A Southern Grace: nurtured

June 10, 2010

nurtured

Yum

What a difference a little TLC makes!


No, not this (methinks Jon and Kate would have an adverse effect) or that (probably not conducive to good egg-laying, but ya never know...) or this (yay science!). This is what I'm talkin' 'bout.

Fact: I don't want to start (or participate in) any heated discussions about the evils of factory farming or the abuse received by mass-produced livestock throughout the entire process. (This gal avoids confrontation at all costs.) However, in my eyes, the blatant and undeniable differences between store-bought eggs and those yielded from hens raised by some local farmers is astounding!

Interestingly, I recently read an article claiming that any variations between eggs originating in those two ways were practically indistinguishable. Hmm. Either my palate is quite refined (I think not) or the eggs being tested (either the local or store-bought varieties or both) are simply incomparable to what I'm buying.

Let me describe the eggs I recently got from my cousin, personally snatched from the nests of her brood and delivered shortly thereafter: the shell is firmer, the yolk is bigger and brighter, the taste is richer, and bonus--the guilt-factor is nonexistent. I can only vouch for my experience, but while the price tag may be on the higher side, methinks this is one instance where doling out a bit more is worth it.

Nurtured egg and cheese shmiscuit, anyone?

64 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Farm produce are the best! That is a delicious sammie!

Cheers,

Rosa

Faith said...

It's pretty fantastic that you get to have fresh eggs! I'm jealous! ;) I could absolutely go for a nurtured egg and cheese shmiscuit! :)

FOODESSA said...

Grace you're such a tease. I haven't had breakfast yet!

I agree 110% with you on the farm eggs. This for me goes way back to when I visited my 'Nonna' in Italy as a child. We were terribly spoiled with all that's fresh from the farm.
In my parts... a small 10 minute drive also brings back that joy.
There has to be a better way to feed ourselves!
Interesting thoughtful post.
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia

pam said...

Well, I don't know who did your study (probably sponsored by some massive egg farm), because there is a huge difference. All you have to do is crack them open and see that gorgeous almost orange yolk.

Von said...

I've never had eggs straight from a farm.....but I must go and hunt down some farmer one day- these eggs sound so good! My school used to have chickens which layed eggs every once in a while, but they wouldn't sell the eggs to the students =[

CC11 said...

I completely agree with you - I just had some of my lovely free-range organic eggs for dinner - egg sandwiches are wonderful things

foodhoe said...

yup, the vivid color says it all... at first I thought that was cheesy mashed taters and eggs, which has given me an idea!

Julie M. said...

Look at that beautiful yolk! There is definitely a difference. Don't let anyone tell you differently. That sandwich looks amazing.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. It's so nice to meet you!

Barbara said...

Night and day...fresh eggs and store bought. How fortunate you are to have fresh from a cousin!

I know you are cheese (and cinnamon) fanatic, Grace, but my all time favorite is a bacon and egg sammie, hold the cheese. I like cheese in my omelet, but for some reason prefer my bacon and egg au natural.

shaz said...

Lucky you to have access to such fresh eggs Grace! I definitely can see and taste the difference in the eggs I buy from the farmer's markets and the (purportedly free-range) supermarket eggs.

I love eggs, one of my favourite lazy meals is a perfect fried egg on wholemeal toast with a squirt of tomato sauce on top :)

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

I couldn't agree more Grace! We tend to like a lot of poached eggs and that's when the real quality of the egg and flavour comes through :)

Melanie said...

You've now just solidified my argument for getting two chickens to raise in our backyard. My husband is semi-convinced, my neighbors? Not so much.

Suze said...

Farm-fresh eggs are THE best! And that picture makes me hungry...thanks! :)

lisa is cooking said...

I wholeheartedly agree. The local, farm eggs I buy are very noticeably richer and tastier than store-bought. And, I want this biscuit for breakfast every day.

Lyndas recipe box said...

I miss the country eggs of my youth and so I'll buy fresh when I can find them. Egg and biscuit sandwiches are the best; I think I could eat them daily if need be!
Your photo is calling to me with lovely bright yellow egg! Must go cook eggs now.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I recently purchased some eggs from our whole foods store and the yolks were bright orange. I wonder what those chicks have been eating:D

tasteofbeirut said...

I am with you 100%; had a friend who owned a chicken coop in her backyard in Orange County and her cakes and custard were simply out of this world; never forgot the difference and never tasted the same eggs again!

Silver Strands said...

I agree! In the small town I used to live ... there was a little farm and I'd buy eggs every few days. The difference is astounding. Your picture, though: I'm still trying to stop drooling.
oxoxo
Denalee

Mimi said...

I agree. I have two neighbors who raise chickens so lucky me, I get their egg over flow! There is absolutely no comparison to store bought eggs.
Mimi

Lisa said...

It's funny how I have read so many posts about eggs in the past week while we are focusing on eggs at my house too. My husband is in pursuit of the perfect soft-boiled egg. We have tried all kinds of eggs lately: organic, cage-free, brown, farm-raised. There is a difference but it is sometimes subtle. Maybe the most significant difference comes from the freshness factor. Fresh yolks are positively perky and the flavor is rich. For good eggs I don't think you could beat having a hen or two in the back yard.

Marjie said...

How about your cousin's eggs for breakfast and store bought when it's hiding in a cake? Sounds like the right compromise!

And I avoid controversial topics, too, because I know I will irritate most of the world!

Anonymous said...

A wonderful sandwich with fresh eggs!

pigpigscorner said...

Oh my..I'm so jealous!

Jennifer said...

One more reason I adore you! I totally can taste the difference as well. I am lucky to have a farm right up the road a piece and I buy my eggs from them. The yolk is so much richer and more deeply yellow....I could go on and on, LOL

Pam said...

I couldn't agree with you more! Now, can I come over for breakfast?

Robin said...

Hurray for orange yolks! So much more tasty too. Your egg sammy looks wonderful. You are making me hungry.

Hungry Dog said...

That looks good to me, which is saying something, since I don;t like eggs!

grace said...

I'll take one please!

Unknown said...

i want eggs that are that fresh!!

Sook said...

I want to try the fresh eggs someday! I don't think I have ever tried fresh ones!

Angie's Recipes said...

The firmer, the bigger, the brighter, the richer....;-) Once you tried the fresh eggs, these supermarket ones would become the history!

♥peachkins♥ said...

I just love eggs and cheese!


The Peach Kitchen
blowing peachkisses
peach and things

oneordinaryday said...

Looking at that pic so early this morning is making me want one for breakfast. Looks delicious.

My sister has chickens and her eggs beat the store's for sure. The eggs bought off the grocery store shelves are much, much older - that's why they taste different.

Joanne said...

All ethical considerations aside, I think it's undeniable that homegrown eggs taste better than storebought. They are just super fresh and actually taste like eggs. Crazy!

Lori said...

Me thinks I agree (no confrontation here), just total nodding. And I think with that thicker shell, comes more calcium. I do think there is a difference. I can not always afford it but I do buy the better kind periodically.

kat said...

I think there is a total difference. Even my year old nephew knows the difference & won't eat the store bought ones

Erica said...

This is just like my favorite kind of food.So beautiful! I love fresh eggs.

Mrs. L said...

There is a wonderful woman that sells fresh eggs at our small local farmers market. There is no comparison, her's totally rock over the store bought ones.

Unknown said...

Shiscuit! How cute. You can absolutely tell the difference between a farm frsh egg and the factory produced ones. NO contest farm fresh wins!

Carolyn Jung said...

Home-grown eggs are a revelation if you've only had supermarket ones. The yolks are so vivid and stand up so high.

Gloria Baker said...

Grace Love fresh eggs and this pictures look georgeous!! gloria

Deborah said...

Hmmm, makes me want to buy a chicken or two for the backyard!

Xiao Yen Recipes said...

There IS a BIG difference from store bought eggs and farm eggs. I had breakfast at a farm many years ago and the eggs served their was so much better, like sweeter and creamier. No, it was the butter. I buy organic eggs at the grocery store. It's definitely worth the extra money!

sweetlifebake said...

fresh eggs are the best, love the creation..tlc (jon and kate) too funny

sweetlife

Trissa said...

Oh yes definitely worth the price to pay for extra delicious eggs. That picture is priceless.

cookies and cups said...

I have started buying local eggs and I swear there is a difference! Great job!

RecipeGirl said...

When I can find farm fresh eggs, I'm all over it! So good!

Anonymous said...

I'm with you, Grace... I get fresh eggs from my parents and there is definitely NO comparison. Farm fresh wins, hands down!

pierre said...

this looks so good thanks for hte sharing !! PIerre

marla@familyfreshcooking.com said...

I could dive into that eggy photo! Those farm fresh eggs do have the edge....that golden yolk is so fabulous! xo

Abby said...

You are right as rain. We get a dozen eggs every week in our CSA. I'll never go back to store-bought again.

Susan said...

I started buying my eggs from a woman who kept chickens, and made scrambled eggs for the family. My kids immediately noticed and now they ask every time I make eggs..." are these eggs from Jo Ann? They won't eat them otherwise...

Chef Dennis Littley said...

that sandwich looks incredible...and anyone who couldn't tell the difference with eggs, must have destroyed their taste buds some where along the line!

Kerstin said...

Mmm, I wish I had one of those for breakfast tomorrow! Farm fresh eggs are so much more tasty.

Christiana said...

I want this now! So yummy!

http://petittreat.blogspot.com/

Amber said...

I am with you. Natural farm eggs are far superior. I could do a blindfold test with my Grandmas eggs and win every time. And a very tempting photo.

Grace Cowling Mum apprentice said...

Hey Grace thanks for commenting on my blog! another Grace YAY! You should follow my blog! Your blog is awesome!

Chef Aimee said...

That egg sandwich looks divine! :) I always buy cage free eggs and I saw Food Inc a month ago and that also changed more of what I am buying that is organic and locally grown.

Jaime said...

interesting but i just don't really like eggs *gasp*

i'll eat scrambled eggs but that's it and i don't love them

Jessica said...

This sounds fabulous! Yum! So yum!

www.dhaleb.com said...

I love love love eggs!!! I love 'em for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I can't wait to try this one out!

Lindsey @ pickyeatings said...

We recently got fresh eggs from one of Brad's coworkers, and I have to admit I couldn't really tell an obvious difference, although I did love to tell people that they were fresh and from a person rather than a store.

Ms. Meanie said...

I agree, there is definitely a difference. I can't say my palette is experience enough to taste the difference in a baked good, but I think you can really spot the difference when you are eating the eggs on their own, with no sugar or flour to mask their tastes. Plus, the difference in color is undeniable. Farm eggs are much more vibrant.

Anonymous said...

We keep chickens. We have so many eggs that we sell them to our neighbors. We have a cart that we put out at the road and a can for money and people stop by and get their eggs and leave their money in the can.
Chickens are WONDERFUL. The eggs from them are FABULOUS. Chickens aren't a lot of work. I always encourage people to keep their own chickens. They are really fun to own. We keep roosters for the hens too and they watch out for the hens and otherwise "take care of them". We let at least one hen have chicks every summer. Just too cute.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/
I also have a Jersey milk cow but that's for another thread. If you love farm fresh eggs, you should try farm fresh milk. It's hard to beat.
Janet in Maine