Friday, January 21, 2011

The Price of Eggs

I don't actually know what the going rate is for a dozen eggs these days, but let me tell you:  I'm paying out the wazoo for mine. 

It is my mother's hobby, but my mother is not here and as such, cannot care for her own.  And I love the snow.  And going out in the snow.  And truth be told, I don't even mind the actual chickens.  In the spring.  Or summer.  Or fall.  You get my drift (ha!): chickens in the winter are miserable little buggers.
This morning, I thought I was a goner.  I had misplanned with disastrous consequences.  Baby was asleep - time to suit up toddler and collect eggs - but all my pants were in the wash.  As in, in the washing machine.  Wet.  (Oops.)  There goes a dozen eggs, to be found tomorrow frozen and cracked where they lay.

But then - bliss happened! - and I had two littles sleeping simultaneously, and as luck would have it, dry pants.  (This is preferable in 2* weather.)  So off I went, into the white wonderland (it IS gorgeous), making my exit through a side door so as not to open the garage door beneath sleeping baby.  I lept gracefully over the first drift only to land/slide on a sheet of ice and fall.  I got up and started running - lest anyone think I have a true miracle where baby naps for more than 20 minutes - this is a marathon, baby, and my clock is ticking.  All went well until I hit the first of many drifts which came to mid-thigh.  The running stopped quicker than it started and I struggled to continue forward.  (Inertia, what?)  I finally made it to the cat's house to feed him, where he caught a ride on my back to the chicken coop for some fresh water.  Refilled their food and water, fluffed straw, and collected eggs.  Then back through the wicked wonderland.  (Back to the side door, which has one of those electric lock keypads that I couldn't get to work, so had to open the garage door anyway.  Grr.) 
Back inside, with my dozen eggs and a wakeful baby.

How much do your eggs cost??

(But at least I can make these.  So it's almost worth it, right?  I keep telling myself...  Please note: I know these look rather uninteresting, but they are divine.  Just try them and see.)

Walnut Cookies
 Preheat oven to 375*.
 Mix:
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar

Add and Mix:
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Add and Mix:
• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Add 2 cups mix-ins (walnuts, chocolate chips, etc.)  I love them chock-full of whole walnuts, and nothing else.  They also make mean chocolate chip cookies. 

Roll into golf ball sized balls, flatten slightly, and cook for 7 minutes.  Don't try to overcook these.  You will regret it.
Won’t be brown. Will be soft and so delicious!

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