Dress up brunch with these delightful egg recipes

When everything else lets you down, eggs are always there for you. Forgot to thaw out that roast? Let's scramble some eggs for dinner. Need a high-protein snack? Peel a hard-cooked egg. Toast not cutting it for breakfast? Fry an egg and turn it into a sandwich.

Whatever your culinary dilemma may be, eggs are likely the answer, and for good reason. They're a quick-cooking, nutritious, inexpensive and tasty ingredient that most of us have in our refrigerators.

Because now more than ever you may need this superhero food to come to the rescue, here are a few tips and recipes that will be helpful before you get crackin'.

Eggs might seem like the simplest of ingredients, but cooking them can be tricky, so much so that cooking a basic omelet or fried egg is often a test given to new chefs seeking employment. This is true because, while eggs can be finicky, a good cook knows how to avoid any potential problems.

Those problems typically come in the form of heat, and here's why. Eggs are full of natural proteins. These proteins are all individual, free-floating, coil-like units. When heated, the protein coils unwind and begin to stick to other proteins, creating a mesh.

You can see it happening when you fry an egg and the white turns from clear to opaque. This indicates the proteins are linking together, forming a tight mesh that you can no longer see through.

If you cook the egg too long or at too high a temperature, the mesh tightens so much that it squeezes out any liquid and becomes dry and tough. Of course, what's too long and what's too high can be difficult to determine.

In this recipe, we are looking for light and fluffy scrambled eggs to mix with sautéed asparagus and crispy pancetta, before we pile them into the perfect vessel — a savory, cheesy Dutch Baby.

To get the result we're looking for, we first add a little fat to the eggs, in the form of half and half. The fat comes in between the protein coils, preventing them from meshing too tightly together.

Next, we start the eggs cooking in the skillet at a high heat. This seems counterintuitive, but we need some heat to create steam, which is what inflates our eggs enough to make them fluffy.

Once the eggs begin to set and have reaped the benefit of the high heat, we reduce the heat to low to finish their cooking. The whole process takes less than 2 minutes, but the result is a perfectly light, yet moist scrambled egg.

Hard-cooked eggs are a bit controversial. Forever, we boiled eggs the way our mothers taught us: covered with water in a pot and boiled for about 10 minutes. The result was eggs with tough whites and green-tinged yolks, telltale signs of an overcooked egg. And those eggs would often be difficult to peel.

You don't need a new small appliance, though, to make perfect hard-cooked eggs. You simply need to adjust your technique and start your eggs in boiling water. Placing an egg in water that is already boiling controls the temperature and timing. You know how hot the water is when you add your egg and how long it will take to cook them to your desired doneness once you lower the temperature.

Also, the shock of the heat prevents the egg white from adhering too much to the membrane of the eggshell. This dramatically lessens the possibility that you'll tear the egg apart in the peeling process.

For Crab-Stuffed Deviled Eggs, we want a hard-cooked egg with a fully done yolk, so I cook the eggs for 13 minutes after reducing the heat from a boil to low.

Once I've peeled the egg and separated the yolks, I mix them with a simple, but flavorful mixture of Old Bay Seasoning, lemon juice and a touch of hot sauce before folding in a generous amount of crab. What you get are not your mama's deviled eggs, but a satisfying bite of luxury, masquerading as a familiar family favorite.

Crème brûlée, flan and cheesecake are all forms of baked custards, as are quiches and baked egg casseroles, i.e., bread puddings and stratas, and they are all subject to the time and temperature issues that come with egg cookery.

The water bath gives the custard insulation from the harsh heat of the oven and allows the proteins in the eggs to set without tightening too much, which would create a grainy, unpleasant texture.

It's a solid technique, but with our two baked custard recipes — Skillet Bacon-Cheddar Quiche With Hash Brown Crust, and Blueberry Lemon Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole — we create insulation in a different way.

For the quiche, we cook it in a cast-iron skillet. The cast iron provides an evenly cooked custard and tempers the oven heat. The hash brown crust acts as an additional layer of insulation, resulting in a silky custard.

In the French toast casserole, the sweet lemon-scented custard is soaked into bread cubes overnight and baked together with blueberries and cubes of cream cheese, which all act as a form of insulation.

It really is incredible how just a little bit of information and delicious recipes can take your egg-cooking game to the next level.

Serves 8.

Note: A generous amount of crab turns a homey dish into a hardy but sophisticated appetizer, perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner. From Meredith Deeds.

• 8 eggs

• 1/3 c. mayonnaise

• 2 tbsp. lemon juice, divided

• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard

• 1/4 tsp. hot sauce

• 6 oz. lump crab meat, divided

• 1 tbsp. finely chopped chives

Directions

To peel, first gently tap hard-boiled eggs all over to crack the shell, then remove shell under a thin stream of running water.

Halve eggs lengthwise. Place egg yolks in a medium bowl and mash them with a fork. Add mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, mustard and hot sauce and stir until smooth. Add half of the crab and gently fold into the yolk mixture.

Place egg whites onto a plate and fill each egg half with some of yolk mixture.

In a small bowl, gently toss the remaining half of the crab with the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice and chives. Top each filled egg half with some of the crab mixture before serving.

Nutrition information per serving:

Carbohydrates1 gSaturated fat3 gAdded sugars0 mg

Protein10 gCholesterol210 mgDietary fiber0 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 ½ medium-fat protein, 1 fat.

Serves 4.

Note: A sophisticated brunch dish, done in under 30 minutes, only needs a little fresh fruit, and maybe a Bloody Mary or mimosa to complete the meal. Pancetta is Italian salt-cured pork belly, much like bacon, without the smoke. It is often sold in the deli or specialty cheese section of the grocery store. From Meredith Deeds.

• 3/4 c. milk

• 3/4 c. flour

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. unsalted butter

• 1/2 c. finely shredded Parmesan cheese

• 4 oz. thinly sliced pancetta, chopped (see Note)

•2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1 lb. medium asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-in. pieces at an angle

• 1/4 c. half-and-half

• 3 tbsp. chopped fresh basil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

To make the Dutch baby: Combine 4 eggs, flour, milk and 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. Batter may also be mixed by hand.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a 12-inch cast iron or ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Pour the batter into the skillet and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the Dutch baby is puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

To make the scrambled eggs: Meanwhile, heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the asparagus, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, until the asparagus is bright green and crisp-tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Remove from heat and wipe out skillet with paper towel.

When the Dutch baby has been removed from the oven, whisk together 6 eggs, half-and-half, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.

Add the basil, asparagus and 3/4 of the crispy pancetta, and gently fold into the eggs. Spoon egg mixture into the hot Dutch baby and top with remaining pancetta. Serve immediately.

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories605Fat51 gSodium800 mg

Carbohydrates26 gSaturated fat23 gAdded sugars0 mg

Protein30 gCholesterol545 mgDietary fiber2 g

Serves 6.

Note: A crispy hash-brown crust gives this simple quiche a fun and delicious twist. From Meredith Deeds.

• 4 medium russet potatoes (about 2 lbs.), peeled and coarsely shredded

• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided

• 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided

• 1 c. chopped red onion

• 6 eggs, room temperature

• 1 1/4 c. half-and-half

• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard

• 6 thick-cut slices cooked bacon, crumbled

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the shredded potatoes in the middle of a clean dish towel, gather together ends of towel, and thoroughly wring out excess liquid over the sink.

Heat oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat. Add potatoes, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss to coat. Spread mixture into an even layer across the bottom and all the way up the sides of skillet. Press firmly on the potatoes, using a dry measuring cup, to help form a crust. Bake until lightly golden, about 35 to 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add red onion and sauté until translucent, 5-6 minutes; set aside.

Sprinkle the Cheddar cheese, sautéed red onion and bacon over the bottom of the hash-brown crust. Pour the custard mixture over the top. Bake until quiche is set and crust is well browned, 30-35 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before serving.

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories505Fat35 gSodium1,020 mg

Carbohydrates27 gSaturated fat16 gAdded sugars0 mg

Protein21 gCholesterol260 mgDietary fiber2 g

Serves 8 to 10.

Note: Creamy and bursting with bright flavors, this egg casserole can be assembled the night before, ensuring a stress-free breakfast or brunch that you and your family will be making time and time again. From Meredith Deeds.

• 1 loaf (14 to 16 oz.) day-old French or Italian bread, cut into 1-in. pieces, divided

• 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, cut into 1/2-in. cubes

• 2 c. fresh or frozen (not thawed) blueberries, divided

• 3 c. whole milk

• 1 c. heavy cream

• 3/4 c., plus 3 tbsp. sugar, divided

• 2 tbsp. grated lemon zest

• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1/4 c. unsalted butter

Direction

Spray a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread half of the bread cubes in an even layer in the baking dish. Top evenly with the cream cheese and 2/3 of the blueberries (keep remaining blueberries in refrigerator if using fresh) or freezer (if using frozen), followed by the remaining bread cubes.

Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until combined and then whisk in the milk, cream, 2/3 cup sugar, lemon zest, vanilla and salt. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and press on the bread lightly to submerge.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate the casserole for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.

Nutrition information per each of 10 servings without sauce:

Calories500Fat27 gSodium460 mg

Carbohydrates50 gSaturated fat15 gAdded sugars19 mg

Protein14 gCholesterol220 mgDietary fiber2 g

Exchanges per serving: 2 starch, 1 ½ carb, 1 medium-fat protein, 4 fat.

Note: From Meredith Deeds.

• 3 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

• 1/2 c. sugar

• 2 tbsp. finely grated lemon zest

• Pinch of salt

• 1 tbsp., plus 1 tsp. cornstarch

• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions

In a 2-quart saucepan, bring the blueberries, 2/3 cup water, sugar, lemon zest and salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the berries begin to burst, about 5 to 8 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and cornstarch. Stir into the blueberry sauce, and cook until it begins to thicken, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance.

Calories60Fat0 gSodium20 mg

Carbohydrates15 gSaturated fat0 gAdded sugars8 mg

Protein0 gCholesterol0 mgDietary fiber1 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 carb.