French Scrambled Eggs, Adapted from Julia Child

Place eggs, salt and pepper, and liquid in a mixing bowl and beat for 20-30 seconds.

Smear bottom and sides of pan with butter. Pour in the eggs.

Cook over moderately low heat, stirring slowly and continuously, reaching all over bottom of pan. Nothing will seem to happen for the first 2-3 minutes. Suddenly the eggs will begin to thicken into a custard. Stir rapidly, moving pan on and off heat, until they have almost thickened to your desired consistency.

Remove from heat immediately ? the eggs will continue to cook slightly.

As soon as they have reached the desired consistency, add the enrichment (butter or cream), which will stop the cooking. Season to taste, arrange on plates and garnish with parsley.

Variations:.

Aux Fines Herbes: Beat a tablespoon of minced fresh herbs such as parsley, chervil, chives and tarragon into eggs at the beginning. Sprinkle on more herbs just before serving.

Au Fromage: Stir 4-6 T. grated Swiss cheese into eggs along with the enrichment butter at the end.

Aux Truffes: Stir 1 or 2 diced truffles into eggs before scrambling. Sprinkle a bit of chopped truffle over eggs before serving.

Garnishings: ham, bacon, sausages, broiled or sauteed mushrooms, kidneys, chicken livers, sauteed eggplant or zucchini, broiled tomatoes, piperade, diced sauteed potatoes, buttered peas, asparagus tips, artichoke hearts. ?