6.12.2009

eggs!


Since I quit eating most forms of meat last August, eggs have become a more important staple of my diet. They really are amazing; they are low calorie, versatile, dense in protein, and nutrient-rich (unsaturated fats, the ever-so-essential B12, and folate, with much higher concentrations of all vitamins if the laying hens are free-range).
Eggs have gotten some bad PR because of their high-cholesterol content. It's time to get real; eggs do have quite a bit of cholesterol, but not all dietary cholesterol ends up in the bloodstream. Check out the facts here.

So, what sparked this campaign for eggs? Well, I just found a new source for country-fresh eggs! We got two dozen local eggs from happy, artificial-hormone-free, non-irradiated chickens. For only three dollars! (see picture)

If you should choose to get fresh eggs from free-range hens, there are a few tips to follow in order to fully enjoy your delicious, nutritious ovum.

1. Wash eggs thoroughly; you should really do this with any egg as salmonella bacteria can spread from shell to egg when you crack it open.

2. Look for eggs with bright yellow to yellow-orange yolks. As with fruits and vegetables, brighter natural color equals higher vitamin content.

3. Be sure to break eggs into a bowl instead of right into whatever dish you are preparing. With fresh eggs, you run the risk of fertilization and you may run across one with a blood spot (gross, I know, but well worth it to have better eggs from happier, healthier chickens).

3 comments:

  1. Where do you get your eggs? I've found a brand at Walmart that are cage-free, but that doesn't mean they are free range, no-irradiated, etc., so I'd like to know where to get the bestest eggs ever.

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  2. The eggs pictured are only second best. I got some great eggs with golden yolks from a woman in the neighborhood. I'll ask her where she got them and get back to you.

    Thanks for reading ;-)

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  3. Okay, I haven't gotten the info for the best eggs. However, the second best eggs are located on 1st street in Ammon. If you just keep going east until you think you've gone way too far, you will see a sign that says "farm fresh eggs" (or something like that) in the yard of a house on the north side of the street. The eggs are in a mini-fridge on the porch and it's a self-serve operation. $1.75 per dozen, or $1.50 if you bring your own egg carton. Bring cash and enjoy.

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