Farm Fresh Eggs...or Egg-Land's Best!

If in doubt...as to make a perfect omelet...simple or filled with your favorite vegetable, ham, or bacon, mine is just a simple sliced sweet onion omelet, for 2 servings, with 4 eggs. Farm fresh eggs?...Well, daughter Lora, her friend, Lauren and her 3 girls, and my grandchildren Gabby and Luca went on a real egg farm...or correctly, chicken farm, to get fresh eggs! To be perfectly honest, Egg-Land's Best is fresh farm eggs. There is no doubt in my mind that they are the best, as far as I'm concerned, and that goes for my family. I want nothing, but the best for them!

I sauteed thick sliced sweet onion, which I love so much, in 2 Tbsp olive oil, and just added salt and pepper right into the skillet, over the onions for more intense flavor.

Scramble the 4 eggs lightly, and just pour over the sauteed...actually caramelized onions. Do not stir, just lift the pan from side to side, and jiggle the eggs, so they spread evenly. With a spatula, you can lift the bottom around the edge a little, after a few minutes.

At this point, you can flip it over to the other side, and just fold over, as it's shown in the top photo!

For an additional delicious version omelet...check out my friend Michael's @Me, My Food and I

also linking this to my friend Linda, @Vittles and Commitals

...and also to Akheela, @ Torviewtoronto

I'm also a fan of Egg-Land's Best on Foodbuzz, and have been cooking and baking with it for a few years now. Every time my daughter and I go to Costco, we buy the 18 carton of these beautiful eggs. I prefer the Extra Large eggs, although there's not too much between the two sizes.

These are the farm fresh eggs that my daughter purchased, all different colors...price? Triple the cost for the dozen farm fresh eggs, compared to a dozen Egg-Land's Best! Mind you...I did not eat even one egg...just wanted them to enjoy it, but come to think of it, I did take one or two from Lora, and it's still in the carton.

I would like to thank all of you for your kind and caring comments and mostly for your advice for helping ease the pain.

This happened to me last Tuesday, and it has gotten worst after a few days. Not fun, having a pinched nerve, anywhere on your body. I am so glad to have read about some of your similar problems, and thanking you for sharing your experiences with me. Finally, after my most amazing chiropractor, Dr Keith, who is also a Physical Therapist as well, and travels around the globe treating sport stars! Also, I had a massage on the shoulder which did help, but the most therapy that helped was stripping the knot with a gadget (that was so very painful but really helped)...he even suggested that I get it x-rayed and see and orthopedic doctor, but by Saturday, I was starting to be able to actually lift my arm slowly! Now, it is so much better, and I'm getting the use of my right arm back!

Still have not cooked or baked anything, accept my simple easy omelet, and I thought I would share the photos of the egg farm with you. It was so much fun for the kids, and a nice little morning outing on Saturday!
Have a wonderful week!

xoxo

A "No Name egg farm?"...still don't know what name it went with, I just took a photo of the sign...

ENTER HERE AT YOUR OWN RISK  PLEASE KEEP GATE CLOSED

OK that part we did...12 miles from West Palm Beach, near my old stomping grounds neighborhood from where I moved 3 years ago. This small hidden section, is still part of the old country living, and right around the corner is the highway, if you just peek around the corner from this little ranch you will hear, and see the traffic.

There goes the gang...Lola, with the scarf on the right...her older sister Sydney in front of her, grandson Luca in the turquoise shorts, Whitney, twin sister of Lola, and Gabby in orange baseball cap, leading the way...getting ready for new adventures!

Here they spot a Goat...a Billy Goat?...don't know if she gives milk. I remember when I was a kid growing up, I used to drink fresh goat milk...being allergic to cow's milk! Now, you can buy it at the grocery supermarket, expensive, but well worth it!

Now here's a team of chicken, being led by the rooster...eggs can't be too far away!

No! This turkey is not being fattened up for Thanksgiving! She is a "token" old bird...as you can see the long ripply neck...all saggy and wrinkle. From now on you get the idea when someone refers to a "turkey neck"...you wouldn't want to let yourself go, to have one!

Here's Lucy Goosey...well, not necessary her name, just called her that!...and it's actually a duck!

Taking a peek at the little farm shop...Ahh, "the golden eggs!"...well, not really golden, but they are expensive as gold!

 The owner. at the counter, and a list of the items they sell!

You can buy fresh cream, fresh butter...just don't ask the price!...My daughter bought 1 dozen eggs, 1 pound of butter, and fresh cream...3 items for $50. Cash only! Not too shabby for the owners...with a line of people buying the same. Only open 1 day a week!

The famous chicken coupe!

Here are three friends...having their snacks!

Here are another three friends...since they were babies...BFF's ... Sydney, on the left granddaughter Gabby in the
middle, and Sydney's sister Whitney on the right! They have been loyal friend since they can remember!

Ahh! Where's the chicken that laid this beautiful egg?

Grandson Luca waiting for more chickens to pass through!

Perhaps this is the chicken that laid the "golden egg?"...Sydney, (Gabby's BFF since they were babies) got the chance to hold a chicken...you actually have to catch it, to pick it up!

 Lola, Whitney's twin sister...holding that huge old turkey, probably weighing about the same as she does...brave little girl!

Pan Seared Salmon...and Pinched Nerve!

I seem to have been MIA for the last two days...and actually I was. Did any of you experience a pinched nerve in the neck, back, shoulders? Well, I do not wish the excruciating pain on my worse enemy. (don't have one, luckily)
I woke up two days ago with tingling, numbness on my shoulder, only to find out later in the day that my arm, hurts so bad, and my shoulder feels, like someone punched me in the arm. a stabbing pain, that went down to my forearm, on the right side. I immediately went to my chiropractor, who is also a physical therapist, and he said the it is cause by a pinched nerve on my neck that went down to my shoulder. I could not move my arm, or lift it, could barely drive my car, just with the left hand, which was not the problem, but putting the car into park, or taking the key out of the ignition was even painful.
Here's a little bit of info I found online about pinched nerve, which does make a lot of sense. This afternoon I'm at least able to use my hand...arm is still "frozen"...numb...good thing I have my son, and family near by, granddaughter helping with the seared salmon. I can't wait to go back home to recuperate!...pretty weird, and scary...never had this happen to me before!

Pinched Nerve In Shoulder

Typically, pinched nerve in shoulder occurs when too much pressure is applied to the shoulder nerve by the surrounding tissue, such as cartilage, tendons, bones and muscles.Symptoms include muscle weakness, numbness, pain and a tingling sensation that radiates along the shoulders and into the neck or spine. While pinched nerves may occur anywhere in the body, they most commonly affect the neck, shoulder and lower back.
A pinched nerve in shoulder can cause debilitating pain. It can seemingly come from out of nowhere, waking you up from a night's sleep, or it can be the result of an accident or sports injury. In many cases, a pinched nerve results in severe pain and disability in the shoulder and upper arm. After treating the pain with moist heat, consult your physician. Exercise therapy is one of the first courses of treatment.

I am so sorry if I haven't commented back on your blogs...it's just that I even went to bed last night at 9:00PM taking 2 Ibuprofen, which knocked me right out for 10 straight hours. Just could not get myself to the computer until now, and will comment back as soon as I'm able to. I do appreciate your kind comments, and I thank you for accepting the 7 Link challenge, to round up your favorites.
Hugs,
Elisabeth


I don't even remember how I instructed Sophia, just told her to dip the salmon pieces into the mixture of
Canola oil, brown sugar, little bit of cider vinegar, soy sauce, and just sear it in the cast iron skillet, which was done by her mom, Cara.

Spoon some of the sauce on it, and it's ready to add in a preheated cast iron skillet to sear 5 minutes on each side...no longer than that. Also, some roasted white sweet potatoes were added to accompany this easy and perfect seared salmon.

Add about 1 Tbsp. of the Canola or vegetable oil in the cast iron skillet, or a non-stick heavy skillet, and like I mentioned, sear it on med high for 5 min. on each side.Generous 4 portions, served.

My next project is to rest, and try to get my arm back into motion...right now, it feel like I'm carrying around a "dead weight" which happens to be my right arm. I should be all right soon, as long as I can try to move my arm!
I also been wanting to link up on my usual favorites...sorry, I just can't now!

Related articles

• Why did I notice a numbing and tingling feeling in my leg the day after I had neck pain? (zocdoc.com)


• Pins & needles everywhere (ask.metafilter.com)

I've been Tagged...Seven Links!

I am so happy to have been tagged by three wonderful and talented blogger friends to participate in the
SEVEN LINKS game. I love it!

Thank you, my beautiful, talented friends...

Ping, @ Ping's Pickings, Lizzy, @That Skinny Chick Can Bake!!! and Tina, @Pinay of Texas Cooking Corner
As a rule: Tag 5 bloggers, but since I've been tagged three times. I will be tagging 15 bloggers to continue this fun tagging game.
I will tag 15 bloggers, 5 for each tagging. I will contact you on your blog to tag you!
Have a beautiful Sunday!

1.THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POST

 I don't do much baking for the simple reason that my daughter does most of the baking in the family, and I have been slacking off in the last few years with my cake baking. I like to come up with easy-breezy stuff, as this No Bake Raspberry Cheesecake that I literally took the recipe from the back  of the box of the graham crackers, and adapted it my way! This was back in April of this year, and I received 50 comments on it! For a simple cake, I thought this was really pretty and light for Spring! (photo was taken with my old camera, and this was the best I could do)

2.THE MOST POPULAR POST

3. THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL POST

# 3-My Homemade Garlic Rolls has to be the most controversial post. I have never made garlic rolls like these. They are like the cinnamon rolls, only with a different twist, filled with herbs and garlic. I was so excited when I first saw this on another blogger's blog. Instead of commenting on the blog that was linked to (which I did later) ...as usual, me...like a little "kid" all happy and excited, commenting, and complimenting how much I love the rolls..."thank you for sharing"...so on, and so forth, just drooling all over their post. Not a word back on their blog, not a "peep" to mine; Do you know how bad, that feels?...the rejection?...the vulnerability, to put yourself out there to a stranger's blog and open up with your feelings, and the "let down" is so sad...but your learn from it! I simply went to the "source" where it was linked from, and not only got a gracious comment, but a "gift" of the yeast she used to send to me from Singapore! So,  as you see...when "one door closes, another door opens up for you!"....a happy ending!

4. THE MOST HELPFUL POST

The most helpful post by far, has to be my Chocolate Chip Biscotti that I baked for the online bake sale for the American Cancer Society, hosted by Becky, @Baking and Cooking, A Tale of Two Loves. I have never done an online baking before...did not know the firs rule about it, but there I was participating in the baking to have my biscotti bid on, bake it, and ship it out for the blogger that won the bid. It was quite challenging, for a great cause! I also bid on 2 amazing desserts and had it shipped to me. Totally fun, and a great way to support cancer research for our loved ones, friends, and all the people who are battling this disease, and for the ones that have been cured!
Such a great and rewarding feeling. I cannot go into it any further, because there would be tears of sadness, but mostly tears of joy for the cure!


5. POST THAT WAS SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL

My "Perfect Brownie Pan" Brownie (One Bowl Brownies,) made in the famous brownie pan with the individual dividers. By mistake, I poured the brownie filling into the pan while the dividers were in, instead, before, and it created little collars around the sides when it was done...not intending to make this design.

6. POST THAT DID NOT GET ATTENTION IT DESERVED

I was so proud of my Mushrooms in Adobo Sauce, a true authentic appetizer tapas from Spain, with caramelized onions and homemade adobo...not the powdered seasoning that you buy commercially, but your own.
It really was professionally done, and plated. Could be, that not that many people like mushrooms.

7. POST YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF

The post that I'm most proud of is the simple, yet amazing Carrot Pineapple Cake with Cream Cheese frosting, that I made for my son Joe's birthday, this March. He just published his first novel, and also launched his surfboard art career. We celebrated at a Vegan restaurant since both son wife were both vegetarian at the time (now, my son is not, after one year)
It didn't take long to make this delicious cake, but you must make it the day, or several hours before (I made it the day before) to assure it's flavors combining with all the goodness added. All ingredients are so fresh, and the frosting totally amazing!

Here are the 15 food blogger friends that I'm inviting to join the 7 Links Tag Game!

Joanna-Chic & Gorgeous Treats
Kathy-Bakeaway With Me
Brenda-Brenda's Canadian Kitchen
Junia-Mis Pensamientos
Becky-Baking and Cooking, A Tale of Two Loves
Gina-SPCookie Queen
Parsley Sage (Carsley)-Deep Dish
Lora-Cake Duchess
Lindsey-Tiny Skillet
Veronica-Quay Po Cooks
Alisha-The Ardent Epicure
Sandra-Sandra's Easy Cooking
Wendy-The Weekend Gourmet
Shabs-Yum and Delish
Michael-Me, My Food and I

Original Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Thrift Finds

It's been raining practically all day yesterday, and I have not had the desire to go outside in the rain, to do any errands, except just to chill out inside my condo apartment, open the windows in my living room and listen to the rain. I just love watching summer rain, and listen to the rain drops. Sounds corny, but it's one of the sounds of nature that I love so much. In the early morning, I love to open my back windows in the bedroom, just to hear the cricket sounds, and watch the lush greenery of the enormous grape leave trees. The clean fresh air, even if it's 79 to 81 degrees F. in the morning, I love to open my windows and get the nice cross breeze from the ocean, which is only about 100 ft. away.

I'm linking this to:

 Full Plate Thursday 8-11-11 @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage

I decided to bake cookies last night, and I always refer to the Original Nestle Toll House Cookies recipe.

The only adaptation I use for the full recipe, is instead of 2 sticks of butter, I substitute 1 cup of Crisco all vegetable shortening, which equals to the 1 stick of butter. The reason for that is...my cookies always come out so perfect and just the right amount of crispiness. It never flattens down, as it would with the full amount of the butter. So that's my little secret "tip!"

Now, do you see what I mean?...Perfect cookies every time! Later, I plan to make enchiladas, which I have not made in ages...one filled with leftover rotisserie chicken, and the other vegetarian.

In the meantime, here's the link to the Chocolate Chip cookie recipe. Yeayy!!! saves me from typing it all out! Trust me on this one. Perfect cookies every time!

 Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

Since my blog originally started out as a Thrift Finds blog...but unfortunately I can't seem to hook up with thrift blogs...wonder if they have a Thrift Community, as we do have a Foodbuzz Community. I tried, but they "snub" me for some reason. Is it because I combine it with the food?...don't know, but at any rate I still enjoy finding some awesome thrift items...no! not the fresh rosemary, or the sea shells, but the vase, so pretty. I use the sea shells that I found on the beach last year...sorry to say, but this year it's as if they are extinct! The fresh rosemary, I use as a decor, it has such wonderful aroma permeating throughout my apartment. My ex-hubby grows these gorgeous rosemary in his garden. Every time he comes to visit, he brings me a bunch of fresh herbs. I have so much in my freezer as well, and I thought this would be a nice way to display it...just put it in water, add about 1 Tbsp. white vinegar, and a couple of ice cubes, and with the sea shells they make a pretty "conversation piece" on your table!

These shells are so gorgeous...last year at this time I was able to scoop up dozens, and dozens, of these beautiful shells, just could not resist them. This year just little generic ordinary ones are to be found!

These rosemarys are not just any ordinary rosemary bushes. They were originally brought here from Sicily...just a little baby bush, smuggled in the suitcase, wrapped up in wet newspaper, and in a plastic bag, and they thrived, over the last few years. They must love the South Florida climate.

Another beautiful thrift find...this cobalt blue vase!
I just love, love, cobalt blue vases, glasses, dishes. I have always said..."you gotta have at least one cobalt blue vase in your house."
The cost of this gorgeous heavy crystal vase?...under $5.00, and the other, the same! I love collecting vases, and giving them as gifts as well!

The bronze colored crystal platter that these amazing and gorgeous "hand picked" sea shells and corals are on, is also a thrift find...as is the glass dish that the sea glass collection is in. I collected these shells last year! Some were in the ocean, and you could actually see them when you you would go in the water...of course, the ocean water would be crystal clear, and no waves.

I would first clean them from the sand, and bring them upstairs to soak in my kitchen sink, with bleach and water...let them dry, and display them. As for the sea glass, they are very rare! I've been collecting them for the last ten years. From what I learned...they are at least 50 to 100 or more years old. Bottles that were tossed into the ocean, and over the decades and centuries would be washed ashore, shaped and formed the way they are from the ocean. They are not jagged, they look like jewels. To me, this represents, the past of all the people that have been out there on ships, and boats...they have good "vibes"...as do the shells, as well. It brings peace, and serenity from the great vast ocean!

I'm sharing more, than I probably shouldn't, about what I like...now you get to know a little more about my lifestyle, and the things that I love! This is my beautiful Scandinavian dining room table, that is a true "Deco" piece from the fifties, which I purchased 15 years ago at an Antique Consignment shop, and had the seats recovered at least three times, since then.

Originally the seats were yellow vinyl...yuck...they were so ugly. Now, they are Zen Green, with a soft floral design like "Lilly Pulitzer"...my dining room walls are also a Zen Green, from Lowe's. On the floor to the right is my kitties' food, on a tray. In the background is another chest, an antique, that I purchased in West Palm Beach "Antique Rowe"...way overpriced, but I also had this now for over 10 years. On the chest to the left, is another Cobalt Blue Vase, filled to the rim with the same sea shells, as in the clear vase. Anyone that enters into my place immediately feels a calmness, and peace...seriously! They all tell me, over, and over. I wonder why?...is it the Cobalt Blue, The Zen Green walls? The Sea Shells? The Sea Glass? The Antique Furniture? The Sicilian Rosemary?...They all have a story to tell!

I always keep fresh flowers in the vase, or other greens, or "baby breath"...all, very economical!
Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friend!...Be kind to one another, and say at least one positive thing to a friend, that would put a smile on their face!

Strawberry Ice Box Cake

 I rarely try recipes from cooking magazines these days because I have so many selections from cookboos that I own, also from previous old recipe collections of mine, the Internet, and even better, recipes from my foodie friends' blogs which I could be trying out every single day. I also have the newest issues of Bon Appetit, Cooking Light, and Food and Wine, but for now, those are just reading materials for now until I can catch up with all the others.

For the tutorial video, with the proper round wafers...click: Strawberry Ice Box Cake
I'm linking the Strawberry Ice Box Cake to: 
 Hearth and Soul Hop #60 @Zesty South Indian Kitchen

So what's wrong with this dessert?...the wafer cookies!...the directions!

I bought the August, 2011 issue of Woman's Day, at the checkout isle, from my local Publix supermarket, and I was so thrilled with all the light summer recipes, as in my previous post with the Watermelon Feta salad. I still want to try a few more recipes in this issue, but I have to resolve this wafer, and directions problem first. I was looking for a good quality of chocolate wafer cookies...the ones I remember, from 20 or 30 years ago, that were such high quality for ice-box cakes. No Luck!

I had no other choice than to buy a much less quality wafers, that turned out to be a dry, tasteless, soggy tasting mess, that totally ruined my yummy, tasty, and healthy frozen delight!

I will post the recipe, as it is in the magazine, and you be the judge as to what went wrong, besides the tasteless wafer cookies. We enjoyed the frozen delight...minus the wafers. I will make this again, now that I googled the wafers, and found out that I can actually buy Nabisco wafer cookies online! While I was googling, just check this awesome recipe out on this site with Oreo Fridge Cake

This also is a must try for me!

Here are the list of ingredients you will be needing for this recipe:

One pkg. of chocolate wafer cookies
heavy cream,for whipped cream
1 lb. fresh strawberries
gelatine
Fat free Greek yogurt
pure vanilla essence

Strawberry Ice Box Cake

Woman's Day magazine, Aug. 2011 issue

Line the bottom of an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.

In a food processor, pulse l lb. hulled strawberries, with 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 tsp. pure vanilla until smooth.

Transfer 1/4 cup of the strawberry mixture to a small saucepan, and sprinkle

1 1/4-oz unflavored gelatin, from a 1 oz. box

Cook over low heat, stir occasionally for about 2 minutes. Transfer the gelatin mixture to the food processor, and pulse to continue.

For the cream filling:

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt

Add the 1 cup fat-free yogurt to the heavy cream.

Beat the yogurt and heavy cream in a large bowl, until stiff peaks form... just like in the photo on the right!

Fold the strawberry mixture into the yogurt-cream mixture until fully incorporated.

Arrange 3 cookies (I added 4) on the bottom, spacing them evenly.

Placing 3 cookies against each long side of the pan.

(this is the part that seems confusing)

Note: When you do this process, you would have to cut the cookies in half, which I did, but it did not come out right.

Also, the type of cookies does make the difference.

Maybe with Oreos, would this work well.

OK...so here's the way it looks after adding the creamed mixture. The cookies disappeared....floating around somewhere on the bottom, the sides?...don't know!

Just noticed: Go to,

Strawberry Ice Box Cake 

for instructional video, which I did not go to!

(also, now it makes sense. They used the round wafers. Problem solved...LOL)

Cover with aluminum foil, and freeze up to 8 hrs.

When ready to serve, Invert the cake unto a cutting board, remove pan, and parchment, and cut slices, crosswise!

So there you go...learn something new every day! No Top 9 for this either, but that's OK!
I buzz everybody, as I go down the list, but even when I get 97 buzz, which I got on my Rosemary Focaccia...still could not get into Top 9. Sorry for griping, just wanted to get it off my chest!

Watermelon and Feta Salad and Giveaway Winnings!

It's summertime, and we need to spend less time in the hot kitchen as much as possible. Who wants to spend a long time cooking, and baking and heating up your kitchen when you have other options? A nice refreshing salad, or a "no bake" dessert...but then again, a simple pasta dish is always a favorite, which we have almost every day, and not worry about exctra fat and calories, if it's a light simple fresh tomato sauce. This salad has it all, watermelon, feta cheese, cucumbers, and baby watercress, red onions, and a drizzle of a refreshing, fresh lime, white wine vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil.
I'm linking this to Cookbook Sundays,  @Mom's Sunday Cafe

The recipe calls for baby arugula, but since I could not find it at my supermarket, I did find baby watercress, which is not bland, by far! It has a "kick" to it of a slight spicy-bitter flavor, as does the arugula has. You can substitute mesculon if your don't like the sharp flavor of either of the two.

I've been totally MIA all day yesterday, and came home late. All I did was heat up some leftovers and plopped down on my sofa to watch the missed season 3 of the TRUE BLOOD series which I've got hooked on, thanks to my son, and wife...LOL it's definitely "bloody" and scary at times but I love this series. They are on the 4th season now....and I don't want to miss out on any episodes!

I am so happy to win this beautiful healthy recipe cookbook by Joy Bauer...the giveaway hosted by Claudia, @Blog's Got Heart  and What's Cookin' Italian Style.  Thank you, Claudia!

I still haven't mentioned about this amazing Macaron book by the author, Jill Colonna, such a generous giveaway hosted by Marsha, @The Harried Cook  I have never made macarons, and I'm so excited to learn from the best!

Thank you, Marsha, and Jill!

Watermelon and Feta Salad

adapted from: Woman's Day magazine,

Aug. 2011 issue

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp white wine vinegar

1 Tbsp lime juice

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 sm. red onion thinly sliced

1 cucumber (seeds scraped) sliced into half- moons

1 1lb. seedles watermelon cut into small triangles

3 cups baby arugula, or baby watercress, or mesculin salad, or any lettuce of your choice chopped

1/2 cup Feta cheese crumbled

In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, and lime juice, salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, remove and discard the watermelon rind. Cut the watermelon into thin, 2 inch triangles pieces.

Layer all the ingredients, top with Feta, and serve the dressing separately in a small serving pitcher, or in the same small bowl, to drizzle on for individual servings with a table spoon, or small ladle.

note: you can toss the dressing on the entire salad, but you might lose the pretty effect by mixing it all together, and cheese will crumble even more

Guaranteed to be a favorite summer salad...but as you can see, pasta is always a "must" in our family!