Tiffani Thiessen cracks the meaning of food happiness with Happy Egg Co

The meaning of happiness can have a vast, varied definition. For Tiffani Thiessen, one part of happiness comes from using better ingredients, like Happy Egg Co. eggs.

Tiffani Thiessen has evolved from pop culture icon to culinary personality. While I don’t know her personally, I felt as if I have grown up with her. From her iconic television shows to her current food-centric programs, Thiessen has an approachable, likeable demeanor.

From the culinary point of view, her approaches and opinions are real. In her debut cookbook, Pull Up A Chair, her recipes are family friendly, real and tasty for even the pickiest food critic in the house. While the flavors might be unexpected, she shows a commitment to using the best ingredients available.

As a busy mom, food and cooking reality might not be as idealized as the food world prefers. Sure, I should plant my own vegetable garden, eat clean and a myriad of other food trends. The truth is that a busy family, like mine, may not be able to do it all. Still, better choices are available and those choices can be quite tasty.

One ingredient that has a multitude of uses is an egg. While many people think about eggs as scrambled, fried and over easy, that egg can be much more. But, not all eggs are created equal. Better eggs offer better flavor; it is just that simple.

So, how do you find better eggs? Simple, it goes back to that age old paradox, the chicken and the egg. Happy chickens can produce better tasting eggs.

Tiffani Thiessen at Happy Egg Co event, photo provided by Happy Egg Co.

Recently, Tiffani Thiessen hosted an event with the Happy Egg Co. This brand believes that happy chickens bring happy eggs. After that event, I had the opportunity to chat with Thiessen about this partnership, eggs, picky eaters and good eating choices. Here is a transcript of that interview.

Cristine Struble: Since you are working with the Happy Egg Company, could you briefly explain why the “free-est of free range eggs” seem to taste different?

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Tiffanie Thiessen: Taste is subjective for each person based on their palette—but for me and my family, we love the rich flavor we get from Happy Egg Co.’s “free-est of free range eggs.” When you crack open an egg from Happy Egg Co., you’ll immediately notice a deeper-colored yolk. That bold golden color is only found when the hen is receiving the nutrients it needs—whether from feed or their natural environment, both of which Happy Egg takes pride on providing with utmost care to their hens! I mean, eight whole acres to each hen? That’s amazing! I guess you could say that when you taste the flavor of a Happy Egg, you’re not just tasting the richness, but you’re also tasting pure happiness!

CS: Happy Egg Co hens lay brown eggs, are brown eggs and white eggs interchangeable in a recipe?

TT: You might have heard the saying that, “it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” The same applies for brown and white eggs. Brown hens lay brown eggs, and white hens lay white eggs. Are they interchangeable? Sure, why not! But with Happy Egg’s brown eggs, I know that I am getting a flavorful “inside.” Because Happy Egg provides their chickens with an open, healthy environment of rolling pastures and green fields, I know that the hens are getting the proper nutrition from naturally occurring vegetation and more. This affects their yolks, and overall the flavor you’ll crack into! I love using their eggs to create a variety of rich, decadent dishes for my family.

CS: Eggs are a very versatile ingredient that can soak up all types of flavor, is there a recipe that showcases the inherent better tasting quality of a Happy Egg Co egg but still has big flavor?

TT: Ah! I agree completely—eggs are “eggs-tremely” versatile, and that’s why they are such an amazing ingredient. One of my favorite dishes to make is Curried Deviled Eggs. It’s simple yet robust in flavor, and the creamy texture of the filling is unforgettable. With Happy Egg’s eggs, I can enjoy a stronger umami flavor with an added kick!

Curried deviled eggs, photo by Happy Egg Co.

CS: Even though eggs are versatile, this ingredient can be one of the hardest foods to cook correctly (a classic chef test), is there a special trick or cooking hack that helps you cook the perfect egg?

Oh, this is a tough question! Eggs can be cooked a variety of ways, so the perfect egg depends on the dish! For soft-boiled eggs, I cook them on the stove and then immediately dump them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process and prevent them from becoming hardboiled. For sunnyside up eggs ready for dipping, I’ll make sure the pan is heated evenly and not too hot, or the egg will sure burn before it’s cooked. Eggs can be tricky, but once you practice enough, you’ll be sure to crack into their secrets!

CS: Sometimes families get into a rut when it comes to cooking eggs (scrambled or fried for breakfast), is there a way to easily introduce kids (or stubborn adults) to new egg recipes?

TT: Getting others to try new recipes can be a tricky matter sometimes, no matter at what age! What I’ve found to be helpful is to let them lend a hand in the kitchen. Whether it’s whisking together a fluffy meringue using egg whites or creating a smooth Hollandaise sauce for an eggs Benedict, having them involved from the beginning is important for two reasons. First, they’ll be able to familiarize themselves with the flavors and ingredients that will be soon going into the mouths and bellies, and second, you’ll get to form lasting memories. That’s the very basis of my new cookbook, Pull Up a Chair. Cooking can evoke so many feelings of family and tradition and I want to give that to my kids – and help other families build those traditions with their children too.

Happy Egg Co, photo provided by Happy Egg Co

CS: With many families, and chefs, being more concerned about where their food comes from, does more food transparency (i.e. knowing where our food comes from/how it was cultivated) become vital to healthy eating?

TT: I think it’s always important to know what we are bringing into our bodies and our homes. My husband and I each had chickens while we were growing up, so we both were able to know that our eggs would be free of any added ingredients or hormones. With a firm belief that we are what we eat, we wanted to bring the same type of experience to our home for our children by building chicken coop in our own backyard. When we know what we are consuming and can play a part in how it’s cultivated, we can feel confident in our decisions toward healthy eating. While not everyone can have a chicken coop at home, choosing from brands like Happy Egg Co. is a step toward that direction! They provide high-quality, nutritious eggs right in the grocery aisle!

Is your family ready to hatch into some happiness? Happy chickens can produce happy eggs. For your next recipe that uses eggs, why not do a taste test? Couldn’t everyone use a little more happiness in the kitchen?

I want to thank Tiffani Thiessen and Happy Egg Co for facilitating this interview.