From The Freaky Files: Matryoshka (Russian Nesting Doll) Eggs?

I’d definitely classify this as a once-in-a-lifetime event!

I had never even heard of it!

Keeping chickens for our own farm fresh eggs is wonderful. We love how rich and fresh the eggs are, and knowing where they have been and what they have been eating.

I am also amused by the variety we get. When my son comes in with that day’s eggs, he will usually put any unique eggs in the door of the fridge, apart from the others, because he knows I love seeing them before they are cracked open and eaten. Sometimes they are abnormally small or large (see below), flat on one side, lopsided, or what-have-you.

Here are two silly eggs, one very, very small and the other very, very large!

A few months ago, I noticed we were getting low on eggs in the house, so I sent my egg boy up to the barn for more. Then I noticed one rather large, blue, Auracana egg in the door and decided I’d be happy with just one, mixed with some bacon and onion, fried rather than boiled, as I had originally planned.

He and I had a discussion as to whether or not it would be a double-yolker or not, and if I should eat one or two.

I got my onion and bacon all friend up then, in suspense about whether or not there would indeed be two yolks, he and I watched closely as I cracked it into the pan…

I began to express my surprise and disappointment at the fact that only one fairly normal yolk poured out.

Then…

KERPLOP!

Out came yet another egg, in a shell and all, from within that one!!!

For realzies.

We sat there, stunned, trying to make sense of what we had just seen.

Then I just started laughing, incredulous!

Of course, I called my 86 year old Grandma right away and

even she had never heard of it!

I take pictures of oddity eggs and flat out pretty eggs all of the time. I have quite a catalog of them within my photo files. But, since I have so many, I had refrained from taking one of this before I cracked it open. I was sure sorry about that afterwards!

I took a picture of the little one inside the larger shell for comparison.

Here is the larger one pieced back together.

I regret to say that we put off opening the little one,

and either it started out empty,

or whatever may have been in it dried up.

Because it was empty.

I looked it up online and could only find a few other cases of this. It is called “Ovum in Ovu”. Since it is so rare, no one is quite sure how or why it happens, but there is speculation about it and at least one scientist seems to be pretty sure why.

You can read about Ovum In Ovu and watch a video at this link, Big Egg,

and see other instances of it at the links below.

Odd Eggs (scroll down to see egg within an egg)

Astounding Discovery in Sri Lanka

Or just search “egg within an egg” and you can view what is out there.

Pretty cool and freaky huh? I consider myself privileged and blessed to experience something so rare!

... I keep thinking I should buy a lottery ticket, LOL!

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Finding, Buying, and Using Locally Seasonal Fall Produce

I love using seasonal produce. By this, I mean locally seasonal produce. Buying local helps to support farmers in your own community, and also helps to cut down on costs by making transport unnecessary and, as a result, cuts down on pollution too. There are many other benefits to buying and eating local, these are just a few. I highly recommend that you read this thoughtful article, “Finding Health Close To Home: A Call To Localism”. If nothing else, it will give you alot to think about!

The beginning of fall is not the typical season for most of us to be thinking about fresh produce. But there is still lots to be had. Gorgeous bounty in the cabbage family, apples, winter squash varieties, apples, and many beautiful root vegetables, including potatoes (the perfect food IMO), are just a few. Many CSA’s offer winter shares, and you can certainly find what is seasonal for you at your local farmer’s market (I wrote about our first year using a CSA here). You can find a CSA near you through Local Harvest. They also have a search engine for finding your local farmer’s market and other helpful information.

I get alot of information through my local county extension office. If you Google “County Extension, My County, My State” (filling in your county and state, of course) you should be able to find yours. Often, several neighboring counties will go together and make one produce guide that lists out what is available when, and at what farms those items can be found. I think most are available online nowadays too. I have linked an example of this above.

If you want to try to start buying local but just don’t know where to begin, here are a couple other resources to help get you started:

~ List of some great posts about buying local produce.

~ List of American Seasonal Produce, what’s in season and when.

~ Here is a great Seasonal Produce Recipe Guide to help you find ways to use those great mom-and-pop store, straight-off-the-farm, and farmer’s market purchases.

Getting local, seasonal produce for free or cheap:

~ This week I plan to ask a number of neighbors with apple trees dropping fruit to the ground like mad, only to rot, if they would mind if we come and pick what is left on their trees. Most people are happy to let you do this as nearly everyone would like to see food being used rather than wasted. Look around you as you drive and see if any of your neighbor’s have pears, apples, figs or other fruits going to waste.

~ Last year I saw a pile of zucchini at our CSA that was laying separate from the rest. I asked The Farmer’s Wife about it and she told me that their subscribers don’t like to see “imperfect” produce in their shares, so that pile was destined for the compost heap. I can’t remember now if she agreed to sell it to me on-the-cheap or if she just gave it to us, but we did end up with it. The imperfections were minor and did not affect the quality of what we ate.

~ Pumpkin patches are busy right now. But come November 1st, many pumpkin farms have pumpkins left in their fields that they will just allow to rot into the soil.

~ You can often find free or very inexpensive produce using Craig’s List.

If you invest a little time and effort now, you can be using delicious produce you put up now, well into next spring. I will post a few things I do with fall seasonal produce over the coming weeks, as well as ways to use it once it has been preserved.

What are your favorites?

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Food Inc. and Earth Day 2010

Last night as I watched Food, Inc., multi-tasking as usual, I was also on my Facebook page. I laughed as I scrolled down and saw at least 4 other friends who were watching Food, Inc. Several others began to watch it on Netflix and I saw conversations taking place.

I have watched several other movies about the negative side of food. I have read many things by Mr. Pollan. But I had not yet watched Food, Inc. so was very glad to finally see it.

Well, sort of. I was also sort of grossed out anew.

I think as a society we have come to realize that our actions do affect the world in which we live. Whether we do or do not subscribe to man caused or man resolved “global warming” or “climate change”, we all must recognize the basic premise of cause and effect. We pollute resources such as food and water. We waste resources such as paper, food and water. We like to think we live in a bubble and that we can’t make a difference. Or that we can’t afford to do anything different. Believe me, I have been there and I still find myself feeling that way about some things.

Many say “Well, I’ve been buying organic for awhile” – but it is way beyond that. “Organic” can be good. But it can also be a racket. And it can give you confidence in the healthfulness of your food that you should not have. A false sense of security.

I have a long list of ideas and recommendations I’d like to share with you over time. It is going to take alot of people making small, and some large, changes, in order to get back on the right track.

I started a series on this quite awhile ago and never finished it so never posted it. I am hoping that finally watching Food Inc. last night, and knowing that so many of you did too, will motivate me to get it done.

It’s all about baby steps.

If you have not yet watched Food, Inc. , that would be a good place to start.

Other recommendations to give you more information (DISCLAIMER: When I recommend a book, article or movie, I am not saying I agree with everything in it. I am saying I think you can glean something from it. As I always say, “Be like a whale”. Take it all in and spit out what does not benefit you. Always remember: Pretty much everybody has an agenda. Be discerning.)

Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon (worth buying, best price I have found is at azurestandard.com)

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

In Defense of Food; An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan

Food Rules by Michael Pollan

Helpful Links

Weston A Price Foundation

Campaign For Real Milk

Menu Plan Monday, September 21-27

Yep, I do.

And I highly encourage YOU to start preparing a meal plan too - whether you blog or not. It makes life so much easier. It helps you think ahead and coordinate your meals with your activities. And it saves money too, because you don’t buy too much extra fluff, AND you use up what you have. This is also one practical way I can use to help me live with purpose. I feel such a difference in my daily life when I do this vs, when I don’t. And I suspect my family feels it too!

Before I begin my menu post though, I want to give you, my fellow soup lovers, a head’s up -- my Soup’s On Saturday Weekly Carnival begins October 4th. Please feel free to link to your blog post about soup once per week. You can read more info here. Also, at any time, check my side bar for links to lots of soups from last fall’s S.O.S. You can also go to my side bar and pick up my adorable SOS button for your own blog.

Okay, now for my menu…

Monday: Back To School Day (One son back to college today, younger kids start full day home school). I wanted to make something hot for breakfast that those in a hurry could grab and go.

B- Breakfast Burritos with ham, potatoes, eggs and cheese I will make in crockpot (line the greased crockpot with the shredded potatoes and put the eggs and ham inside. That way you will not get as much of a crust on the eggs)

L- Leftover Zucchini-Potato Pancakes ( I made a huge batch last week so we’d have leftovers)

D- Pork Loin with Raspberry Chipotle Sauce cooked very slowly

To Do:

Soak Lentils

Tuesday: Book Club in morning and at backpacking lecture in evening -- quick breakfast, easy lunch, crockpot dinner

B - Granola

L – Bean and Cheese Burritos/ Quesadillas

D – Lentil Soup with ham hock, serve with cottage cheese on top

To Do:

Soak beans

Soak grains for buns

Wednesday

B- Smoothies with homemade yogurt

L- Pinto Beans made in crockpot served with Cornbread

D- Barbeque Beef and Bean sandwiches with Homemade Buns (I have to let mine raise longer and adapt slightly to let grains soak)

To Do:

Soak grains for bread

Thursday:

B- Fruity Baked Oatmeal (use this basic recipe but am going to play around with it to try to avoid so much sugar)

L- Sandwiches (Turkey, Ham or PBJ)

D- Scrabble Soup with homemade bread (my daughter makes this in the breadmaker)

To Do:

Soak Grains for donuts

Soak grains for biscuits

Soak grains for pizza crust (or buy)

Defrost beef for muffins and roll up

Friday:

B- Whole Wheat Cake Donuts

L- Farmhouse BBQ Muffins (use homemade dough)

D- Bacon Cheeseburger Roll Up

To Do:

Soak grains for cornbread

Defrost beef for soup on Sunday

Saturday:

Leftovers and Open Kitchen Day

To Do:

Brown beef for soup

Soak Grains for cornbread

Sunday

Morning:

Start Cornbread in bread maker

Start soup in crockpot

B- Overnight Oatmeal (my own version of this recipe)

L- Taco Soup (on my sister’s blog) with Cornbread

D- Popcorn, yogurt, etc.

Also this week make:

I can’t find my Nourishing Traditions book. That’s what I get for loaning things out and not writing it down! That is why I am including links. However, I do use the NT recipes.

Sauerkraut

Cortido

Pickled Beets

To see over 300 other weekly meal plans, go to www.orgjunkie.com and check out what's been linked this week.

Have a great week!

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

I am always on the lookout for recipes that I can amend in order to use honey and/or whole wheat flour. Lately I have had an abundance of zucchini so have been looking for recipes using that too.

Here is a recipe I have been playing around with which we have enjoyed, and it uses all of those things. Make sure you pay attention to the "other" ingredients as these are what make them so yummy and help you make them according to what your family likes. Most kids are going to like the idea of a cookie for breakfast. I hope you like them!

1 Cup Real Butter
1 and 1/2 cups Honey
2 teaspooons Vanilla Extract (or extract of your choice. I prefer Orange Extract.)
2 Eggs

1 and 1/2 Cups Grated Zucchini (I'm not picky about measuring. You could get away with a little more or less)

2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 and 1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon
2 Cups Oatmeal

Approx. 2 Cups + or - (see list at bottom of recipe)

Cream together first four ingredients. Stir in zucchini. Combine the dry ingredients then stir into zucchini mixture. Add "other" ingredients and mix well. Place by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until browned and cooked through. (When I make the dough ahead and refrigerate overnight, it must be cooked at least 20 minutes.)

Other Ingredients --
Choose a few or add your own:
Nuts (such as walnuts, pecans, almonds)
Dried Fruit such as raisins, currants, cranberries, etc.
Fresh apple or pear, diced into small pieces
Chocolate, White or Carob chips (*hint: Use mini chocolate chips. You can add less and still have chocolate in every bite!)
Granola
Trail Mix
Or.. what's your pleasure? You can be creative.

Best if used with 1-2 days or frozen

Menu Plan Monday: Losing Weight With A Family To Feed

As per usual, if you don't want to read my verbosity (heehee, another new word alert!), skip down to the meal plan near bottom...and if you want to see more links for other menus, click here to go to Organizing Junkie's page.

(Sorry if your RSS post alert was sent multiple times. It froze on me and I resent several times.)


I lost weight on Weight Watchers before I had my last baby. I loved it and found it to be pretty easy. So, after this baby, I was determined to lose it all before he turned one. I went back on WW when he was three months old. They accommodate you with extra points so you don't put your milk supply in jeopardy. However, for some reason my milk supply began to dwindle and it made me readjust my thinking. I value nursing my baby high above being my "normal" weight. This is a long story, so I will just say, it took awhile to get back in the weight loss groove.

I tried a few other things (besides WW) to lose weight, but I found that, for me, nothing else was really practical because, well, life happens. I don't want to be at my son's graduation or celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary drinking a protein shake or eating a plain salad with grilled chicken on it. I finally came to my senses and figured out that if I want to be even close to my "normal" size before his second birthday, I better get back on WW.

So, for this edition of MPM, I am going to list a recipe I will be making for ME in addition to my family's plan. It is possible for your family to eat the same foods you do, but this is not what I have found works best for my family since I have to make so much food for so many mouths!

Also, please note, many of my recipes are not sugar free or whole grain, which is how I believe we were meant to eat. I have found that I maintain my weight well eating the "Nourishing Traditions way" or similar to the ideas listed on the Weston Price website, but have not been successful losing weight that way. I think because it is hard to lose weight when you eat fat, because you can only eat such a small amount. I will be exploring this further on my journey and hope to include more whole grains and sugar free foods eventually.

I am working on a new blog which will include my WW thoughts but it is going to take awhile for it to be ready. If you are interested in viewing it when it is ready, please comment or email me and I will notify you when it is ready.

Here is the WW recipe treat I will be eating this week:( I get 23 points per day)
I will divide this into 9 servings, each serving is 3 points (and well worth every single one!)

Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup + 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder(I use espresso powder)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup low fat 1% milk (I use the milk from our cow with the cream poured off)
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 and 2/3 cups boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray 9 inch square pan with nonstick spray ( I use coconut oil on a paper towel)
Combine flour, granulated sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa, baking powder, espresso powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in center and pour in milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir until just blended then spoon batter evenly into pan.

Combine brown sugar and the additional 1/4 cup cocoa powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the batter. Gently pour the boiling water in a zigzag fashion over the top; do not stir. Bake until the top of the pudding is set, about 35 minutes. Cool on a rack at least 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.


FAMILY MEAL PLAN (I try to keep this simple when I am doing WW also)

Note: I always serve a starch, usually brown rice, bread or potatoes and a veggie or salad also.

Monday:Taco Salad (see recipe below)
Tuesday: Lemonade Chicken
Wednesday: Sausage Skillet Supper
Thursday: Seven Layer Tortilla Pie
Friday: Grilled Apple Chicken
Saturday: leftovers
Sunday:Burger Thing At Church

Taco Salad: Cook brown rice. Brown ground beef and add taco seasoning. In separate bowl mix Catalina Salad Dressing, sour cream and salsa to taste. Put rice , beef and dressing mixture in bowl together while still hot. Let sit while you cut up tomato, avocado, green onion, cilantro (or whatever you like to include). Add lettuce and spinach to rice mixture. Add 1 can kidney beans or black beans or 2 cups of your own from dried beans. Serve other veggies on side so they don't get soggy and gross and each person can add what they like. Serve with crushed tortilla chips, Fritos or Doritos

Menu Plan Monday

Here I am again with Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday. I was tempted not to do this for this week because it is just so busy and I know some of it I probably won't get to. However, I was remembering something I heard from Inge Canon years ago. Paraphrased by me to fit my lingo. Yes, you can be flexible. This does not mean you don't have a plan. For if you don't have a plan, you have nothing to flex. Without a plan you are flying by the seat of your pants and living haphazardly -- NOT being flexible! So I decided to have a plan:)

If you just came for the menu plan and don't care to read about my shenanigans, just scroll down for my Menu Plan! Please visit again after Tuesday when I find out what fresh produce comes in our produce bag from the farm. Also, please see my note at the very end of this post where I review the food we ate last week. Have a great week!



This week our oldest son is graduating. Unbelievable. Bittersweet. Exciting. Andrew is in love with languages, the globe, and the peoples of the earth so, in honor of his graduation, a couple of nights are themed for different countries.

We also have some grad related and non-grad related family activities this week. My menu plan needs to fit our crazy week. The weather is also (finally) expected to be a little warmer, as in the upper 60's and low 70's and comfortable (I am extra grateful since my son's graduation party is outdoors!). So my plan will take this into consideration.

This is also the first week of our CSA (June's harvest is expected to include strawberries, blueberries, cherries, basil, potatoes, fava beans, green beans, wax beans, roma beans, beets, cut flowers, lettuce, edible pea pods, swiss chard, kohlrabi, carrots, parsley, chives, cauliflower, broccoli, potted flowers or herbs). So I am including possible ideas but am leaving room in each day's plan to add fresh veggies and new recipes depending on what actually comes in my bag. And my overall plan is subject to change to incorporate as many of these local goodies into our meals. I am a veggie lover so I am really excited!COME BACK after Tuesday to see what veggies we got and to view the recipes I add to use them!

MONDAY:
Mexican Food Night Taco Salad (see recipe below)
(Before bed: Marinate chicken for tomorrow, soak garbanzo beans)

TUESDAY:
Middle Eastern Food night -- Shish Tawook Marinated Chicken, Homemade Hummus (basic in book Nourishing Taditions but I add cilantro and etc.) , Tabouli (from Nourishing Traditions), Pita Bread, Fava Bean Dip

Drop son off at friend's house 35 minutes away then to zoo with extended family. Pick up 1st Harvest Box at CSA! Drop other son off 30 minutes away for work dinner. This is a busy day so I am planning things that will all be mostly prepared the day ahead so it can be on the table quickly. Hmm, maybe we just won't eat since I will be spending my grocery budget on gas!


WEDNESDAY:
Grilled Apple Chicken (see recipe below), brown rice
(Before bed: busy day tomorrow so make tomorrow's casserole in crock for crockpot and put in fridge)

THURSDAY: Sausage Spanish Rice (I sub brown rice for white rice)
Take crockpot crock out of fridge and put on counter to warm up some, then stick in crockpot and cook all day on low.

BUSY DAY buying and some preparing food for son's grad, last minute other preparations. Oh yes, I am thankful for recipes I can make ahead and for my trusty crockpots!

FRIDAY:Ultimate Sub Bar. Hoagies with cold cuts and lots of fixins.

My baby has a long awaited doctor's appointment with the dermatologist (bad timing!). Andrew graduates tonight and the older boys have to leave by 1 to go and help set up. This will allow them to easily take dinner with them. We will be going to a favorite hang-out in Portland afterwards.

SATURDAY:
BBQ in the park for Andrew's graduation party!!!

SUNDAY:
Leftovers from BBQ if available, or defrost extra MacNCheese I made last week and put on timed cook so will be ready when we get home from church.

(note:
RECIPES:
Taco Salad: Cook brown rice. Brown ground beef and add taco seasoning. In separate bowl mix Catalina Salad Dressing, sour cream and salsa to taste. Put rice , beef and dressing mixture in bowl together while still hot. Let sit while you cut up tomato, avocado, green onion, cilantro (or whatever you like to include). Add lettuce and spinach to rice mixture. Add 1 can kidney beans or black beans or 2 cups of your own from dried beans. Serve other veggies on side so they don't get soggy and gross and each person can add what they like. Serve with crushed tortilla chips, Fritos or Doritos

Grilled Apple Chicken: CLICK ON LINK. My family loves this!I found the recipe in a Tyson ad a long time ago. I was getting ready to type it out but did a Google search and, lo and behold, it was already typed out online! Since the weather is not all that hot here, I will be making this on my stovetop this time as I don't have a charcoal grill and it is quicker to do on the stove. It is a nice option to be able to grill outside if the weather is too hot.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW:(click here for last week's plan)
Last week Sarah asked about leftovers and why I don't always plan a leftover night in my plan. Good question Sarah. You win my weekly prize. Oh wait, I don't have a weekly prize. I don't have the readership of 1000's to get any freebies offered to me. But if I did, you would have won it. To answer your question, I don't schedule leftovers unless we have a weird week and I start to see accumulation. In this case, I drop one of my already planned meals in favor of not letting food go to waste. This is one of the reasons you will see meals moved from one week to the next as I didn't make them.The reason I don't actually plan for leftovers at dinner is that 1) I have a husband and three teenage boys and sometimes there just aren't any 2) I have three teenage boys, plus three younger kids and we homeschool. So if there are any leftovers, they are eagerly wolfed down at lunchtime!

Company McNCheese: Christa mentioned that she made this and it was bland. I also have had to sub dijon for the spicy mustard it calls for and it is more bland. I usually make something once following the directions -- then add the spices my family likes to recipes on subsequent times. I had to buy Chipotle Tabasco sauce for the Turkey Burgers I made last week. So I used that with one of the batches of MacNCheese I made last week and it was great! I also have thrown in chili powder, cayenne, etc. Also, I sprinkle cheese on top, then garlic powder, then the breadcrumbs and butter.)

French Dips: I sort of ad libbed with using different soup mixes. Close to the end I realized the meat cooked down quite a bit and we were having additional people. So I threw in some deli roast beef and it worked out well. I also bought some pepper jack spicy cheese for my hubby and two of my boys.

Turkey Burgers were fantabulous! I added a note to that post already...