At the behest of my mother, I just finished reading a book called “Growing Up Colored in Mississippi” by Dr. C. Rayfield Haynes which remind me of Granny’s Deviled Eggs. She stopped quite short of recommending the book, so it took me a few years to get around to it, but Mom said the author depicted what life was like for her growing up in Mississippi. He wrote:
“Though a native Mississippian, and thus a product of a segregated tradition, I still was not used to the caste system and the animosity that separated coloreds and whites in Greenwood. All things considered, I had, while growing up in Jefferson Davis County, shared an elevated status among colored and white people alike. Otherwise, Daddy and Mama had done a good job of shielding me from any direct victimization by white people.”
“The rule rather than the exception had been that the great majority of the colored people in the county held their own with a certain dignity.” “Practically all of the coloreds owned their own land, and while none would have been considered rich, they all fed their families well and otherwise made out alright.”
My maternal great-grandfather William Stamps was born January 8, 1889 in Utica, Mississippi the youngest of six boys – Aunt Mita, the only girl came along a few years after; he was the only member of his family with a light complexion which is not something anyone in my family discusses with pride. I knew him when I was a child. Their father Bob Stamps was a land owner who leased out land to his own adult sons to sharecrop. Once Great-grandpa had saved enough money to buy his own land, he made sure to purchase near the private school for Black children begun by Booker T. Washington protege William Hotzclaw so that his children would be afforded an education. Owning land meant your children did not have to sharecrop therefore could attend school year round. Black people in places like Greenwood, the Cotton Capital of the World, thus obvious birthplace of the Blues, didn’t have schools to send their children to.
Despite paying property, income and sales taxes the state of Mississippi did not provide Blacks many services including access to public education. Booker T. Washington convinced Julius Rosenwald the president of Sears and Roebuck to help build more than 5000 schools for Black children including the one my family went to – he agreed in part because he had to drop out at an early age himself. Black children like my Aunt Barbara and her siblings who had no school in their towns had to travel fifty miles on a daily basis to attend school at Utica Institute. Because the schools were private, singing quartets traveled the world to raise money for the schools. As a member of the 2nd string quartet, Grandpa was said to have appeared in an early Hollywood film but never made it to Europe like some of his classmates. The all Black faculty members, including my grandmother at a point in time, kept the students basted with book learning and the Bible. Mom wondered recently how no one would get sick at the church dinners they would have on the grass in the summertime. I imagine everyone dining on deviled eggs, amazing potato salad and fried fish among other delicacies. Thank you to my niece Haley for inspiring Granny’s Deviled Eggs, a recipe she learned from her maternal grandmother Mrs. Sandi Watkins. Try the eggs with a salsa or harissa for tantalizing twists.
Granny’s Deviled Eggs
Perfect for your Memorial Day Cookout or a romantic picnic, Granny's Deviled Eggs are easy to prepare but oh, so hard to forget.
- Medium to Large Saucepan
- Sharp Paring Knife
- Small metal Spoon
- Wooden Spoon
- Cooking Shears
- Large Bowl
- Large Serving Platter
- Medium Resealble Plastic Bag
- 5 Organic Eggs
- 4 cups Water
- 2 tbsp Dill Relish
- 2 tbsp Dill Pickle Juice
- 1 tbsp Trader Joe's Organic Mayonnaise (I like this brand because it has Mustard notes.)
- Salsa (Optional)
- Fresh Organic Cilantro (Optional)
- Harissa Seasoning (Optional)
Heat water on high heat until it is boiling.
Add eggs cooking for at least 6 to 10 minutes.
Remove eggs from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Peel and slice in half lengthwise and arrange on the platter.
Scoop out yolks using the small spoon into a bowl and combine with the next three ingredients.
Cut off the tip of the corner of the plastic bag with cooking shears. Add the egg yolk mixture to the bag.
Use the plastic bag as a piping bag to refill the yolks into the boiled egg cavities.
Chill and serve.
For East African Deviled Eggs: Sprinkle with Harissa Seasoning.
For Mexican Deviled Eggs: Top with fresh cilantro and a dab of salsa.
I love recipes like this! So easy and they are always such a hit at family get-togethers!
This is great usage of leftover Easter eggs! I’ve never made this version of deviled eggs, but your granny had something going with this recipe!
I love a recipe that allows me to use those leftover boiled eggs from Easter! The pickle juice is a great addition.
Thank you Tamara!
Love dill in these deviled eggs. Interesting recipe.
Thanks Natalie!
Deviled eggs are a favorite in my house!! These are always a hit & gone in minutes! Love the simplicity of your recipe, have to try it!
Granny’s Deviled Eggs are exactly how I love my eggs with dill and pickle juice!
I really appreciate simple delicious recipes like this with just a few ingredients! Definitely going to make this for Easter this weekend.
This is exactly how my grandmother made her deviled eggs. It is so nice to have family recipes.
Wow! Another way to make our favorite egg an added boost. Thanks for sharing such unique way in preparing egg for the family.
What a lovely deviled egg recipe. Family recipes really are the best and hold such memories and legacy with them.
This recipe is right on time for me to use my son’s leftover eggs from his Easter egg hunt! I loves me some deviled eggs and I am sure Granny’s recipe won’s disappoint!
Love deviled eggs and this recipe sounds so flavorful. Adding dill makes it interesting.
I loved reading the backstory about your family, and these deviled eggs were so delicious and easy to make! Thanks for sharing!
This was the perfect simple deviled egg recipe! The filling came out the perfect consistency. I also love the family history you shared in the post. Thank you Robin!
Thanks for your detailed instructions! I sprinkled harissa seasoning on the finished deviled eggs and my family could not stop eating them!
Love this recipe! These deviled eggs were so simple to make and so delicious! I added a little salsa verde and cilantro on top and they were a hit!
I love eggs in every single form and this was no disappointment! I really enjoyed!
This is the simplest deviled egg recipe I’ve come across and it’s GOOD.
Grandmas, recipes are always the hit. this easy yet flavorful deviled eggs are the best for sure.
my family loved your deviled egg recipe! Its a keeper for sure