Georgia, Cucumber, and Pickle

A few years ago, my grandson began his campaign to add a goose to our growing menagerie.  My hesitation centered around visions of customers being chased back to their cars by territorial birds.  When Oliver pled for me to save a gentle giant who was temporarily living at Grandpa Schoenborn’s farm, I knew I had been beaten.  I mean, how does “Ma” say no to that?  George arrived at Love Led Farm.

Imagine my surprise when George began building a nest and laying eggs!  Quickly and conveniently, we changed her name to Georgia.  She really is a nice gal, but goose eggs?

A year or two later, I was told of two more female geese who were available.  Living at the Critter Barn, they were driving the staff and visitors crazy with their noise.  Cucumber and Pickle (also females) became members of our Goose Guardian Patrol.  In charge of varmint control, the three girlfriends roam freely in and behind the barn away from customers.   My added bonus?  More goose eggs!

Geese are seasonal layers.  From February thru May, they produce eggs that are easily the size or 2 or 3 chicken eggs. With a minimum of 40 eggs apiece, that became a lot of “What do I do with these”?  It was time for some research and kitchen trials.

First, I found out that goose eggs are highly nutritious.  High in protein (12-14 g), they contain all the essential amino acids needed for good health.  Their fat (13-20g) is high in Omega 3’s; they are low in carbs (1-1.5 g); rich in B vitamins (especially B12); and high in Vitamins A, D, and E.  They are packed with minerals:  chlorine, selenium, iron, potassium, and phosphorus.  They provide trace minerals like zinc, copper and magnesium.   Sounds like a health-lover’s powerhouse, right?

The cautions have to do with their high cholesterol (over 800 mg) so you might not want to eat a whole one every day.  Also, goose eggs should be cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees or higher, so they are not suitable for dishes or dressings calling for raw egg yolks.

So, what do you do with a goose egg?

One whisked egg

Here are a few suggestions.

• Make an Omelet.  As I said, one egg is equivalent to 2-3 chicken eggs.  Fill it with spicier ingredients like sausage, cheddar cheese, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, etc.  and you will have a nutritious meal big enough for 1 or 2 people.
• Make an Egg Casserole.  I use 3 well-scrambled eggs to make a dish large enough to last for several days.  Easily reheated in the microwave, a slice satisfies my husband from morning until noon.  Again, you will want to add ingredients that contribute zesty flavors.
• Try baked goods that beg for richness and structure.  Last week, I made pumpkin bread.  My recipe called for 4 chicken eggs, so I used 1 goose egg and 1 chicken egg.  The bread was dense, and moist; the flavor was delicious.  I plan to make more for the freezer. I did learn to whisk my goose egg thoroughly before adding it to the batter.  This avoids the stronger “eggy” taste of goose eggs.
• Make pasta or gnocchi.   Cooks prize goose eggs as star ingredients in rich, golden pastas.  This is my next test trial–I’ll post my results.
• Make Custard.  I haven’t tried this, but I’m told that goose egg custard is delicious.

By searching, “Cooking with Goose Eggs,” I found several excellent sites with tips and recipes.  It turns out that cooking with goose eggs isn’t as strange as it seems.

Are you ready to experiment?  For the remainder of March, I will be happy to give you a free goose egg just for fun.  Then, if you want more, I’ll sell them by the egg.  Check our shop or website for pricing, and remember, these are seasonal–available until mid-May.

If you try one, let me know of your results.  It is fun to hear of your cooking adventures using our products.

As always, feel free to contact me for questions, comments, and suggestions.  Supporting local small farms like ours are journeys that we make together, even when trying goose eggs.

See you again soon, on Love Led Farm.

Ducks on Parade

When Meg was young, we allowed her to raise a pair of ducks for the 4H fair.    In those days, it was illegal to sell small quantities of ducks at feed stores in our state (Massachusetts at the time), so I “met a guy in a parking lot” for the tradeoff.  I still laugh as I recall peeking around nervously while we made our deal:  a few dollars for a box containing 2 tiny ducklings.

Ducks have waddled in and out of our lives several times.  At Love Led Farm our egg business was booming and Arya needed a way of earning a few extra dollars.  I decided to reintroduce ducks into my plan.  A bit of income for a granddaughter, a farm clean-up team for me, an alternative type of eggs for my customers–a big win for everybody.

  Arya and the Duck

Now what about you?  Why would you even consider buying duck eggs vs. chicken eggs, especially when they are more expensive?  And don’t they taste “funny?”

As it turns out, there are several good reasons to consider the switch.  A difference in their protein structure means that folks who are allergic to chicken eggs can sometimes eat duck eggs.  Duck eggs are higher in many vital nutrients and as I will discuss in a minute, avid bakers treasure them.  Another bonus:  because their shells are thicker, duck eggs will stay fresh longer.

Interested in more detailed information?  Check out this duck/chicken egg comparison published by Mother Earth News a few years ago:  https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/the-proscons-of-eating-duck-eggs-vs-chicken-eggs-zbcz1705

Here are some of my own observations.

Size

When compared side by side, the difference in the two is obvious.  Although some duck eggs are the same size as a jumbo chicken egg, many are at least 1/3 bigger.

Duck or chicken egg? It’s pretty easy to tell.

Cooking

With lower water content, duck eggs can become rubbery if they are fried too long or are hard-boiled.   I often scramble ours with no appreciable difference.  For David, who likes his sunny side up, I just add a bit of water and cover them with a lid.  I have read that duck eggs are great for poaching because they won’t fall apart.

A double-yoke duck egg vs. a chicken egg

Baking with duck eggs is ideal.  In fact, bakery chefs prefer them.   To substitute for chicken eggs, use the smallest duck eggs you have.  That way you can use the same number of eggs as called for in your recipe.  Because a duck egg has more albumen than a chicken egg, you will find that your baked goods have more lift and structure–they will be lighter and fluffier.  And, you will notice a richness that no chicken egg can match.

When using larger eggs, remember that your duck egg is easily 1/3 larger than a chicken egg.  So it’s time for some mental math.  If a cake recipe requires three to six chicken eggs, use two or four duck eggs.  I have also found that it helps to add a little extra liquid as your recipe may seem a bit drier.

Beating duck egg whites will take longer because the gel is thicker.  But patience wins–it can be done.  Try bringing the whites to room temperature before beating.

Taste

Ducks thrive on protein.  Ours wander everywhere. They eat grass and weeds as they search for delicious bugs and critters that live in the soil.  This can alter the taste of their egg.  However, our ducks are supplemented with a daily portion of the same gmo-free feed that our chickens eat. This seems to balance the flavor.  We really don’t notice much difference between their eggs and our chickens’.

One other bonus:  due to that famous high protein, we stay full longer on fewer eggs.  Whether scrambled, in french toast, in a frittata or quiche, duck eggs are delicious!

Cholesterol

There is one important factor to consider before plunging into your first dozen duck eggs.  They are significantly higher  in cholesterol than chicken eggs–2 to 3 times higher than the recommended daily allowance.  This is something you will want to discuss with your health care provider.  If you are on a low cholesterol diet, you may want to limit your consumption of duck eggs.

Freshly rinsed duck eggs because ducks love to bury them in the dirt.

Are you curious but not ready for a full dozen?  Try a duck egg half pak.  We now stock them in our convenient Customer Fridge.

Gmo-free duck eggs and chicken eggs are just two of the many fine products that we have available for you on Love Led Farm.  We specialize in pure, honest food for you and your family.  Hope to see you soon!

Warmly,