Monday, April 1, 2013

Do you love eggs too?

I just sat down to get this post rolling and I had to ask myself, "where should I start, the chicken or the egg?".  I'm not trying to be philosophical here, I'm truly not sure if I should talk about chickens or eggs first.  Let's talk chickens.

http://www.howtoraisechicken.com/

I'd really like some. Not like hundreds or anything, just a few. Although, I'm pretty sure our current subdivision would shun prohibit chickens in the back yard. Our homeowners association sends out letters urging people to trim hedges, paint mailbox posts, and take other measures to maintain orderliness and tidiness. I haven't researched, but I'm pretty sure that keeping live-stock is a no-no.

Maybe there will be chickens in our future, but I am trying to remain realistic; our family is a little bit farm-life debilitated (we're not great at growing, tending, mending or building- I do like to weed though!). Also, our dog tends to consider chickens as prey (I know this because there was once an unfortunate event at playgroup where Remy snuck into our friends' chicken coop. Let's just say six screaming children were scarred that day. Bluey did make it, but he always had a limp after that).

Here's Remy, sorry and embarrassed. 

Anyway,  I want chickens for their- EGGS!

http://www.canecreekfarm.us

I can't stand buying industrial laid eggs that were produced by chickens who've had their beaks cut (or burned) off and are barely able to move. I just can't stand it. And yet, I do. I try to buy the cage-free eggs, but I'm no fool;  "cage-free" hens are generally uncaged inside of a barn or warehouse, with no access to the outdoors, and their beaks are often still cut. You can read more about this issue in this straight forward and informative article on the Humane Society's website. 
Note: I do not consider myself an animal activist. I have, however, read Michael Pollan and I've seen the documentaries on food production in the United States. The idea of consuming industrial meat and eggs just creeps me out. 

Anyway, I really like eggs. Example: when we arrive at a party or social gathering, I don't head straight for the wine, champagne, or even the desert table. You can find me scouting out the deviled eggs platter. What? You don't serve deviled eggs at your parties and social gatherings? You thought they were a thing of your mama's generation? That's just silly.


http://blog.williams-sonoma.com

And don't even get me started on egg salad. In 4th grade, my class was going on a field trip, and I begged my mom to make me egg salad to take for lunch. An exciting trip outside of school called for an equally exciting lunch option. She obliged. We left our lunches on the bus and when we returned to partake several warm hours of sitting in the sun later, the school bus smelled. Bad. I knew that my egg salad was the culprit, but how could I confess? I slumped down in my seat, clutching my lunch, hoping no one would be able to pin point the exact location of the smell. I stayed there, still as stone, my 4th grade self thinking (hoping) that I might POOF! disappear, leaving only a small brown bag containing an egg salad sandwich behind. And yet, despite this horrifying experience, I still love egg salad to this day. I have, however, learned the techniques of proper refrigeration methods and now, I add things like avocado and curry to egg salad. I'm so grown up. And fancy.

This is me around the age of the egg salad incident. I'm like, "Yeah, so I like egg salad, what of it?"

Now can we please just talk about the egg sandwich that inspired this post? I had these ingredients to work with: farm fresh eggs from my friend Laura's chickens, baby spinach, fresh mozzarella and pesto:


How can one go wrong here?! One can't. Just fry up that egg, over easy. Ooooooh, are you one of those people who don't like the yolks? Who think that us people who love the taste of the runny, warm, oozy, yellow yolk mixed into everything, are kinda....gross? Sorry! (But not really, I think you're crazy).


Just look at the end result!


And for the benefit of all you crazy people out there, I even made and taste tested this recipe with scrambled eggs (you're welcome).


I highly recommend this egg sandwich; the combination of the egg and pesto was really something special. I love that this could serve as breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner. ¡Buen Provecho!

So I'm ready to wrap things up now, but I guess I'm not sure if this post was:

A. A chance to mention my disdain for industrial farming
B. A chance to share embarrassing smelly stories from 4th grade
C. A recipe
D. All of the above

One thing I do know is, I don't care which came first, I'll take both the chickens and the eggs (please).

Do you love eggs too? Are you a yolk person or not?



7 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It, too, can be yours! But what to try first- this, or the sweet potato sandwich?

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  2. So many things to say here...
    1. Lily is a chicken killer. She nabbed one of Anna's free-range friends a few springs ago. She had blood running down her beautiful white chest and the crazy in her.
    2. I too would like chickens. We are hoping to find a place with lots of land, so if you can't have chickens, you can have a share of mine.
    3. The first time I had a bird in the nest or bird hole or whatever it was at your house when I was in 6th or 7th grade. I wasn't a big egg eater growing up, but that was pretty yummy especially with that wheat toast your parents always had.
    4. I am not a yolk girl. I am more of mixed up egg girl. Scrambles, omelettes, fritatas,etc...Rob loves eggs. His go to snack is fried eggs on corn tortillas with lime and hot sauce.

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    1. Avi! I know I'm a little late here, but I LOVE this comment. The egg in the nest! I remember my dad making them for us and now I make them for Mitchell. And I also remember that you are not a yolk person, but I still like you ;) Maybe we can both raise chicks at the same time, either that or I'll just buy eggs from you. And bread.

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  3. wow~the sandwich look nice and yummmmy!!I only know how to make the egg-mayo sandwich >.<

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  4. I found your blog by hitting "Next Blog" from my blog. I've got to comment: I love eggs! Egg salad sandwiches with sweet relish are the best! I try to keep hard-boiled eggs in the fridge just for snacking... One day, I'll have chickens -- for the eggs!

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    Replies
    1. Ah yes, the hard-boiled egg. I always have a few in my fridge- the perfect snack!

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