Our generation was taught that when someone is sick, you make them poached eggs. Poached eggs are healthier than fried eggs, or scrambled eggs, right? (Remember, this is the 60-something generation.) I don’t know why, and wonder where this came from (I-Dunno), but just KNOW that you must make poached eggs for sick people. I remember how wonderful they were on buttered toast.

So, open to page 221 of Joy of Cooking – “Swirl the water into a mad vortex with a wooden spoon…. REALLY? Drop the egg into the well formed in the center of the pot. The swirling water should round the egg.”

The clean-up of “egg vortex” all over the stove wasn’t too bad. Oh, for those 60-something diehards, he didn’t starve. I moved on to instant oatmeal. Thank God!