Well, if you read about my Christmas meltdown earlier, here is a follow-up report on making oeufs en gelee. An etsy potter from Australia wrote to me at the time that she was interested enough to “google” it to see what this dish was all about.
Apparently, it’s a traditional first course dish served in France and England from what little is available online. A photograph of a big glass bowl filled with jellied consomme with eggs suspended in it, a pile of toast and butter beside it stayed in my memory from Roald and Liccy Dahl’s book called, “Memories of Food at Gipsy House.” I think it was Roald’s own words that imprinted it into my mind:
“R.D. To me this is the most beautiful and delicious dish, but it is difficult to make well. If you can succeed in having the eggs not only soft-boiled inside but also separately suspended in the jelly, and yet not having the jelly too firm, then you have achieved the miracle.”
Okay: achieving miracles. It sure didn’t feel like that when I attempted to peel eight small eggs after having boiled them the allotted time. The shells kept sticking even though I had plunged them into cold water after removing them from the boiling water. The insides were also too runny. So, there went the first batch of eggs! I had also taken out my old beat-up copy of Julia Child‘s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” volume one in which she very helpfully described on page 113 some aspects of the “mystery” that goes into making the consomme turn out just right: you have to chill and test small batches of your consomme cum gelatin mix to see if it jells up properly–not rubbery and not too soft. My little test plate wasn’t jelling as fast as I wanted it to. Meanwhile, the phone rang and a voice asked me where was I for a chiropractor adjustment?–which had somehow slipped my mind while peeling the first batch of eggs.
So, I layered the broth into a Tupperware jello mold (see photo above) and put it in the fridge while I boiled up a second batch of eggs, leaving them to boil for a minute longer this time, plunging them into cold water afterwards. Then we ate supper: carryout Chinese. Afterwards, I peeled the eggs carefully and they seemed okay this time. I dried them off and slipped them into the mold, and then put fresh springs of tarragon around them. Added more consomme mixture that had chilled in an ice filled pie pan and then put it back in the fridge. An hour later after the third batch of consomme had jelled (this time firmer than the rest for some reason), I broke it up and spooned it onto the remaining room left in the mold, hoping that this jelly on the bottom would hold the thing together. Put the lid on firmly and set it in the fridge.
It looks like this mysterious, luminous pale brown concoction with eggs suspended, tarragon leaves barely visible.
At this point, I’m just glad that oeufs en gelee are now in the fridge and ready to bring up to serve as a first course with toast, butter, a little fresh ham and cornichons. I’m not so naive as to think that it will actually taste that great–although I am still hopeful.
I think the important thing for me was doing it because I was enraptured by Roald Dahl‘s experience and description of this dish. And besides, who wouldn’t want to make a try at performing miracles during this time of year?
Here’s an update: a photo of a serving of oeufs en gelee on Christmas Day!
As soon as I found this internet site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
By: Emmanuel Shettleroe on January 3, 2012
at 3:51 pm
I like this web blog very much so much superb info.
By: Ethan Gollihue on January 23, 2012
at 10:53 am
Glad that info is helpful–by the way, the “gelee” part didn’t hold together very well, but the eggs had soft yolks and with the ham and some toast, was tasty. I wanted to make the dish regardless. And that made it worthwhile to have tried it out! Have you ever tried it?
By: mulberryshoots on January 23, 2012
at 1:41 pm
I just added this site to my rss reader, excellent stuff. Can not get enough!
By: Hilstad on January 26, 2012
at 12:21 pm
thanks, Peg!
By: mulberryshoots on January 26, 2012
at 12:28 pm
Thanks for taking the time to write this article. It’s exactly what I was looking for. Truly great post.
By: pozycjonowanie on January 27, 2012
at 9:27 am
Thanks! so have you tried your hand at making oeufs en gelee? or creating some other kind of culinary “miracle?”
By: mulberryshoots on January 27, 2012
at 12:27 pm
Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of us have created some nice practices and we are looking to exchange techniques with others, be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.
By: seo on February 1, 2012
at 4:10 am
not much spam here. most comments found in spam folder are actually bona fide comments on the blog. thanks
By: mulberryshoots on February 1, 2012
at 1:44 pm
Awesome writing style!
By: Lidia Metoyer on February 1, 2012
at 11:03 am
Thanks, Lidia! Have you tried making oeufs en gelee? It’s dicey to get the gelatin the right consistency. Really tasty though with a little ham and toast as a first course or lunch dish.
By: mulberryshoots on February 1, 2012
at 12:45 pm
Awesome post! I will keep an on eye on your blog.
By: Freddie Lecompte on February 2, 2012
at 5:34 am
Thanks, Freddie–and what brought you to read about oeufs en gelee? Have you had a chance to eat this dish anywhere?
By: mulberryshoots on February 2, 2012
at 12:19 pm
Glad you liked this post, and thanks for the encouragement.
By: mulberryshoots on February 7, 2012
at 12:14 pm
I appreciate your post, it was interesting and compelling. I have found my way here through Google, I am going to return over again
By: Elaina Kutzner on February 7, 2012
at 9:23 pm
Many thanks for the art, previously interesting and compelling.
By: Carey Achee on February 8, 2012
at 1:04 am
Thanks, Carey, for the compliment!~
By: mulberryshoots on February 8, 2012
at 1:56 am
Awesome post! I will keep an on eye on your blog.
By: Christoper Songco on February 8, 2012
at 8:53 am
It was a very nice idea! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have diffused. Just continue composing this kind of post. I will be a loyal reader, thanks a lot.
By: Sergio Losinger on February 8, 2012
at 5:56 pm
glad you liked the post! thanks for reading.
By: mulberryshoots on February 8, 2012
at 8:28 pm
Awesome writing style!
By: Anya Fariss on February 10, 2012
at 3:26 pm
Thanks so much, Anya. Hope that you will visit often!
By: mulberryshoots on February 10, 2012
at 4:48 pm
Awesome writing style!
By: Exler on February 11, 2012
at 4:30 pm
You’re very kind. Hope you will visit often! Thanks.
By: mulberryshoots on February 11, 2012
at 7:35 pm
Thank you for the good writeup
By: Tom Shannon on February 12, 2012
at 7:02 am
I’m glad that you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and hope you will visit again soon.
By: mulberryshoots on February 12, 2012
at 12:33 pm
Love your blog!
By: Domingo Consiglio on February 14, 2012
at 2:15 am
Awesome post! I will keep an on eye on your blog.
By: Anya Fariss on February 14, 2012
at 2:43 am
Thanks for your comment. If you are starting your blog, I found it takes a little time to develop what your focus and intention might be for writing the blog content. I found that it evolved the more I wrote. Also, writing good tags which are keywords for people to find your site are a good idea with each post you write. Let me know how it goes! Thanks
By: mulberryshoots on February 14, 2012
at 3:16 am
I very much love your blog. Your website has really great information! Ill definitely be visiting it again pretty soon!
By: D. Armody on February 15, 2012
at 11:09 pm
Thanks for an amazing put up, will study your other content. i appreciate your thoughts with this, I experienced a bit strike by this post. Many thanks again! Has great facts here. I think that if more individuals thought about it that way, they’d have got a better moment in time.
By: Freddy Allery on February 16, 2012
at 4:12 pm
Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
By: Kayce Slatton on February 16, 2012
at 5:23 pm
Great web site. Plenty of helpful information here. I’m sending it to several pals.
By: Elinor Leavy on February 17, 2012
at 4:11 am
very nice post, i certainly love this website, keep on it
By: Josef Hudgeons on February 19, 2012
at 5:41 am
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the identical comment. Is there any way you may take away me from that service? Thanks!
By: Evelin Debnam on February 20, 2012
at 5:54 pm
Hi, sorry about that. I’m waiting for wordpress support to get back to me about how to fix this. Will let you know soon as I do. Thanks!
By: mulberryshoots on February 20, 2012
at 9:40 pm
Here’s the response I received from wordpress.com support:
Thanks for letting us know – there shouldn’t be any duplicate emails – have you received any additional complaints about this?
If you do, can you please us the subscribers to contact us directly, mentioning ticket id #1129801?
Note at the bottom of every notification email there’s an unsubscribe link, and clicking it should stop all emails for that subscriptions at once.
Good luck! Sorry for the inconvenience.
By: mulberryshoots on March 15, 2012
at 1:27 pm
Hello there, this is the thoughts.
In order to remove a remark, only log in, and view the posts’ comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete theme.
By: Thomas Ciulla on February 21, 2012
at 2:14 am
Thank you, I have recently been looking for info about this subject matter for ages and yours is the best I have discovered so far.
By: Gary Premo on March 8, 2012
at 11:11 pm
I am extremely impressed together with your writing abilities as well as with the format in your weblog. Is this a paid subject matter or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent high quality writing, it is uncommon to peer a nice weblog like this one these days.
By: gloria martin on March 9, 2012
at 12:34 pm
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
By: Reed Bullett on March 9, 2012
at 1:47 pm
Hi Reed, I have written to WordPress.com support and they said that if you are still having this problem to get in touch with them as noted below:
Thanks for letting us know – there shouldn’t be any duplicate emails – have you received any additional complaints about this?
If you do, can you please us the subscribers to contact us directly, mentioning ticket id #1129801?
Note at the bottom of every notification email there’s an unsubscribe link, and clicking it should stop all emails for that subscriptions at once.
Good luck! Sorry for the inconvenience.
Katherine
By: mulberryshoots on March 9, 2012
at 6:08 pm
This will be a terrific website, could you be involved in doing an interview about just how you created it? If so e-mail me!
By: Gayle Iruegas on March 9, 2012
at 3:47 pm
This will be a fantastic blog, will you be involved in doing an interview regarding how you designed it? If so e-mail me!
By: Deb Sulin on March 9, 2012
at 7:39 pm
appealing factor you’ve created here – blogesaurus convertxtodvd key oeufs en gelee. . . mulberryshoots
By: Rodrigo on March 9, 2012
at 9:50 pm
Thanks, I have been seeking for facts about this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve found so far.
By: Donovan Bejar on March 9, 2012
at 10:27 pm
thanks for your encouragement! how did you find my blog?
By: mulberryshoots on March 10, 2012
at 12:47 am
This site was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me. Many thanks!
By: Kaminsky on March 10, 2012
at 7:29 pm
When visiting blogs, i usually discover a very good content like yours
By: Reyes Biez on March 11, 2012
at 3:45 am
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this superb blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this site with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
By: Myles Rempel on March 11, 2012
at 12:46 pm
When someone writes an article he/she maintains the plan of a user in his/her brain that how a user can be aware of it. Thus that’s why this piece of writing is outstanding. Thanks!
By: Alex Navarre on March 11, 2012
at 11:41 pm
Amazing blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. Kudos
By: Dale Ogiamien on March 12, 2012
at 12:05 am
Hi Dale, thanks for your comment. What you choose to write about, or an image of what you would like to represent for your writing online is a good place to start for choosing a “theme.” In the beginning of my blog, I just chose a stock format with a stock photo since I wasn’t sure in the beginning what I wanted to have as a theme. Don’t worry about it too much. Just start and follow your intuition. The design is “Misty” on WordPress but I customize the header photo and the widgets/text on the side. Hope this helps.
By: mulberryshoots on March 12, 2012
at 12:40 am
Excellent blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely confused .. Any tips? Appreciate it!
By: Lenard Kuhnen on March 12, 2012
at 12:22 am
Hi Lenard, I have found WordPress very user-friendly to start and maintain a blog. There are many formats to try out and it’s free to begin with. I just renewed for the next year and there’s a $25 fee. Their stats function is phenomenol–tracking views, keyword usage and geographical location of readers. Just try it out and write what moves you. The rest will come. BTW, I’ve changed my header photo a number of times as the blog content evolved. It’s easy to do and also appropriate as your blog “grows up.” Hope this helps.
By: mulberryshoots on March 12, 2012
at 12:34 am
Thanks, Alex! Appreciate your comment.
By: mulberryshoots on March 12, 2012
at 12:29 am
I appreciate your wp design, exactly where would you get a hold of it from?
By: Kyle Mcaboy on March 12, 2012
at 4:07 am
Hi Kyle, thanks for your comment. The blog originates from WordPress and the theme format is called “Misty.” I’ve customized it over time with different header photos and widget text (on the right hand side.) Directions are easy to follow on the website. Good luck!
By: mulberryshoots on March 12, 2012
at 11:42 am
Very interesting info! Perfect just what I was looking for!
By: Fe Cedeno on March 12, 2012
at 12:58 pm
Hi Fantastic article – oeufs en gelee. . . mulberryshoots, We usually don’t take the time to leave comments about articles however i identified this particular article to be very usefull.
By: David Smith on March 12, 2012
at 7:00 pm
I appreciate an unbelievable post, would examine your personal others reviews. i appreciate your thinking for this, I soon became somewhat struck by this article. Merit again! You commit a good moment. Displays the beauty through fantastic report here.
By: Quinton Grosenick on March 13, 2012
at 3:35 am
Hey there I think that you actually have got a fantastic blog page going right here, I discovered it on Aol and plan on returning continually for the facts that you all are providing.|Bless you for helping to make my afternoon a tiny touch greater with this good page!nice post!
By: Corliss Orpen on March 13, 2012
at 6:25 am
Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing
By: Eric on March 13, 2012
at 7:50 am
Good? I should definitely say I’m impressed with your blog. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related info. The site ended up being truly easy to access. Excellent job…
By: Stuart Weitzman on March 14, 2012
at 5:20 am
This is the appropriate blog for anybody who wants to seek out about this topic. You notice a lot its almost arduous to argue with you (not that I truly would need…HaHa). You positively put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply great!
By: Willow Byner on March 15, 2012
at 2:04 pm
Man, if i ever saw two raccoons fighting over a blogs it’d be this one, nicely done my friend. Keep it up.
By: Ronson on March 18, 2012
at 5:08 am
You have a great blog here!
By: Kelley Alexzander on March 19, 2012
at 2:12 am
You need to take part in a contest for top-of-the-line blogs on the web. I’ll suggest this website!
By: Brondyke on March 20, 2012
at 7:03 pm
LOL! thanks, that’s sweet.
By: mulberryshoots on March 20, 2012
at 10:00 pm
your blog design is wonderful, it makes me want to hang around longer, you obviously know what you are doing, cheers
By: Hipolito M. Wiseman on March 23, 2012
at 1:43 am
“I gotta bookmark this web site it seems extremely helpful .”
By: Denis Donalds on March 23, 2012
at 3:42 am
Awesome!
By: Shayne Rupel on March 24, 2012
at 12:03 am
I was very pleased to seek out this internet-site.I wished to thanks in your time for this glorious learn!! I undoubtedly having fun with every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you weblog post.
By: Darnell Zorko on March 25, 2012
at 8:48 am
Wow! This can be 1 of the top blogs I’ve actually arrive throughout on this subject. Merely Magnificent
By: 模具 on March 26, 2012
at 6:15 am
Thank you so much for providing individuals with such a remarkable chance to check tips from this blog. It is usually so pleasurable and also stuffed with amusement for me personally and my office fellow workers to visit your website not less than three times every week to read through the fresh secrets you will have. And definitely, I’m always astounded with your unbelievable knowledge served by you. Certain 4 tips in this posting are rather the most effective we have had.
By: Malisa Petito on March 27, 2012
at 2:46 am
thanks for the guidelines you have shown on your blog, i realy appreciate all the effort you put in.
By: Matthew C. Kriner on March 27, 2012
at 6:08 am
Really like your websites particulars! Undoubtedly an exquisite provide of data that’s extraordinarily helpful. Cheers.
By: Steven Rubsam on March 28, 2012
at 5:15 am
This post is great. Thank you for this post. I like this type of people who share knowledge with others.
By: Ouida Cottone on March 28, 2012
at 11:52 am
Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.
By: Kanisha Ericks on March 28, 2012
at 12:09 pm
Thanks, I’ve recently been looking for facts about this subject for ages and yours is the best I’ve located so far.
By: Mohammed Provino on March 28, 2012
at 2:48 pm
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you actually understand what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally discuss with my site =). We could have a hyperlink trade arrangement among us!
By: Carl Makar on March 28, 2012
at 10:17 pm
Undoubtedly, one of the best article l have come across on this precious topic. I quite agree with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your coming updates.
By: 塑膠模具 on March 29, 2012
at 12:23 am
Hi there! I just want to give a huge thumbs up for the excellent information you’ve here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more very soon.
By: sxediamos istoselidas on March 29, 2012
at 12:30 am
I’m generally to blogging and i genuinely appreciate your content regularly. This content has truly peaks my interest. I will bookmark your internet site and maintain checking achievable details.
By: Tova Caligiuri on March 29, 2012
at 10:54 am
Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Wonderful blog and fantastic design.
By: Patchell on March 30, 2012
at 1:11 am
Do you have a subscribe list where I can receive an email when you post a new article?
By: Alleen Thell on March 30, 2012
at 8:53 am
This is a very good tips especially to those new to blogosphere, brief and accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article.
By: Willena Aroche on March 31, 2012
at 9:47 am
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thank you
By: Peller on March 31, 2012
at 12:27 pm
Great Work. Keep Posting Awesome Articles Like This.
By: Demetrius Raudenbush on April 1, 2012
at 6:19 am
Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. What a perfect site.
By: Hilston on April 2, 2012
at 1:28 am
I am lucky that I found this web blog, precisely the right information that I was searching for!
By: Emile Widdoes on April 2, 2012
at 3:59 am
I am very pleased to search out this net-site. I wish to thank you for your time!! I am having fun with each little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff on your blog post.
By: Mitchell Ludlam on April 2, 2012
at 10:52 am
Thanks so much for submitting this. Quick enquiry, if you don’t object. Where did you get your page template? I will be launching a website and like your site.
By: Terence Castiglione on April 2, 2012
at 6:54 pm
Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks Nonetheless I am experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Don’t know why unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting similar rss downside? Anybody who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
By: Maricruz Parhan on April 4, 2012
at 5:08 am
hi, I’ve been told by wordpress.com support that you can find the RSS feed at the top right hand corner of the blog. Click on posts and you can subscribe. thanks for compliments and reading my blog!
By: mulberryshoots on April 4, 2012
at 1:21 pm
hi, in the upper right hand corner of the blog is the word “Feed”–you can subscribe to the posts when you click it, I’m told by the Help desk. Thanks for reading!
By: mulberryshoots on April 4, 2012
at 10:46 pm
Such a message always inspiring i would prefer to check out quality content, so pleased to find good place oeufs en gelee. . . mulberryshoots to many in the submit, the writing is definitely great, was looking for publish.
By: Turpiano on April 5, 2012
at 9:31 pm
It’s exhausting to seek out educated people on this topic, however you sound like you realize what you’re speaking about! Thanks
By: Kimi Foulk on April 7, 2012
at 1:05 am
I was real lucky to find this site on altavista, just what I was looking for : D besides saved to fav.
By: Darrel Castaner on April 7, 2012
at 6:28 am
Your place is most valuable for me. Thanks!…
By: Abdeirahman on April 8, 2012
at 7:33 am
After study a few of the pages on your site now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my site as well and let me know what you think.
By: cape town south africa on April 9, 2012
at 4:07 pm
It’s really a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m happy that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
By: Meghann Pranger on April 9, 2012
at 10:06 pm
You’re in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The site loading velocity is amazing. It kind of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have done a great job on this topic!
By: Cindi Canel on April 10, 2012
at 6:37 am
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Many people will benefit from your writing. Cheers!
By: Tennent on April 10, 2012
at 10:42 pm