To Cook Eggs in the Shell without Boiling Them

Instructions

1. First, put some boiling water into a large basin, a slop-basin for example, and let it remain for a few seconds, then turn it out.
2. Lay in the egg (or eggs), and roll it over, to take the chill off the shell, that it may not crack from the sudden application of heat.
3. Pour in, and upon the egg, quite boiling water from a kettle, until it is completely immersed; put a plate over it instantly, and let it remain, upon the table, for twelve minutes, when it will be found perfectly and beautifully cooked, entirely free from all flavour and appearance of rawness, and yet so lightly and delicately dressed as to suit even persons who cannot take eggs at all when boiled in the usual way.
4. It should be turned when something more than half done, but the plate should be replaced as quickly as possible.
5. Two eggs will require scarcely more time than one; but some additional minutes must be allowed for any number beyond that.
6. The process may always be quickened by changing the water when it has cooled a little, for more that is fast boiling: the eggs may, in fact, be rendered quite hard by the same means, but then no advantage is obtained over the old method of cooking them.
7. Time: 12 minutes.
8. Note: This is one of the receipts which we have re-produced here from our cookery for invalids, on account of its adaptation to the taste generally.