Wednesday, August 5, 2009

the eggs from across the road

Duck eggs (in carton) and chicken eggs (in vintage bowl, circa 1930s)

Using medium low heat, the butter should be frothy, but not browning.

Cracking the eggs into the pan.

Basting eggs with butter

It's ideal to use a flexible spatula when flipping eggs, take your heart in your hand and go bup!

Over medium, no crispies.

Recipe and and text written by Karen Pickus, 2009
Photos by Marjolaine Goldsmith, Courtesy Karen Pickus 2009

I am lucky to live part of the time in the Chilmark hills of Martha's Vineyard.
My neighbor behind me is Rebecca Gilbert who has an organic vegetable and egg farm. I think her chickens and ducks lay the best and most beautiful eggs I have ever tasted. The shells vary from blue, or pale turquoise , to white to ivory all the way to tawny.
The yolks sit high in the saddle and the whites don't run.
We so look forward to Rebecca's eggs and consider ourselves lucky when her farm fridge has some full cartons left even as early as 10 AM.
It is a treat to go there. You walk from the gravel parking lot to a shed which is latched with a piece of wood.
Pull open the fridge door and put your 4 dollars into a tin can.
This Saturday we were thrilled to also get 6 duck eggs .
We compared and contrasted the taste with the chicken eggs and found the duck flavor richer and the orange yolks stickier and more intense.
On Saturday I had my buddies over for eggs their way.
All prefer their eggs over medium, "no crispies".
I, on the other hand like my butter to brown to what the French call noisette, and the white a bit crispy and the yolk wet in the center, not runny.
also over medium.

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

7 comments:

Dave said...

What a wonderful set of pictures and descriptions. The freshness of the eggs is communicated wonderfully. I can almost smell the eggs frying. Duck eggs are now something I am very much looking forward to.

Kathy's Daily Health Tips said...

karen - i love your blog. keep them coming!

Unknown said...

we spoke yesterday at the "Memphis"-----i viewed your recipes and i think they are really great----your descriptions of lunch with a friend made me want to race down to the restaurant and order the items you had----i can see that you have an authors hand---i intend to try some of the recipes----i will follow your blogs closely----Bob Scribner---Bkerysue@aol.com

patty said...

karen. . .how artistic!! i so enjoyed your recipes and pictures. i have been looking for a recipe for polenta and rice and beans. tonight the slaw will be on the table. i am on my way to purchase an enamel coated cast iron pot and will attempt the rice and beans! keep up your special talents! patty

patty said...

karen. . . how talented. i so enjoyed your recipes and pictures. the slaw will be on the table tonight. i have been looking for a polenta and rice and beans recipe. am on my way out to buy an enamel coated cast iron pot to try the rice and beans recipe. no doubt it will be exquisite! keep up your special talents. patty

JC said...

I've been one of your greatest fans now for the last 12 years (wow!) and what a delight it is to be able to sit in my kitchen and have your recipes at my finger tips. This will save me from trying to track you down to get them, especially after a busy, sometimes crazy morning! So what's next?

Rosie said...

A beautiful, mouth-watering blog! The only thing that tops looking at the photos of all of your wonderful creations is getting the chance to actually eat the stuff!! Those scones you made today were incredible..... and healthy too!

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