boiled eggs, done proper

I've liked soft and hard boiled eggs in varying degrees throughout my life, but didn't really enjoy them as a regular part of my diet until until I finally learned how to cook them properly.  After speaking with lara7 today about it, and promising to send the directions on to her, I figured y'all might benefit, too:

To cook eggs in their shells, place a single layer of them in a saucepan and top with at least 1 inch of water. Cover and bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let stand.  Large soft-cooked eggs should remain in the water for 1 to 4 minutes; large hard-cooked eggs for 15 to 17 minutes.  After the eggs are cooked as desired, drain off hot water and immediately cover with cold water, add a few ice cubes and let stand until cool enough to handle for soft cooked eggs, until completely cooled for hard-cooked. 

Cooling eggs in very cold or ice water prevents a dark gray-green surface from forming on the yolk.

        from The Food Lover's Tiptionary

Cooked this way they are far tastier, less rubbery, nicer to look at, and just all around better.  Do yourself a favor and get cage-free eggs for even lovelier and tastier yolks.  I like a couple of soft-boiled eggs after a workout, and try to keep a few hard-boiled ones in the fridge for those times I get home from work starving and won't have dinner prepared for a while.  Just a bit of salt and pepper is perfect topping. You read a lot about cooking just with whites, or using substitutes but I strongly feel that, like butter, it is better to eat smaller quantities of the high quality, than to stuff yourself on inferior substitutions.

101 - #91 - Lose 10 pounds

Today, using lara7's guest pass to swim at her gym (public pools being closed for the holidays), I checked the scale and was pleased to find I weighed in at exactly 150.  Originally this 101 item had a date attached to it, but after changing it 3 or 4 times, I decided to drop it altogether. And I'm glad I did. I think the changes I have made in my exercise, diet, and general health should be much more lasting done over nine months, rather than one or two.  I'm curious as to how much muscle has been gained during that time, too.  I think swimming has made me very strong for my size.

It is only in the last few weeks that I have actually felt shaped different.  A plaid wool skirt that was always a bit tight is now comfortable.  The shape of my face feels different under my own hands.  When I run, things aren't jiggling anymore (that is, things I don't strap down with magically engineered running equipment).  I feel excellent.  I may try to repeat this one over the next 9 months.

Things that have made a difference for me:
1) upping my swim to a mile each time
2) getting into the habit of running...which though I've certainly tried over the years, hasn't been a habit since junior high
3) doing yoga more regularly, to help me listen to my body
4) carrying nuts with me everywhere I go, to resist junk food urges
5) eating fresh fruit and/or vegetables every day
6) carrying water with me everywhere, to avoid empty calorie beverage options
7) completely giving up pop and sweet coffee beverages
8) dealing with my anxiety better, so that I can differentiate actual hunger from feelings of worry, loneliness, or stress.

Much inspiration has been drawn from librarian, too.  Thanks Jessamyn!