Book Review: The Perfect Egg

The Perfect Egg by Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park

We've had chickens grazing here on the Range for almost six years (in fact, it will be six years next month) and have learned to enjoy eggs for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts. We are always watching for new recipes, though have a solid repertoire already. Kansas Dad, especially, has perfected his skills for a number of egg presentations.

When I saw this book offered by Blogging for Books, I couldn't resist requesting it even though I doubted it could have many new-to-us recipes. I was mistaken!

It seems like this book focuses on innovative ways to present the egg. The Morning section was our favorite include recipes like Mediterranean-Style Baked Egg Boats, Arepa de Huevo (which I haven't tried yet because I haven't found masarepa), Egg Bhurji (an Indian take on scrambled eggs, which is a new dinner favorite here on the Range for the grown folks), Egg Clouds, and Gyeran Bbang (a Korean street food that was delicious but made a horrible mess of my muffin pan). Of course, there are versions of croissants, pancakes, and eggs benedict as well. For many recipes, like pancakes, deviled eggs, and egg salad, a base recipe is presented along with a variety of options for modifying it, encouraging tailoring the recipe to your own tastes (or what you have in your pantry).

In the days of internet recipes and search engines, cookbooks are not necessary for learning how to cook or bake something delicious and healthy. The authors' personal comments for each recipe are like reading a letter from a friend about a recipe we simply must try. More than anything, though, contemporary cookbooks provide beautiful photographs of the food and this cookbook has a full page photo for every recipe.

I'm pleased to have this cookbook on our shelf.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are my own.

7 Quick Tales Vol. 6: Hawk Pellets, Silly Pictures, and Chickens

--- 1 ---

Yesterday, I had my hair cut. I doubt anyone will notice. She took off five inches, but it's still pretty long. I can't believe how much nicer it looks with a nice blunt cut at the bottom instead of the straggly ends I had.

--- 2 ---

A wonderful veteran homeschooling mom shared some bird pellets with us last weekend. We invited some friends over and enjoyed an afternoon of playing after dissecting them. First Daughter was the most enthralled.

We learned the difference between owl pellets and hawk pellets, deciding the four we had were from a hawk.

--- 3 ---

I've started going through all the picture files on my computer. I think there are a thousand pictures from the kid cameras. Some of them are awesome, though. Here's a small sampling.

Sadly, Second Daughter's camera is having issues. It's still under warranty so we're mailing it off to see if they'll repair it. There are still two kid cameras roaming the house so I don't doubt the interesting pictures and movies will continue.

--- 4 ---

In the course of wading through the photos, I found a few videos to upload. Apparently, I had to make a new "channel" on YouTube which will not link with my old videos. They're still online; I just can't access or alter them. Ah well. Here's a link to the new channel, for what it's worth.

--- 5 ---

I also updated the banner photo at the top of the blog and all the kids pictures in the sidebar. The one at the top is from Easter. The ones on the side are from January when I forced the kids to each sit for a photograph before we had our family picture taken by a photographer at church for a new directory.

--- 6 ---

Our new chicks arrived today! We picked up 25 chicks as soon as the post office opened this morning.

--- 7 ---

We are very close to being diaper free in our household - day and night. This will be very momentous and yes, worthy of a family celebration with frozen yogurt.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

My Favorite Picture Books: One Little Chicken

One Little Chicken 

by Elka Weber

illustrated by Elisa Kleven

Inspired by a story from the Talmud, One Little Chicken is the tale of a chicken Leora finds. She wants to keep it, but her parents know it belongs to someone else. They take care of it until the owner is found, and they do so with humor and good stewardship.

We read this book as part of our study of honesty, but it exemplified many virtues. Leora's family returns much more than one chicken to the original owner, showing how we should strive to improve that which is in our care as well as that which is our own.

This book also probably has my favorite Elisa Kleven illustrations. In other books, they can sometimes seem overwhelming with activity, but these are colorful and often set off by lots of white space to soothe my eyes. (My children always seem to love the Kleven illustrations. I love how her books often invite children, without explicit words, to create art with whatever they have lying around. We recently read The Paper Princess and First Daughter rushed immediately to the art supplies to create an entire paper doll world.)

And it has chickens! What more could you want?

What I Loved about this Morning

Would you believe I completely and totally forgot about posting What I Loved about Last Week until about 11 am this morning? Usually I write a bit each night and finish it up on Friday night. This week, I did none of that. (Kansas Dad and I watched the first half of The Fellowship of the Ring instead last night, a more than worthy excuse, I think.

I do remember going to pick up First Son from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and watching the older children race from the parish hall to the church for reconciliation after class. What a beautiful sight!

The week just doesn't compare to this morning, though. We woke late (8 am!) and Kansas Dad made his signature Saturday morning breakfast (eggs to order including 3 different omelets, toasted potatoes, and turkey bacon). Then Kansas Dad went out to butcher a deformed chicken which is now bubbling away on the stove for a delicious late lunch of chicken soup. First Daughter and I made granola bars which are cooling on the counter. Most wonderfully of all, I made homemade challah bread which is baking in the oven now and will grace our places as challah french toast tomorrow morning.

Now...what shall we do this afternoon?

What I Loved about the Last Two Weeks (52 Ed.)

1. The new chicken coop is up and running! Kansas Dad says he has a few last improvements to make, but the hens are happily settled and laying lots and lots of eggs.

Preparing to release the hens in their new home

Roaming (almost) free

The nesting boxes inside the tarp - they like the top ones

2. I finally got to see First Son play in a soccer game. Between birthday parties, my Catechesis training, illnesses, and cancellations, I missed most of his season, but I made this one!

3. Our parish All Saints' party. The committee does a wonderful job. Lots of families came to celebrate together. And lots of people decorated their trunks and handed out candy. What more could you ask?

Mama, St. Juan Diego, St. Gianna Molla, Bl. John Paul II, St. Joan of Arc

4. Second Daughter can write her name! She demonstrated her new skill for us on the cupboard. I should really own stock in the Magic Eraser folks.

5. First Son made chocolate chip cookies for his math lesson. I just helped a little. He did nearly all the reading, measuring, and even half of the scooping. He graciously shared some with his soccer coach.

6. My parents came for a visit! (We had a fabulous time; continue reading. I did not take pictures. Ah!)

7. Halloween. My parents arrived in time for our annual pizza dinner and trick-or-treating with Grammy in her neighborhood. Second Son liked the candy, but he wanted to be carried everywhere. I think his costume was a little too big and hindered his mobility.

a mermaid, a princess, Elmo, and a ninja

8. Our parish All Saints' Mass at which the children sang in the choir. It's not a concert choir; it's a ministry. I'm so glad they have this opportunity.

9. My mom and I spent a whole entire day shopping. We drove into town right after Mass and didn't come home until dinner. It was lovely! Even better, I only bought stuff for myself and my mom treated me quite a bit (early Christmas). I have a warm winter coat (for the first time in years I won't be sharing Kansas Dad's zip-out inner coat) and a lovely Sunday coat. I also found a few other things I needed in smaller sizes. (I'm smiling.)

10. While my parents were in town, we took the children to the county historical museum. It's not big but surprisingly well-done. My dad and I love that sort of thing and the kids endured the two hour visit rather well. We followed the museum with an hour playing at the park and then dinner out with Kansas Dad.

11. First Son, First Daughter, and Second Daughter had their last soccer games of the fall. I love that they play soccer, but I'm always tremendously glad when it's over. Second Daughter did not really want to play (though she had insisted she did before the season). Now to decide...should we bother dragging her out to the field in the spring?

12. Mom and Dad watched the kids for us and Kansas Dad and I feasted at our favorite sushi restaurant. Then we had a few drinks and visited a bookstore for a while before heading home to play a few games with my parents before bed.

13. We went to a fabulous birthday party at which all four children earned Jedi light sabers and costumes. The birthday boy's uncle even dressed as Darth Vader and attempted an attack. (He was taken down.) Second Son was a little nervous; he would chase him, but if Darth got too close he retreated behind Kansas Dad. Later that evening, as we were leaving Kansas Dad's parents' house, they turned on the lights and battled Kansas Dad in the dusk. I hope it's a memory they treasure always because I will (despite the tears when it was really and truly time to get in the van and go home). The kids have been battling on a daily basis. I had to make a rule: no light sabers in the kitchen.

14. We finished our first term of school! We're one week into the second term! Hooray!

15. First Son and First Daughter are both more than half-way through the math book. At this rate, we'll finish early and everyone will be happy.

16. First Son also mastered subtraction on Xtramath this week. He's on to multiplication.

17. Dear friends who are also homeschooling using volume 3 of Connecting with History invited us to a medieval feast - and a feast it was! They served a three course meal! The children designed shields and entertained as minstrels during the dinner. Best of all, they asked us to be godparents to their baby girl due in December. Blessings, blessings, blessings!

18. Election Day is over. Now we'll have a small break from election ads and calls.

Whew, I'm tired just reading over this list!

What I Loved about Last Week (35th Ed.)

1. Kansas Dad came home! (Oh, wait, I wrote about that last week.)

2. Donut club at our parish. We were all able to do this week and it was just lovely playing out in the sunshine.

3. A good conference call for work.

4. Chicks again! We had the opportunity to order chicks along with some friends. They've been chick-sitting for us for three weeks and now it's our turn while they're on vacation. When they return, they'll take their 5 and we'll have about 25. Eggs in six months. Yum!

5. Second Son reading a story to his friends, complete with light saber.

6. Friends visiting! We had a wonderful visit from dear dear friends from Boston. They and their four children stayed with us for two days on their way to a family gathering in Denver. We ate and played. We visited the science museum and walked along the river. We had a picnic and a bonfire. We played at the park. It was a blessing to have them stay with us and I do hope we are able to return the visit someday.

S'mores!

7. A lovely dinner out with a couple from our parish. They treated us to dinner at one of their favorite restaurants and had all nine of our kids stay with their baby-sitter (who's a wonderful young woman). The kids had a great time and so did the parents.

8. Father's Day with Kansas Dad and his parents. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and ice cream cake. It's been a while since we've been to their house for Sunday lunch and the children were very excited to play in the basement.

We have a quiet week next week - summer reading program, the donut club and a workday at church are the only things on our schedule. We'll get rested up before Totus Tuus starts.

Seven Quick Takes Vol. 2

1. The Cosby Show is one of the best shows. Kansas Dad and I have been enjoying it much more than we remember when we were children. Not only is it much funnier now that we're parents, but I can appreciate how much of the writing created a show perfect for the entire family to watch together and discuss. We're up to the third season. It's available to stream on Netflix.

2. Can anyone tell me the chigger's place in the ecosystem? I'm having trouble imagining them doing any good whatsoever. I'm starting to think they're a result of the Fall.

3. I have been exercising consistently every day for over seven weeks and am just starting to think I sees some results. Sadly, I have sprained or strained a muscle in my abdomen and now have to take a few days off. I'm afraid it's going to destroy all my momentum. It also ruined part of my plans for today as I was going to take the kids to a museum, but I'm not anxious to be walking around that much. (It hurts to stand straight or lay down straight -- much better to be sitting or curled.) I'm very thankful for my doctor's office's walk-in clinic that let me visit a PA who assured me it wasn't appendicitis. (We didn't really think it was, but it's nice to hear it from someone "official.")

4. Yesterday I was in the middle of mixing a batch of muffins using a new recipe when I opened the refrigerator and discovered we had NO eggs. For a few seconds, I wondered what I would do. Then I remembered, we have chickens! I sent First Son out to collect one for me, but he couldn't find them. So the girls and I trooped out as well (while Second Son napped) and I dug five out from under a hen who was resting in the nesting box. We went in to finish the muffins. It was a good country moment.

5. Speaking of muffins, I have made three batches this week and a number of loaves of bread. We've been busy with all the great summer offerings in our local community and with our friends. My house is reasonably clean and (as I mentioned above) I've been exercising regularly for the first time in years. All of that is good and yet I still find myself thinking in the evenings of all I (and we) haven't been doing during the day. I feel like I'm always asking myself if I have my priorities in order. Am I accomplishing what I should be each day? Should I be doing more? Or something differently? Perhaps my list of things I'd like to do is too ambitious? I have grand plans to finish our alphabet (Alphabet Art) and do some experiments (Creepy Crawlies and the Scientific Method). I want to pre-read all our read-aloud and reading lesson books for next year. I want to read some grown-up books about next year's topics as well to prepare myself. I want to finish my liturgical year binder. I'd like to be cross-stitching, working on Second Son's baby album, organizing pictures from the last year (none of which are in albums). And so on. Logically, I think I'm in a good place for a wife and mother of four young ones, but it's hard to convince my emotions of that. There are just so many good things to do each day and my time is no longer entirely my own. (It hasn't been for many years, but since I was pregnant with Second Son I struggled so much just to get the bare minimum done I haven't had time to think about how my time is not my own.)

6. My "new" laptop is up and running again. It's about three years old, I think, but that's two or three years younger than the desktop I was using. I'm still getting used to it and still haven't pulled pictures from the camera, but it's nice to have my own computer again. It's surprisingly hard to go back to a Mac after (dare I admit it?) more than a decade away but Kansas Dad keeps telling me I won't regret it. Another task on the to-do list: figure out how to get the desktop out into the living room where First Son and First Daughter can use it but Second Daughter and Second Son cannot destroy it. And figure out if we need a parental protection program. They won't be searching for anything but still...

7. Our summer reading program ended yesterday with a pizza party and a run through the librarian's sprinklers. The three older ones all received prizes (for showing up yesterday): a book each. I love our summer reading program! You should all have one as wonderful. I'm glad it's over, though, and we have Mondays and Thursdays to ourselves...for a week before swimming lessons start. I think our summer is turning out to be as busy or busier than our school year. Just without the lesson planning.

Jen has more 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

How to Move Some Chickens

A few weeks ago, Kansas Dad moved our new batch of hens into the same chicken tractor as the older Buffs. He thought it through a few times and finally decided to push the two tractors together, prop up the adjoining sides and slip them underneath. Our flighty Americunas were moved without a single one escaping!

Isn't that Kansas Dad a smart guy?

One of Our Hens Is a He

An October Easter Egg

Our new chickens started laying! See that cute little green egg? I ate it this morning - delicious!

We've only gotten two so far. One Thursday and one today. We've been told they might get bigger. We'll see. We've been supplementing our homegrown eggs with ones from the store so hopefully their production picks up quickly.

Reading Matters

The bathroom magazine of choice for the two-year-old: Backyard Poultry.

Kicked Out!

I am very happy to report Kansas Dad moved the new chicks outside this morning. They were getting big, noisy, messy and smelly in the master bathroom. I'm so glad to have it back to ourselves!

They were still a little nervous from the move, but they seem to like being out in the grass.

Our New Chicks

They were still nervous from having their bedding changed, but I didn't want to wait longer for a picture because they make a mess very quickly!

I took this picture a few days ago now. They've already moved up to wood shavings for bedding and Kansas Dad is considering moving the heat lamp further away as they don't seem to need it as much. Kansas Dad thinks it's funny how much like chickens they already are. They exhibit all the same behaviors, though they haven't quite learned to come running when Kansas Dad leans over with food. I think we'll have to wait until they're old enough for kitchen scraps and bugs before they realize what a source of yummy food and treats he can be.

Kansas Dad culled one of our hens today. She had a cut that just would not heal and was suddenly much worse today. Hopefully we'll be able to survive with just nine until these chicks are ready to start laying! (I think we can manage, though my angel food cake plans may be hampered. Those cakes use a lot of egg whites.)

Babies in the House

Kansas Dad drove bright and early to the post office this morning to pick up our newest babies: Ameraucana chicks. They're adorable - lots of different colors, unlike the Buffs we bought last year (and still have, of course). And they're cheeping up a storm in the master bathroom until they're big enough to go outside (four to six weeks).

The best part? They are Easter Eggers - the eggs are light blue or light green!

Maybe we'll take some pictures tomorrow. (They're a little like this.)

Archway Flowers

We have an arch leading in to the fenced front yard. Last year it was so overgrown with four different vines I felt claustrophobic every time I walked through it. Early this spring, Kansas Dad just started pruning. I told him to prune as much as he liked. As far as I could tell, the vines were ones that could handle it. So far everything seems to have survived.

The honeysuckle, in fact, has gone crazy. It's grown so much it needs to be pruned again! It doesn't look like the honeysuckle I remember from my childhood, but it smells like it - wonderful!

The clematis didn't bloom much last year (maybe four flowers) and this year we've only found one. I think the honeysuckle was already strangling it and the pruning only gave it more of an upper hand. Such is life on the Range. Now that I know how beautiful it is in person, we may purchase some to plant elsewhere.

And, because you haven't seen them recently, here's a picture of the chickens enjoying their summer home. Kansas Dad has been moving them around in the "garden" (where we planted stuff last year, but nothing yet this year). They're feasting on weeds and baby grasshoppers, improving our soil one day at a time.

Nesting Box

We've let two broody hens keep a few eggs. First Son was fascinated when he saw Kansas Dad lift one off to mark the eggs (who then clucked and bo-bocked the whole time). Since then, the kids have been playing hens quite a bit. They even built this lovely nesting box for the Resurrection Eggs.

A Winter Home for the Chickens

Right before we left for our Christmas holiday, Kansas Dad built a winter home for the chickens. He thought it would be easier to care for them in the cold if he didn't have to keep moving their chicken tractor around, and this gave him more flexibility in creating some warm space for them. Luckily, they are a very cold hardy breed, so they've been doing very well in the cold.

Here's a picture of the little doorway between their inside quarters and their outdoor run.

Here's a picture of one of the three nesting boxes. All you have to do is lift the board above them to reach in and grab the eggs.

They've been laying like crazy. We get between eight and ten eggs a day from the ten hens. One of these days I'm going to remember to ask Kansas Dad to take the camera out so we can get a picture of some eggs in the nesting box.

Feel free to pass on any egg-heavy recipes you have!

A Look at Our Egg

Way back in December, our hens laid their first egg. I promised pictures and it only took a month. Here's one of the first egg:

Here's the first egg on the griddle. It's a little hard to tell the difference in the picture. The fresh egg is at the top right. It's yolk is rounder and the white hasn't spread out as much. They're pretty tasty, too.

We didn't expect too many eggs in the winter, but they've been laying more and more. I'd say we have an average of seven to eight a day. In theory, they'll lay even more in the spring and summer. So far, we've been managing to eat them all, but I expect we'll start handing out some dozens in the future.

The Chickens Laid an Egg!

Kansas Dad found it last night. We plan to cook it up for lunch today.

My Small Successes XIV

I skipped Small Successes last week. I figured you were all tired of reading about how I'm still exercising (I still am!). (Like how I sneaked that in?)

1. I've pulled out all the fall and winter clothes for the kids and found places for them in their bedroom even though they no longer have a dresser. (The bunk beds have lots of little drawers.) The spring and summer clothes are still out, but I thought there might still be some warm weather in front of us. (I may have benefited from a look at the actual forecast on that decision.)

2. I am already planning our Thanksgiving menu because I am so very excited that my family are coming! (For Uncle A., broccoli and rice casserole. For Papa, chocolate pie!) I may even make up my pie crusts this weekend!

3. Kansas Dad butchered nine of our roosters (leaving one to hang out with the ladies and give us our wake-up call in the morning). We've eaten two of them with some cooked chicken in the fridge from a third for a casserole or something tonight. (Wish I had a plan for dinner...would have made this small success a little more successful.)

As a bonus, our new homeschooling schedule is going well. Deciding to not make up morning lessons in the afternoon if we have other activities in the morning has made me much more relaxed. The kids have also transitioned well to no videos on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'm even considering changing Mama's choice on Fridays to either a baking time (letting the kids take turns helping me make something; I've discovered it's much easier to deal with one of them at a time) or a game time.

Head over to Faith & Family for more Small Successes!