Tuesday, January 13, 2009

When Life Hands You....... Vinegar



......Make Pickled Eggs!!


Everybody loves them here......


Hard boil 2 dozen lovely eggs... brown or white... makes no matter...

I usually bring them to a boil... continue cooking for 5 minutes... turn off heat... cover with lid... let sit in the hot water for 20 more minutes... drain... then pour cold water over them a few times to cool them down... they can also be placed in the refrigerator overnight and prepared the next day...

... then as careful as possible, peel off the shells...




In a pot, bring to boil,

3 cups vinegar
1 cup water
5 tablespoons sugar
2 tsp. salt
4-6 cloves garlic... the more the better
¼ tsp. celery seed
6-10 peppercorns
6-10 whole cloves

... the two Apple Pies have nothing to do with this recipe... I was just in a cooking mood that day...



Reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes... while this is happening... place a dozen prepared eggs into each clean sterilized 1 lt./qt. jar... I use recycled pickle jars... Pour the liquid, spices and garlic over the eggs ... seal the jar... cool... and set in refrigerator...

To acquire flavour, let the eggs stand several hours or overnight...they don't last long at our house...

.........and a suggestion from Guillaume at Vraie Fiction... that these tasty morsels would be delightful with a nice cold Beer on the side!!! ........ I agree!!!




A pale and watery sketch I was tempted to put on paper while thinking of eggs... I used various shades of indigo watercolor... about a 4" x 6".... somewhat floating..


Eggs are one of the most common foods ... so common we almost take them for granted....
How many ways can you think of that we use them? almost limitless...


...a thought......... how many times do we use eggs and ever give a thought that they are a true treasure... given to us by a chicken... Yes, a lowly chicken... a dweller of the hen-house... a scratcher of the dirt... a creature that rarely gets her just admiration... she lays an egg... an "Object of Perfection"... we take it, eat it, never thinking of her ... she lays another... we take it and eat it too... without chickens, no eggs... if you get a chance to learn more about these special precious birds, you will then value these girls as much I do, maybe you already do... ordinary old chickens, some may say... they are never ordinary... they are amazing!! ... and Beautiful!!

...maybe a read and a scroll through one man's journey of knowing and caring for chickens, Don's... "A View from the Green Barn" will prove how much character, personality and intelligence they have .... and really how much dependency we have, on these wonderful creatures... for their EGGS!





"Oh, who that ever lived and loved...
can look upon an egg unmoved?"
.by Clarence Day






37 comments:

Debbi said...

Beautiful photographs, inspiring entry, love the apple pies. Maybe I will make some pickled eggs this winter! When you say to put them into a sterilized jar, do you mean as if you were going to can them? That sterilized? Probably a stupid question.

Also like your little wash painting of the eggs.

BLACK AND WHITE said...

Great post! Gwen, your painting is beautiful, the photos too.

Guillaume said...

Absolutely brilliant post. I used to love pickled eggs, I had them quite often for lunch as a child, although the ones my parents made were simply eggs in vinegar, so they were not proper pickled eggs I guess. But they were delicious. I should try your recipe with a nice beer on the side. The eggs we buy are often wasted, so that would be a good way to keep them and it makes for a quick and easy meal. As a child, I also used to pour maple syrup over boiled eggs, for some reason I loved the contrast savoury/sugary. And yes, eggs are wonderful things. With the cows, which give us milk, chickens are probably the most admirable animals.

denise said...

Oh, yum. I haven't pickled eggs in ages...now I think I must.

We get our eggs each week from a friend/farmer and so we are able to visit the girls often in warmer months, and the boys have fed them, tried to give them a little snuggle, and collected their eggs. I love that we get eggs that are multi colored with dayglo orange yolks. They are so much tastier than store bought - there is almost no comparison. Closer to the source.

I agree hens are indeed beautiful, curious, funny, opinionated, clever...

:)

Arija said...

Gwer, I am with yu on the subject of chickens and eggs. I love the creatures. My g-daaughter brought up 7 eggs yesterday, each one a miracle of perfection.
Sorry for the delay, your prezzie is coming, it has to be washe dfirst otherwise you will have trouble with quarantene. Lately it has been over 40C and all I can do during the day is sleep.

Renee said...

I've never had pickled eggs, but those apple pies look fantastic. YUM.

Renee

Ruth said...

Would you believe I've never eaten a pickled egg? Well, we shall now! Maybe I'll make some this weekend.

And you are so right about learning to appreciate the life of a hen now!

And I don't want to steal Don's thunder, but his broody hen hatched at least one egg yesterday! Check out his blog this morning, and please check it again soon (tonight or tomorrow?) to see if the other pippers hatch. :D I guess we could call these eggs 'the ones that got away.'

Thank you for the heart warming post about one of my favorite foods, even before we had hens.

Melanie said...

Everyone here loves eggs (except me) so I will give this a try very soon in an attempt to provide interesting food. According to my kids everything I buy or make is boring:)

Anonymous said...

Goodness, I'd always thought of pickled eggs as being a peculiarly british treat but obviously they're appreciated further afield! There's normally a big jar of them on bars in village pubs and chip shops over here. Although I've eaten a fair few in my time, I've never tried making them but I think your wonderful post might have just tempted me to give it a try! I've recently rediscovered my love of eggs - I use them in baking and cooking a lot but had forgotten just how good a plain boiled egg can be!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Debbi, my method of sterilizing here is merely washing with hot sudsy water and rinsing well, then pouring boiling water into each jar and on each lid and giving them a swish... that is usually all we need as the guys here eat them up within a week... not a stupid question at all...

Thank you Black/White!

Guillaume, I was going to add to my post a perfect compliment would be a Beer.. Thanks for the reminder.. Cheers
.. and now you have me wanting to try Maple syrup on my hard boiled eggs next time... yum..

Denise, I had my own hens for years and I miss them and their fresh eggs badly.. I am strongly wanting to find a spot for a new flock in the spring... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.. then I'll have their manure for my garden too... good all the way around...

Arija, when I was a kid I spent a lot of time with my chickens.. sort of playmates.. they are so sweet.. I love them.. when I held them they would go to sleep... something about that trust that endears a creature to you.
I am so surprised that you wanted to send me something from your life, I am gleeful... but the thought is fulfilling enough... Please don't go to any bother on my account.. just rest if you can, in that heat... I wish I could bottle up some of this cold air and send it down there... a little balance..

Thanks Renee, Those pies didn't last long either.. I used Cortlands ... but I'm not fussy. I'll use whatever apple is available.. they were quite tasty...

No Ruth I can not believe you never had a Pickled egg!! John always likes his a little more vinegary... I like mine a bit sweeter so we have to find a happy medium.. Max likes them either way...
I am so excited about Don being a farmer grandfather.. haha... Little Gladys is so sweet... Looks just like her mom, Broody.. I wish I was there... Congratulations!!!!

Melanie, I think your kids would like them.. they should be different enough!!

Rebecca... ah is that right.. British eh??.. many people from our Maritime provinces have their roots in the British Isles... Maybe that's why they seem like a natural snack over here too.. Thank you, so much!!

flyinamber said...

I have never eaten pickled eggs..but I love some kind of the salad made of eggs,onion and the beef meat (usually the beef that remain over cooking a beef soup) and spiced with the oil and the vinegar..

Anet said...

I must admit those PIES got my attention, yum....
I am another person who has never tried a pickled egg. I like pickled things.
We boiled a dozen eggs the other day. It's just good to have an egg snack once in awhile. A pickled egg I must try, if ever given the chance!

Jackie Morris said...

Put a pickled egg in a packet of crisps. Squash it about a bit. Chicken and chips!
With cold beer.
yum.

laura said...

These sound delicious--I've never had a pickled egg! And you painting is lovely--an ethereal rendition!

jo horswill said...

Hi Gwen...I had to smile when I read "I was in a cooking mood that day" because I have these sorts of moods too!!! There is no stopping me some days!!! Hmm, pickled egg recipe looks interesting, will have to try it.
What a joy to read this post...Your painting and images are beautiful...I love the quote too.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Dada, that sounds like a worthy dish to try..


Hey Anet... I think you might like them... They are rather addicting.. simple but delicious.. especially if you like pickled things...

Jackie That sounds great too.. I am in need of a few new combinations to spice things up.. Thanks!! and yes to another frosty beer!!

Thank you Laura.... I'm surprised how many people have never had one... It is almost time here to make some more...

Hi Jo, glad you understand the "cooking mood"... I'd like to see what you conjure up when the urge strikes!!!
I like to cook when I feel I have time and have nothing pressing otherwise to be done.. then it's fun to explore a new recipe.. I usually make a whole grain bread every other day.. but that is a staple and can basically do that with my eyes shut now...... Take care..

Leanne Pizio said...

Beautiful Post!
I am getting ready to have my own little flock of chickens in the spring and I am soooo excited!
They are the most amazing birds and I adore them. Thanks for sharing their great worth here.

Anonymous said...

I used to make pickled eggs frequently. They were a staple for our annual winter open house. Since we've been on the farm we hardly ever entertain so I haven't make them in several years. You've given me the urge to pickle a jar very soon!

rivergardenstudio said...

What a great cooking mood day this must have been! This post made me smile... I love eggs! Roxanne

Danielle Barlow said...

ooh yes! Our family love them! Jackie is exactly right - drop a pickled egg into a packet of salted crisps and shake them about. Drink with a lager shandy, preferably sitting on a seafront in a cold wind! That brings back memories. It had never really occurred to me to make my own though. I shall have to have a go now!

Ruth said...

Oh Gwen, you would not believe how adorable these chicks and their mama hen are. I have been so touched by Mother Nature, and seeing the instincts that have kicked in. The mama is only 10 months old! And the chicks, even before they were a day old, knew how to eat, drink, run around. I would you could see them in person. They came out for a while yesterday (when Don picked up Broody) and then they started getting sleepy, had to crawl back under mama.

:D

VioletSky said...

I've never had a pickled egg, am not really a big egg eater, though Danielle's idea intrigues me enough to want to try. (of course, that could be the salt and beer I really want.)

I am so in love with those chicks of Don's, and even the eggs!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Leanne, you may beat me to it... I really want to get back into having laying hens too... hopefully we can make a little chicken house... I have worried about foxes and bobcats which are very plentiful... even with 4 dogs running around the place the foxes are not deterred...

albertaphotography, great pick up treat for an open house... Is your farm too far away for people to gather now...

Hi Roxanne, I am excited about the book project you are working on.. or should I say playing?

Danielle,yikes! in a cold wind.. with the crazy freezing temps we are getting these days.. I think I'll step around the corner of the building to cut the breeze!! ha..
But I am definitely going to try them that way.. Thanks my dear!

Ruth I miss those days so much.. They are beautiful to witness..
amazing isn't it... So sweet.. and she is only 10 mo.old .. talk about survival of the species!!
We used to have a Banty who was the broody mamma.. She was a little tiny thing too... even as her babies grew she tried hard as can be to stretch her wings to cover and protect them... She would hatch any eggs we gave her.. if she saw a nest with several eggs in it even if they were the days eggs production for the house she would hop on and not want to get off.... the instinct was so strong in her...

Gwen Buchanan said...

Oh you never had one either, sanna... well maybe they are an aquired taste.. but the chips and pickled eggs I guess would be like salt and vinegar...
but eggs are in so many other things that where they aren't even thought of again, I put them in my pie crust, bruched on top of bread so sesame seeds stick, in the pie filling too, cakes, cookies, custards, meatloaf, face mask( I don't use it that way but some do) etc. I'm sure someone somewhere must use it for glue... oh in paints too egg tempera...

You are right , those chicks are so sweet.. don't you just want to pick one up and put it to the side of your cheek, feel how warm and soft and delicate and alive it is and listen to its little peeps.

Don said...

I am definitely going to try our recipe this weekend. I tried making pickled quail eggs, but the spices in the recipe were too overpowering and I didn't like them. Your recipe sounds much better!

Thank you for linking me in your post! I was surprised and very pleased.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hey Don, Hope you like the recipe this time.. sometimes we need to tweak them for our individual palettes but that's how we come up with new things... good luck...

and I want to tell everybody about your little fluffy chicks.. you and Ruth are doing such a wonderful job of showing your hens and chicks and their mysteries to the world... love it!!

Lovethiscottage.blogspot.com said...

Not being much of an egg eater, I have never tried pickled eggs... but all this talk of chickens makes me nostalgic for my banties of yesteryear. I dont think they would survive here, we are putting out butcher shop meat & fat scraps every night for the foxes, to help them thru the winter.

woolydaisy said...

i've been wanting to make pickled eggs ever since i got chickens! thanks for the recipe-i love anything pickled. one question-do they taste sweet with all that suga? could you decrease the sweet and add hot spicey? i'm that kinda creature.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hey Kathi, As long as you keep feeding the foxes over at your place maybe there is hope for me to get some chickens, after all..

Hi Wooly D, yes go ahead and reduce the sugar.. the original recipe had 4 Tbsp. I found them quite tangy so I added the extra tbsp. of sugar... good idea about the hot/spicy.. maybe a chili pepper in the jar would do it... Prob. my dentist would like me to use less sugar too..

rauf said...

Dear Gwen, i think its a good idea, vinegar i mean. When life hands you lemons in Canadian winter, i think you should give them back with thanks. Lemonade in winter is not a good idea.

sandy said...

I have never had pickled eggs but thanks for the recipe, maybe I'll try it. And of course, I love Don's blog and his chickens; I use to have a couple but in this area, they didn't last long...

oh those pies look great!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Rauf, You are full of sunshine!!! Giving is Receivin, isn't it..... I feel that way!!!

Thank you for the smile.. I needed that!!!

I know how your friends feel... I am one... Your friends love you!!!!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks Sandy.. If you were here We'd sit right down and have a piece of pie together..

Ruth said...

What an image of a little bantam doing that!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Cute, huh?

AscenderRisesAbove said...

I missed your egg presentations earlier; wonderful. you are so talented; artist, chef, iron smith!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks AscenderRA, necessity is the mother of invention...