Tips and tricks for cooking with farm fresh eggs!

WORK IN PROGRESS... :-) There is actually a difference when cooking with farm fresh eggs versus the regular store bought ones. --First, farm fresh eggs are fluffier. I haven't cooked much with store eggs, but people I know have said that cakes are taller using fresh eggs. --The yolks are a richer yellow. Now, this in and of itself doesn't really change cooking much, but it's just nice to crack an egg into a bowl and see a nice healthy color instead of a sad pale yellow color. :-) --If you're making a recipe that is very very specific on egg count, perhaps measure your eggs instead of guessing what size they are. Most farm fresh eggs aren't sized and adding too much or too little egg to the recipe could result in not the results you'd like. :-)

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Blender Mayonnaise

2 average sized farm fresh eggs (AT ROOM TEMPERATURE - very important!)
2 T apple cidar vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/4 c oil (AT ROOM TEMPERATURE - very important!)

Combine all ingredients except the oil in blender at high speed for 1 minute.  Slowly and gradually add oil.  Refrigerate in non-metal container.

*I've doubled this and it works fine, except that you kind of have to help the blender mix in the last of the oil because there ends up being a lot in the blender by that time.  If you double it, the contents will nicely fill a previously used store-bought mayo sized jar, as long as it is non-metal.  It is super important that the eggs and oil be room temperature, otherwise it will not work.  This recipe is picky and has to be followed exactly, but it's simple as well.  Another note, I also noticed it has a tendency to not work very well if the oil is previously used (as in deep frying).  Not sure on length of time it could be stored.  I think I've used it up in a couple months and it's fine.

Someone recently mentioned an idea to me of using flax and/or olive oil as the oil in this recipe.  I haven't tried it myself, but if it works, I imagine it would be super healthy! :-)

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Perfect Egg Bake

So far this is the best egg bake recipe I've ever found and made.  Others take more eggs it takes forever to bake and then it gets burned around the edges while the middle still has raw egg.  This one is just fantastic and delicious!  It takes about half of the eggs I've seen in others, so if you're making this for a crowd, I'd make two pans of it  The other night I made two pans for 7 moderately hungry adults and a 2 year old and all but a small piece was gone.  The best praise for the cook. :-)

3-4 slices of bread or whatever fills the bottom of the pan, torn up
1/2-1 lb pork sausage or whatever other type of meat you like
1/2-1 cup of cheese, depending on how "cheesy" you'd like it
1/2-1 cup of veggies you prefer (onions, peppers, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, etc)
6 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Line the torn up bread in the bottom of 9x13 pan.
Brown the sausage or otherwise cook whatever other type of meat you'd like.  Sprinkle the meat over the bread.  Add any additional veggies.  Sprinkle the cheese over the bread and meat and veggies.
In a bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, mustard, salt and pepper.  Pour over contents in pan.  
Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes or until puffed and golden and the eggs aren't "loose" in the middle.
Enjoy! :-)