There aren’t too many things I have found in this world that are perfection in it’s truest form. In 42 years, other than cake flavored lipgloss and a great Cabernet with a wedge of Drunken Goat cheese, these are the most perfect things I have found:

7. The temperature 77. It just is.

6. My mama’s Chocolate Pound Cake. Again, it just is.

5. The Perfect Cheeseburgers at Holeman & Finch in downtown Atlanta. So simple, yet such the perfect blend of meat and cheese. The most dangerous spot one can ever find themselves in is between me and the last seat at the Holeman bar. These hips have been registered as lethal weapons and I’m not afraid to use them. I can send you clear across the room with one, little, oh so polite, bump 😉 I’ll “Bless Your Heart” later, but that seat, and that burger, is MINE.

4. The Perfect Bolognese at Ipps Pasteria. Ugh. Oooh. Ah. Oh my. So. Good. So. Perfect. I’d eat that on……… anything.

3. The Perfect Filet Mignon and Stone Crab at Joe’s in Las Vegas. Many have tried, none can compare. It is the perfect cut of meat, the perfect seasoning, perfectly cooked. I’d hijack a plane to Vegas just to lick the plate from that filet.

2. The Perfect Wine, Cune Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva; Voted Wine Spectator’s 2013 Wine of the Year. If you have a chance, drink THIS wine with ^THAT steak, and you will completely experience, for the brief duration of that pairing, a Utopian meal on Earth.

After all of those morsels and sips of exquisite perfection, foods direct from Shangri-la and the Elysian Fields, WHAT could be grander? What could be more scrumptious, more ethereal, more…perfect?

1. An Egg. Yep. An egg, and any old egg will do.

I am not delusional; an egg is the absolute perfect food. From the nutritional value, to the versatility of this food, it is truly the most perfect food in all the land. Without it there would be no more fluffy omelets, no more super dense pound cakes, sinfully decadent cheesecakes, mile high quiches, meringues, mousses or the like. WHAT would happen to breakfast as we know it? I wouldn’t want to live in that world. Would anyone WANT to live in that world?

I, for one, choose to remain in my perfect little world, with my perfect little cheeseburgers, perfectly buttery filets and perfect Cabernet all devoured when it’s 77 degrees outside while wearing cake flavored lipgloss. And, above all else, in my kitchen, stands a fridge full of perfect little eggs.

Smoky Artichoke Pesto Omelet

Ingredients:

• 2 or 3 eggs, heavily beaten to incorporate air
• 2 tbsp. water
• 1 tbsp. artichoke pesto or 1 diced artichoke heart and 1 tbsp. prepared pesto
• 2 tbsp. sliced mushrooms
• 2 tbsp. diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp. cheese of your choice; I use a good sharp cheddar or Feta for this omelet
• 1 tbsp. diced scallions or green onion
• 1/4 tsp. Smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp. butter
• Salt & pepper to taste

      

Directions:

Add water to eggs. Add salt, pepper and paprika. With a whisk, whip eggs to incorporate as much air as possible. Add 1 tbsp. butter and swirl until pan is coated. Pre-heat the pan on medium high heat. Pour eggs into the pre-heated skillet. Add remaining ingredients. Cook at medium high heat until the bottom begins to cook through.

Lift the pan, and in a swirling motion, pour off the top liquid into the pan (under the cooked portion of the egg). Allow to cook about another minute, then shake the pan to loosen the omelet. Lift up the far side of the omelet , bring it towards you folding the omelet in half.

You can also fold over one third, then fold the last third over as you release it to the plate. Dress with additional cheese and chives and serve warm.

Potatoes and Peppers with Eggs

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, cooked sunny side or up; you can scrambles, poach or cook over easy and they will all work for this recipe
• 3 large, diced, boiled and drained Yukon Gold Potatoes
• 1 large diced bell pepper
• 1 small diced onion
• 1 diced jalapeno
• 1 diced tomato
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Olive Oil
• Hot sauce if desired*

Directions:

Add olive oil to a skillet. Add all peppers and onions and stir fry until crisp tender. Add potatoes, salt & pepper and hot sauce if desired and toss well. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Serve on a plate topped with diced tomato and eggs.

Life’s too short to eat ugly food y’all.