You all have such great ideas that I know you can help me! I am making deviled eggs for Easter and I need a way to transport/serve them. I don't have one of those special carriers or dishes. What could I put on a plate to nest the eggs in that would be attractive, edible or wouldn't affect the taste of the eggs? We have an hour & a half drive to my MIL's, so it needs to be sturdy. Thanks!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), April 14, 2000

Answers

How about a thick bed of shredded lettuce or spinach that you could make little depressions in to hold the eggs? The wild violets are blooming now in central MO and would make a colorful, edible garnish against the yellow yolks and green bed. Keeping it in a cooler as you travel would keep it fresh looking and you'd do that anyway for the safety of the food product anyway. Happy Easter.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 14, 2000.

Hi Jean, As much as I know you want to use your homegrown products, this is one time I would advise against it unless you can put them into a cooler for the 1 1/2 hour trip. Both eggs & mayo are prone to salmonella/botulism. Is there any way you can transport the cold hard boiled eggs & then devil them when you get there? Displaying them on fresh lettuce/greens is always attractive, I usually stick an olive slice, chunk of pickle or even fresh asparagus tips on the top of each one before sprinkling on the paprika. Everyone goes nuts over the fresh asparagus!Jane

-- Jane Gauch (Sewbears4u@aol.com), April 14, 2000.

I cheat. I anchor my deviled eggs down in potato salad. Put all of it into a large, shallow container. Mash down a depression for each egg half using the back of a tablespoon. I have had one or two slip from its spot, but the damage was minimal. I agree with the need to transport the dish in a cooler. You could just freeze some water in a couple of pop bottles and place the already chilled dish on top. If your cooler isn't big enough or you don't have one, get a cardboard box, put the frozen jugs and egg dish in it, and cover the box well with a couple of blankets or quilts. Have fun!

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), April 14, 2000.

I'm glad somebody asked that question -- I like to take deviled eggs to church dinners, but don't do it very often because they always slide around so bad and get damaged. Thanks!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 14, 2000.

I read a tip I couldn't believe, it was so simple, as to keeping the halves, upright. Peel the egg, slice in into, then cut a straight sliver off the side the white is going to sit on. This makes a flat "bottom" for the egg, versus the oval. Makes sense to me, you don't have to prop it up.

-- Old Dog learning tricks (carobbs1@bellsouth.net), April 14, 2000.

hmmmmmmm...I sure wouldn't want to drive home an hour and a half with the need to visit every gas station bathroom on the way because the deviled eggs got warm...I'm kind of a fussbudget about stuff like eggs and mayo,etc...I vote for putting the hard-boiled eggs in a nice tight container in a cooler, with an unopened bottle of chilled mayo,with some great lettuce, and all your other "stuff" (I use sweet pickle relish, garlic and paprika....whip it all up when you get there and use the lettuce as a base on a pretty plate.Great idea about cutting the bottom of the eggs..never heard of that, but I'm going to try it myself!

-- Lesley Chasko (martchas@gateway.net), April 14, 2000.

Oh, dear! I didn't mean I wouldn't keep them cold, I will use the cooler & ice. I just didn't want them to slide around on a plate and get messy!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), April 14, 2000.

Thanks all, for your help and concern! Haven't decided which hint I will use yet, they are all good. I am trying a new recipe this year with spinach & bacon. We are also bring jello eggs, fried egg candy, & Oreo cooky cake (we also celebrate my youngest's birthday). Happy Easter! Christos Aneste! Jean

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), April 17, 2000.

Have you seen that new rubber like shelf liner? I am using it for millions of things and now I've thought of Million and one. It sure wouldn't be edible tho. Cut section to fit server and lay in the bottom. Slice the bottom flat like Old Dog suggested and lay the eggs on that and surround with lettuce? I have this stuff in my camper and when we move nothing on the shelves does. My kitchen is full of it, drawers stay neat, barn boxes are lined and nothing spills when I carry supplies to lambing barn or dog house. Keyboard on the computer doesn't slide either. If you have to cover the dish with Saran Wrap, spray the inside of the wrap with a little pam so the filling doesn t stick and you might even place a few toothpicks in the eggs to keep it from smushing down.

-- Susie (goodartfarm@msn.com), April 17, 2000.

My children live 4hrs. away from me in Phoenix, Az. I take the deviled eggs for all holidays as I have the chickens in the family. With our heat even in the winter, ice is a must. So this is my method. I prepare my eggs as usual, but put the filling in one tupperware, and the halved egg whites in another. These and all garnishes go into the cooler. I take along a cake decorating bag and tip and the paprika. Upon arrival, it's quick and easy to fill and sprinkle the eggs, garnish the plate and on the table in 5 min.

-- Jill Faerber (lance1_86404@yahoo.com), April 20, 2000.