Farm Fresh Eggs

You know you have farm fresh eggs when there is a piece of straw resting in your egg carton. It was rather comforting this morning to discover the straw that had jumped along for the ride to my house. It brought the farm a bit closer to my home, making me feel a bit closer to the source of our food supply.

Do you have a good egg? Here are some ways to make sure that your eggs are fresh and full of quality. Mind you, these are just a few ways to know the health of your egg. To really obtain the nutritional benefits of the egg you are about to eat, you would need to find out about the chicken who hatched the egg, and what her home was like.

1. Pick a dull looking egg, rather than one with a shimmer or luster.

2. Do you feel like you are holding tissue paper? Pick an egg with a strong shell.

3. Put your egg in a bowl of cold water. Did it float? If your egg floats then it is old!

4. After boiling your egg, the white should be thicker in the middle of the egg and thin out towards the ends.

5. Your egg yolk needs to be a deep and brilliant yellow/orange.

6. Crack open your egg and drop it into boiling water. Does it stay together? If so, you have a good egg! (Then eat it with a dash of salt.)

For a perfect Granola Mom Hard Boiled Egg . . .

Place egg(s) in a stainless steel pot. Cover egg(s) with cold water. Bring to a rolling boil. Set your timer for 4-5 minutes, depending on your idea of done. (We like our eggs soft-boiled.) Once done, drain hot water and douse eggs immediately in cold water. This stops the egg from continuing to cook and makes it easier for the hard shell to come off. (Don't forget to put your shell in the compost pile!) Smash your hard boiled egg in a bowl with a fork, add a pinch of sea salt and a dab of raw butter (which should also have a rich yellow color). Combine and enjoy!