixture to the saucepan over low heat, and stir frequently with a spatula or wooden spoon until the sauce has thickened slightly and coats the back of the spatula or spoon, 8 to 9 minutes. You should be able to draw a line on the back of the utensil with your finger.
• Strain the sauce through the fine mesh strainer into a bowl set over an ice water bath and stir until chilled. (Can be made a day ahead and stored, covered in the refrigerator.)
• To serve: Spoon a small amount of sauce into the center of a shallow bowl and top with 2 oeufs. Sprinkle on pistachios, if desired.