Lutheran Church Basement Egg Coffee

San Marcos Sunshine's Note:

I'm a former Minnesota kid who grew up surrounded by "Lutheran Women Who Cook" (in the church basement) for showers, weddings and funerals. There's even a cookbook available with a similar title. This is the way I recall the ladies making coffee in huge enamel pots, and it's the clearest, most flavorful coffee you'll ever enjoy. I outgrew their 10,000 Jello and Miracle Whip recipes a long time ago, but I fondly remember the Lutheran Church Basement (aka Swedish) Egg Coffee.

• Total Time: 12 mins
• Prep Time: 2 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 egg
• 1 cup cold water , divided
• 1 cup regular grind coffee
• 6 cups boiling water

Directions:

1. Use a graniteware (enamel) coffee pot.
2. Wash egg; break it into a small bowl, reserving shell, and beat slightly. Add 1/2 cup cold water, the 1 cup ground coffee and the reserved egg shell, crushed. Mix thoroughly. Turn into coffee pot; pour on boiling water, and stir. (I remember the ladies adding the coffee/egg mixture directly to the boiling water.) Optional: The spout of the pot can be stuffed with soft paper towel to prevent escape of the fragrant aroma. Place on front of range and boil 3 minutes. If not boiled, coffee is cloudy. If boiled too long, too much tannic acid is developed. Add remaining 1/2 cup cold water; which perfects clearing. Cold water, which is heavier than hot, sinks to the bottom and carries the grounds with it. After coffee has settled, serve at once.