TESTED- Freezing Eggs in Trays

I was in full blown test mode this morning in the kitchen.

The Test:

Will thawed eggs perform well when used as a single ingredient?

The Hypothesis:

Yes, why the heck not?

Please see the original post HERE

The Results:

Two frozen eggs equal one whole egg but

I tried one frozen cube at a time for this test.

I used a small skillet on a gas stove, just under medium heat.

Add a pat of butter to prevent sticking.

I let the egg cook, omelette style, 

turned to cook the other side,

Removed and flipped on the plate.

I did not add filling because I wanted to taste the egg itself.

Perfect.

I prefer a little salt, 

and actually I like plain omelette style eggs.

Alternate Test:

Will thawed eggs scramble well?

Hypothesis:

Of course.

Results:

I added milk and mozzarella cheese to thawed cubes.

I cooked the eggs just under medium heat, 

stirring and turning with a spatula until they reached 

the consistency I prefer.

The eggs were perfectly cooked, cheesy 

and the texture was not changed.

I did not test the egg performance in baking; however, based on these tests my assumption is that as an ingredient they will also perform well.  They do have a bit of salt in them so if your recipe restricts salt quantities you may want to use fresh eggs.

This will be our preferred method of preservation for now. 

I look forward to having our own eggs as we journey through the lean winter months.

Freezing Eggs in Trays

Eggs here

Eggs there

Eggs, eggs everywhere!

For one reason or another, 

nothing that we can explain, 

the chickens are in overdrive mode right now.

Molting and laying like there's no tomorrow.

My husband wants to start selling eggs, 

which might be a good idea if it wasn't going into winter.

Normally we won't have many eggs when it gets colder 

so

I remembered seeing how to freeze eggs here.

He washed them and he cracked them open

(no easy task with these rock hard Buff shells!)

filled a 4 cup measuring cup

added some salt and whipped them up a bit in the KitchenAid.

( 2 tsp for every 4 cups)

Then he poured them into ice trays.

(whites and yolks together)

They are completely frozen but a little tacky to the touch.

I'll put them in double layered freezer bags

and break out what I need.

I understand 2 cubes equal one whole egg.

It can be a little tricky getting them out of the trays.

Just put a little warm water on the back side of the tray, 

give it a minute or so and then twist the tray, 

like you would for regular ice.

Turn the tray upside down on top of a cookie sheet.

Most cubes will fall out and if not, 

a little nudge with a knife will help pop them right out.

I hope this works out well because I have eggs for breakfast daily.

Then we always have some on hand when the chicks take a break.

Linking to Deborah Jean's Dandelion House Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop

The Husband Bakes the Quiche

Come on over to the hubby's blog and take a peek at his quiche- homemade.

Real Men Do Eat Quiche and They Cook It Too!

Dressing Table, Saving the Family Furniture

Three Mirrored Make Up Table

Saving the Family Furniture

Another Before and After

I remember sitting at this make up table 

ever since I was small child.

I would dig through the drawers

to sort through all the treasures

stashed away there over the decades.

When my grandmother passed away

I knew I had to have this table.

My husband was against the idea, 

the furniture isn't spectacular, just regular stuff.

He agreed, for me.

And agreed to fix it all up while he is between jobs.

More sanding, planing, clamping, gluing and painting.

Securing the decorative pieces.

I did make a mistake though.

I wanted it to look a "little distressed"

I didn't realize it wouldn't look that way

with a fresh coat of oil based paint.

The top, although completely painted,

is rough since I didn't have him burn off all the paint.

(example of the knobs that match the dresser HERE)

But no matter, it will have a quilted table runner,

and probably a glass tray in the middle,

for all the dressing up my granddaughter, Taylor, 

will do since this will be in her room at our house.

The mirrors can be positioned straight across

or curved in (as in the first photo).

Now we need to move them upstairs,

rearrange her room (here)

and remove her little kitchen/table and chairs

that she had when she was very small.

It will be a pretty re-do for 

a pretty eight year old.

Linking to My Simple Country Living 

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop

Homestead Revival Barn Hop

Dresser - Saving The Family Furniture

Before and After - Saving the Family Furniture

A Dresser for Taylor's Room

My husband has been working on restoring this dresser 

(after much begging and pleading by me).

The before photo isn't really representative of 

what is looked like originally. 

He spent days and days just getting the drawers back in shape.

Then sanding and gluing, 

pinning joints back together with brads

and clamping everything until it dried.

He painted it with oil based white

and we selected pretty pink porcelain knobs.

The knobs were originally brass but missing parts

and in very bad shape.  

We were missing one of them as well.

Her favorite color is pink.

I think she'll be pleased.

Stay tuned:

I'll be posting about the three mirrored make up table next.

Linking to My Simple Country Living 

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop

Homestead Revival Barn Hop

My Castile Purchase

I took the plunge today and purchased some Castile Soap, 

this one almond scented!

It's expensive, which is why I have put off purchasing it; 

however, our local HD channel offers programming called Create.

Yesterday they were making household cleaners

and the base was castile soap so I saw it as a sign.

(no, it couldn't be due to the medication I was taking.  LOL)

I stopped and got a bottle anyway.

It seems to do everything from washing your hair to washing the floors,

laundry and tooth brushing, aftershave, 

mouthwash and bug repellent. 

I'm going to try it plus see what else I can make using it.

Any suggestions?  Include the recipe if you can.

Thanks!

Dr Bronner Link

Obviously Good Seeds!

I've Got Radishes!

Just not exactly where I expected them.

They are obviously great plants.

I had let some existing plants develop seed pods

and some must have spilled while I was saving them.

They started out as

Easter Egg Blend radish seeds

from Botanical Interests.

They were Super growers, 

in fact I could not eat them fast enough.

A few seeds dropped into the expansion joint 

of our courtyard. A few beneath the umbrella holder.

It's been sort of cold, and dark by the time I get home from work

This is in the corner of my courtyard

by the hosta bed.

I just didn't notice them until this weekend

when my husband was painting the beam across the porch.

What a surprise!

What great seeds!

I'm sure I'll have lots and lots of radishes next season!

Bacon, Brown Sugar and Cabbage Recipe

Does it get any better?  

Bacon, vinegar, brown sugar, onion and cabbage.

What a combination!

I was snooping through an old box in the top shelf of my closet, 

a box I had brought back after my grandmother died.

What possessed me to bring some of these items back is a mystery.

Old broken dentures, an unopened watch band that is several decades old,

compact cases frozen shut through time, 

and this recipe- torn and yellowed with age.

I know why I kept this one!

Skillet Salad

4 slices bacon

1/4 cup vinegar

1 TBL brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 TBL finely chopped onion

4 cups shredded cabbage

1/2 cup chopped parsley

Cook bacon until crisp.  Remove from skillet and crumble.

Add vinegar, sugar salt and onion to fat in skillet.

Add crumbled bacon and heat thoroughly.

Remove from heat.  

Mix hot dressing with cabbage and parsley, tossing lightly.

Serve.

I assume it was submitted by Mrs. Jessie Kuhn from Wichita, KS.

Thanks, Mrs. Kuhn.

Sounds delicious!

A New Blog in Town

There's a new blog in town

My husband, Tom, started a new blog- you can view it using this link

 kd0qkk 

which is his ham radio call sign but don't expect it to focus solely on radio.

I'm certain you will see some fishing, boating, and granddaughter posts along the way.

If you get a chance pop over and give it a look.

On another note:

I've been a little slow on posting lately, with the holidays 

and still battling this sinus infection that seems to never, ever, ever go away!

I promise some posts on the family furniture that Tom has been working on 

between carpentry jobs.  We're just about ready to bring it up to Taylor's 

room here at our house.  Then I need to make some runners for the top 

so I've been scouring the internet for some free patterns and

think I will use my stash of 1930s fat quarters since the time period is right.

She Shot An Arrow in the Air

After the turkey and dressing,

After the cranberry and pie,

The games begin.

Taylor's cousin, Gabe, just got a new bow which he 

brought over Thanksgiving weekend. 

Taylor grabbed her bow and target and they

decided to practice in the side yard--

this after several games of pool.

We're wondering what to get Taylor for Christmas.

She has a bow, a fishing pole, a BB gun and targets.

She really loves pool- a shark if I ever saw one!

We're thinking about a Taylor sized pool cue, 

maybe personalized.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

What do you all do after the Thanksgiving meal?