The minute you turn 50, I mean almost to the day, you begin to get mail from the AARP. Nowhere does it say what the acronym stands for, not even on their website. Only by going to Wikipedia will you discover that this is the organization formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons. I guess the idea of retirement is not what it once was. I know I'm not planning on retiring. Ever. So now the mission of this nonprofit, nonpartisan organization is "to help people 50 and older improve the quality of their lives." But can it teach me how to boil an egg successfully? How did I get to be 50 years old without learning that? A properly boiled egg—one in which the white is not rubbery and the yolk is golden and tender—is essential. The technique is so elemental: water + fire + time. Yet how often is my yolk leaden and tinged with grey? And, worse still, the shell almost always clings mercilessly, turning the peeling process into a living hell. 

Over the years, I have tried many different techniques. Using older eggs. Bringing them to a boil in a pot of water and then covering it and letting the eggs sit for 10 minutes. Et cetera. But it wasn't until I heard Andy Ricker of Pok Pok fame talk about his "key three" recipes on The Splendid Table that I found enlightenment. His technique is easy and empowering. You will be able to get the yolk the consistency you want and peel the egg effortlessly.

Few foods are more simple or more luxurious than an egg, and even fewer are as versatile and nutrient-dense. The egg is rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and zeaxanthin (essential for healthy eyes). Even if you fear cholesterol, you can comfortably eat as many as 4 egg yolks a week, no problem. Eggs elevate almost everything. I love nothing more than a soft-cooked egg slathered in soft butter and showered with crunchy salt. Aside from the obvious pairings—bread, bacon, potatoes, truffles—try your eggs with anchovies, tomatoes and curry (not all at once, though that might actually work, too).

However you eat them, cook your eggs with care. Andy's method will set you free. If you're a fan of the deviled egg but have come to dread that moment of truth when it's time to crack the shell, your worries are over. One trick is to always start with a room temperature egg. That guarantees a certain consistency, so you know that after 4 minutes you will get a soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk; after 6 minutes, it's molten in the center; and after 8 minutes the yolks are almost like custard wrapped in soft, translucent whites. The process always ends with a quick plunge into an ice bath. (Not you, the eggs.) This technique will do you proud. Go ahead and retire the rest.