Ghost Eggs: Spooky Hard-Boiled Egg Snacks

Instructions

1. Place the eggs in a single layer in a saucepan. Cover them with cold water by about an inch. Add the white vinegar, if using.
2. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, immediately remove the saucepan from the heat, cover it with a lid, and let the eggs sit for 10-12 minutes for perfectly hard-boiled eggs.
3. While the eggs are sitting, prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl with ice water.
4. Carefully transfer the hard-boiled eggs from the hot water to the ice bath using a slotted spoon. Let them cool completely for at least 5 minutes. This stops the cooking process and makes them easier to peel.
5. Gently peel the cooled eggs under running cold water. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
6. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut off a small slice from the bottom of each egg so it stands upright. Then, cut a jagged or wavy line around the top third of each egg, creating a 'lid' and the body of your ghost.
7. Carefully scoop out the yolks from both the egg white bodies and the 'lids' into a small bowl. Place the hollowed-out egg white bodies onto a serving platter.
8. Add mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the egg yolks. Mash with a fork until smooth and creamy.
9. Spoon or pipe the yolk mixture back into the hollowed-out egg white bodies. Replace the 'lids' on top, slightly askew to give them a ghostly appearance.
10. Dip a toothpick into the black food coloring gel and carefully dot two small 'eyes' onto each egg white ghost. You can also add a tiny 'mouth' if desired.
11. Arrange your Ghost Eggs on a platter and serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Tips

• For perfectly centered yolks, store your eggs on their side in the refrigerator for a day or two before hard-boiling.
• To make peeling even easier, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to the boiling water along with the vinegar.
• For a richer flavor, you can substitute some of the mayonnaise with sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• If you don't have black food coloring gel, a tiny dab of black olive paste or finely minced black olives can be used for the eyes.
• Experiment with different 'facial expressions' for your ghosts by varying the size and shape of the eyes and mouths with the food coloring.