St. Patrick's Day Deviled Eggs

Does anyone remember my Easter Eggs Post?

Coloring the whites of the eggs works for just about any party or holiday. All you need to do is color the egg whites in the color or colors of holidays, baby showers, or--St. Patrick's Day!

 You can find detailed instructions on the link above, or again, here.

 I like the more pastel green, but you can make them a darker green by adding a few drops more green food coloring or leaving the egg whites in the dyeing cup longer.

I think this would be nice for a Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham party, too. Just sprinkle a little finely chopped ham or bacon bits on top of the yolks.

I remember my mother making Green Eggs and Ham when I was little.

With Easter right around the corner, it's a good time to revisit our Easter Eggs post!

***

Vaughn and his wife Goretti (whom you met in my Roasted Pepper Sushi post), treated us to a day at Disneyland and California Adventure not too long ago. Vaughn is currently working on Gravity Falls, seen on The Disney Channel. It was so nice spending the day with two three of my favorite people!

If you'd like, you can read a little bit more about Vaughn in my Meatloaf with Barbecue Sauce post.

Here's a little clip from the Disney cartoon Gravity Falls via YouTube.

In honor of Vaughn's birthday today--Happy Birthday, Vaughn!--I thought I'd visit some of his t-shirt artwork from the past.

During the 90's, Vaughn designed several t-shirts for sale at the Asian craft shows in California. "Gomen!" was a favorite. Do you know anyone that pushed the insides out of a maki-zushi because they didn't like them--like Vaughn did when he was little?  When that happens, one should say, "Gomen!" or "Sorry!". Say it like Vaughn did, with a big smile, and all will be forgiven.

Vaughn also gave some drawing lessons around the time he was doing t-shirt designs. The lessons were in a style like what's shown in the Taiko design. Whenever I see a former student or mother of a student, they always ask about Vaughn. Everyone knew he would gain success from his artwork!

 Vaughn has a great sense of humor, doesn't he!

Vaughn designed this Japanese dance design when my daughter was taking odori lessons. I just love how he drew the kanzashi (hair ornament). It reminds me of dressing up in kimono when I was little.

Kaeru means frog in Japanese. It also means 'to come home'. My mother-in-law says that's why frogs are a lucky charm when she goes to Las Vegas to play the slot machines--the money that you put in the machine will 'come home' to you.

The Daruma is a symbol of good luck. I was taught that you get a daruma doll without eyes, make a wish, and draw in the eyes when the wish comes true. They always looked kind of scary to me without eyes, so I'd draw them in first, then make a wish.

Have you seen a Maneki Neko in a Japanese restaurant or store? It's also called a welcome cat, but more like--beckoning cat. The cat, with its raised paw is beckoning one to come in. It's considered good luck too.

Vaughn sets such a good example for us here at our house--he has a tremendous work ethic, is kind, generous and thoughtful--always remembering our birthdays and holidays. He lives his life with gratitude and calls or emails often to express it. He and his wife Goretti make us feel special and loved.

Happy Birthday, Vaughn!

We love you!

Easter Eggs

My family loves deviled eggs.

So much so, that I can make 3 dozen eggs, which makes 72 deviled eggs for a party--and they're ALL GONE by the end of the party!

That's a LOT of eggs!

For Easter, we make them festive.

We color them, like Easter eggs!

I remember the first time my mother made deviled eggs colored like Easter eggs.

I thought they were the prettiest eggs I'd seen!

They're lots of fun to make, too!

Ingredients:

10 hard boiled eggs

About 1/2 cup mayonnaise

Put the eggs in a pot and cover with water.

Bring to a boil, turn down the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, cool the eggs with running cold water.

Peel the eggs.

Then cut them in half.

It's okay if some of them tear a little, the filling will camouflage that.

Or just eat that one.

Put the yolks in a separate bowl.

It doesn't matter if the yolks turn a little darker around the outside--that happens when the eggs aren't cooled thoroughly right after cooking.

Next, you'll need some food coloring.

Make the colors just as you would easter egg dye.

A teaspoonful of cider vinegar in each glass helps.

I used about 3 drops of food coloring in each glass.

Take the eggs out when they're a pretty pastel color.

Drain them on a paper towel.

Mash the yolks with a fork.

When they're uniformly crumbly, add about a 1/2 cup mayonnaise.

Scoop from your measurement and add half at a time.

Make it as creamy as you like.

When it's nice and creamy, you can add any extras--mustard, minced chives, freshly ground pepper, bacon bits, etc.

We like it plain.

You don't need to add salt, the yolk is salty itself.

Time to fill the eggs!

I've had this Super*Shooter forever, it seems, but it still works well.

If you don't have one, you can fill the eggs by hand with a teaspoon.

Put a little bit of the yolk mixture in each egg, so you don't run out, then go back and add a little more on top.

Aren't they pretty!

Garnish with a little bit of paprika.

Pour a small amount into the palm of your hand, then add a pinch to the top of each egg.

There's a psychedelic tie-dyed one--the blue one in the middle.

That happens when you add more food coloring to the glass with the eggs already in the water.

That's kind of fun. 

You can be creative in your egg coloring!

My brother says if you get to the party and you see the eggs, you'd better get one right away--because when you turn around to get one later, they might be all gone!

They're the perfect deviled eggs for Easter!

Itadakimasu!

***

I got my 'thank you' for my donation for Japan Tsunami Relief!

My sister-in-law, who is from Japan, is helping her friend raise money for Japan Tsunami Relief Fund through the Red Cross.

Yuko Nakatani is an artist. She and a group of her artist friends are drawing nigaoe (caricatures) as a thank you for a minimum $25 donation to Red Cross Japan Tsunami Relief Fund.

Some of you that follow along may remember the end of this post.

I sent Yuko this picture of my dog Dixie, along with the email receipt of my donation.

Here's Dixie's nigaoe!

I decided to make another donation and get one for myself!

My picture...

My nigaoe.

Reiko, my sister-in-law.

by Yuko Nakatani.

Glen, my brother-in-law.

This one captures the essence of Glen perfectly, I think.

Miki is the artist on this one.

This one is Seiichiro, Glen & Reiko's son.

It's so...so...Seiichiro!

The artist is Shinnosuke.

I got sent this one by Yuko by mistake.

I thought...That looks like Margaret Takemoto.

And it is!

Margaret's daughter Cherie got this for her.

Now there are 8 artists participating in this project.

Charity Nigaoe Project for Earthquake Relief

You can choose which artist you'd like to draw your nigaoe, as a token of their appreciation for your donation.

No printable recipe for Easter Eggs yet.