The Devil Made Me Do It, and Susie’s Deviled Eggs

Yesterday was one of the dog days of summer, where the very act of sitting makes you sweat. Friends called to invite us out on their boat to cool off and have a picnic and we quickly accepted. After we moved here and spent two summers watching the boats on the lake from our balcony, we decided to purchase one of our own. I spent most of my twenties and thirties either owning a boat, or sharing time with people who did, so assured my other half who’d never driven a boat, that I could show him the ropes.

After spending a month going from showroom to showroom we finally bought a 21′ ski boat, got a hitch put on the SUV and hauled it back to the lake. Once we got it here, after a brief instruction from the salesman on how to maneuver it into the lake, we realized after some trial and error that neither of us remembered one single word that he’d said. Fortunately, the marina came to our rescue and with the help of a couple of their employees the boat actually ended up in the water and tied off in our slip.

The first day we took it out I knew it would be my job to man the controls. Aside from the fact that it had been nearly twenty years since I’d driven a boat, and my track record for taking ordinary situations directly to the emergency stage, I inserted the key. For those of you who have driven a power boat you know that when maneuvering at high speeds the boat responds quickly, but when you’re just cruising it’s a little more challenging. Managing finally to kick it into reverse I began to back up, making sure not to miss any part of the dock on the way. Once out, I kicked it into forward and began to move around the marina realizing immediately that I had forgotten everything that I ever knew about driving a boat. Small children were being plucked out of the water like feathers off a chicken as it became crystal clear that I was a loose cannon and that they should be afraid, be very afraid. My other half was now hyperventilating and screaming directions at me. In my panic to get control, I ran into a sailboat to my right, correcting the other direction I then took out someone else’s propeller on my left. Rick was now speaking in tongues and drooling down one side of his mouth. Finally hitting the dock, thank God, Rick got out and pulled us to the side. After surveying the damage, which wasn’t too bad, he took over and we somehow got out of the marina and into open water without taking out any innocent bystanders. For some time I wasn’t allowed behind the wheel, but I got better, really, and he was a quick study which was fortunate.

Last night was a perfect evening on the lake. Still hot, certainly, but the heavy mantle of heat of the earlier part of the day had diminished and the cool breeze off the water was wonderful. We found a small cove and anchored, immediately grabbing our noodles and jumping in the incredibly refreshing water. Being a water baby all my life, if left alone I’d probably float around until I was in total pucker.

My girlfriend’s husband suggested that we go tubing. Not having eaten yet, it seemed like the best time to give it a shot. My mouth immediately said, “yes”,but my brain kept sending out distress signals saying, “stop, save yourself while you still can”. Gamely I secured my vest and jumped off the side of the boat. Ski rope in hand, I gave the “hit it” sign, said goodbye to what unfractured bones I had left and off we went. The first good wake I hit sent one rib up behind my left nostril, and the second moved lunch from my stomach to the nether lands. It was exhilarating, and after several runs my brain stopped transmitting and just gave me up as incurably stupid, or simply mentally incompetent. Great fun.  I’d do it again right now.

We ended up a perfect evening sharing a picnic on the beach. Potato salad, deviled eggs, fresh fruit and a nice bottle of wine. Nice.

Anyhow, have a cool and fun Saturday.

Everyone is always asking me how I make my deviled eggs. It’s impossible to actually create an accurate recipe because it changes depending on the size of the eggs and other variables.  I have given this recipe to several people as written and they’ve loved them, so will try again.

Susie’s Deviled Eggs

1 1/2 dozen eggs, boiled and peeled
Mayonnaise
1 1/2 -2 Tbsp. prepared yellow mustard
salt and pepper
Sweet pickles chopped

Place eggs in large saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit, covered for 15 mins. Peel eggs and place on platter. Halve the eggs, remove yolks and put yolks in medium mixing bowl. Mash yolks to a coarse consistency with a fork. Sprinkle with pepper and lightly salt. Do not add too much salt as the eggs are salty on their own. Add 2 Tbsp. of yellow mustard and 2 Tbsp. of mayonnaise. Mix well with fork. Keep adding mayonnaise until the yolks are a light and fluffy texture. This is the conjecture part. You don’t want them runny, or too dry. Adjust the salt and pepper if needed.

I use a pastry bag to fill the eggs but if you don’t have one, cut one bottom corner of a large Ziploc bag on the diagonal and that will work as well. Roll bag down halfway and fill with egg mixture. Squeeze bag and fill the egg white halves. There will usually be more whites than yolks. I give those to the dog. Smile.

Top with a piece of chopped sweet pickle and sprinkle with paprika.

Yesterday was one of the dog days of summer, where the very act of sitting makes you sweat. Friends called to invite us out on their boat to cool off and have a picnic and we quickly accepted. After we moved here and spent two summers watching the boats on the lake from our balcony, we decided to purchase one of our own. I spent most of my twenties and thirties either owning a boat, or sharing time with people who did, so assured my other half who’d never driven a boat, that I could show him the ropes.

After spending a month going from showroom to showroom we finally bought a 21′ ski boat, got a hitch put on the SUV and hauled it back to the lake. Once we got it here, after a brief instruction from the salesman on how to maneuver it into the lake, we realized after some trial and error that neither of us remembered one single word that he’d said. Fortunately, the marina came to our rescue and with the help of a couple of their employees the boat actually ended up in the water and tied off in our slip.

The first day we took it out I knew it would be my job to man the controls. Aside from the fact that it had been nearly twenty years since I’d driven a boat, and my track record for taking ordinary situations directly to the emergency stage, I inserted the key. For those of you who have driven a power boat you know that when maneuvering at high speeds the boat responds quickly, but when you’re just cruising it’s a little more challenging. Managing finally to kick it into reverse I began to back up, making sure not to miss any part of the dock on the way. Once out, I kicked it into forward and began to move around the marina realizing immediately that I had forgotten everything that I ever knew about driving a boat. Small children were being plucked out of the water like feathers off a chicken as it became crystal clear that I was a loose cannon and that they should be afraid, be very afraid. My other half was now hyperventilating and screaming directions at me. In my panic to get control, I ran into a sailboat to my right, correcting the other direction I then took out someone else’s propeller on my left. Rick was now speaking in tongues and drooling down one side of his mouth. Finally hitting the dock, thank God, Rick got out and pulled us to the side. After surveying the damage, which wasn’t too bad, he took over and we somehow got out of the marina and into open water without taking out any innocent bystanders. For some time I wasn’t allowed behind the wheel, but I got better, really, and he was a quick study which was fortunate.

Last night was a perfect evening on the lake. Still hot, certainly, but the heavy mantle of heat of the earlier part of the day had diminished and the cool breeze off the water was wonderful. We found a small cove and anchored, immediately grabbing our noodles and jumping in the incredibly refreshing water. Being a water baby all my life, if left alone I’d probably float around until I was in total pucker.

My girlfriend’s husband suggested that we go tubing. Not having eaten yet, it seemed like the best time to give it a shot. My mouth immediately said, “yes”,but my brain kept sending out distress signals saying, “stop, save yourself while you still can”. Gamely I secured my vest and jumped off the side of the boat. Ski rope in hand, I gave the “hit it” sign, said goodbye to what unfractured bones I had left and off we went. The first good wake I hit sent one rib up behind my left nostril, and the second moved lunch from my stomach to the nether lands. It was exhilarating, and after several runs my brain stopped transmitting and just gave me up as incurably stupid, or simply mentally incompetent. Great fun.  I’d do it again right now.

We ended up a perfect evening sharing a picnic on the beach. Potato salad, deviled eggs, fresh fruit and a nice bottle of wine. Nice.

Anyhow, have a cool and fun Saturday.

Everyone is always asking me how I make my deviled eggs. It’s impossible to actually create an accurate recipe because it changes depending on the size of the eggs and other variables.  I have given this recipe to several people as written and they’ve loved them, so will try again.

Susie’s Deviled Eggs

1 1/2 dozen eggs, boiled and peeled
Mayonnaise
1 1/2 -2 Tbsp. prepared yellow mustard
salt and pepper
Sweet pickles chopped

Place eggs in large saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit, covered for 15 mins. Peel eggs and place on platter. Halve the eggs, remove yolks and put yolks in medium mixing bowl. Mash yolks to a coarse consistency with a fork. Sprinkle with pepper and lightly salt. Do not add too much salt as the eggs are salty on their own. Add 2 Tbsp. of yellow mustard and 2 Tbsp. of mayonnaise. Mix well with fork. Keep adding mayonnaise until the yolks are a light and fluffy texture. This is the conjecture part. You don’t want them runny, or too dry. Adjust the salt and pepper if needed.

I use a pastry bag to fill the eggs but if you don’t have one, cut one bottom corner of a large Ziploc bag on the diagonal and that will work as well. Roll bag down halfway and fill with egg mixture. Squeeze bag and fill the egg white halves. There will usually be more whites than yolks. I give those to the dog. Smile.

Top with a piece of chopped sweet pickle and sprinkle with paprika.