Cheddar Deviled Eggs

Do you ever feel like something is missing? Something is very enjoyable, good by any standard... yet there just is something missing. That je ne se quois that is keeping it from being perfect. That's what's going on with this Cheddar Deviled Egg recipe. It's fine, it's good, it's actually VERY good. But I've tried nearly two dozen recipes, and even though the ones with bacon always rank highly, this recipe makes it clear to me. Deviled egg recipes that include bacon must also include vinegar or they seem incomplete.

Further, this recipe might be mis-named. The recipe is called "Cheddar Deviled Eggs" but the cheddar cheese is so scant, it's almost goes unnoticed. I double-checked that I used the right amount of cheese, and I did - it's just not very much of it, and it doesn't stand out at all.

However, this is a pretty good recipe. I enjoyed the eggs, they were relatively simple (the bacon frying notwithstanding), and they went quickly with my testers.

Here is the recipe:

6 hard-boiled eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
1 tablespoon finely shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tablespoon prepared mustard

Combine all ingredients with mashed egg yolks. Fill egg whites with mixture, then chill before serving.


Above: adding the mayonnaise and crumbled bacon

Above: adding the cheddar cheese (not much) and the prepared mustard

Above: the finished product (no garnish included in recipe)

Here are the scores:

Overall: 74 out of 100
Texture: 18 out of 100
Flavor: 17 out of 100
Uniqueness: 14 out of 100
Appearance: 10 out of 100
Ease of preparation: 15 out of 100

Any comments?

Deviled Eggs with Blue Cheese

I was ALL OVER THE PLACE on this recipe. Before I made it, I was sure it wouldn't be good because of too much bite from the blue cheese; then once it was made, I thought it was surprisingly good and would score very well; yet after sampling a couple, I ended up with extra deviled eggs that no one would eat. Down, then up, then down again. I guess this recipe is what it is - easy-to-make, somewhat unique, but totally average.

The blue cheese, clearly, is the dominant flavor. And the texture of the blue cheese with the mayonnaise worked out nicely. But there is nothing else to these. Yet somehow, it just was totally average.

Here is the recipe:

6 hard-boiled eggs
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup blue cheese (about 4 ounces)
paprika for garnish

Mix all ingredients with mashed egg yolks. Pile yolk mixture into whites and sprinkle with paprika. Cover, and chill before serving.


Above: adding the mustard and the salt

Above: adding the mayonnaise and the blue cheese

Above: the finished product, garnished with paprika

Here is the rating:

Overall: 65 out of 100
Texture: 17 out of 20
Flavor: 8 out of 20
Uniqueness: 10 out of 20
Appearance: 12 out of 20
Ease of preparation: 18 out of 20

Comments?