An Egg is For Life - Not Just For Easter

By Jamie Ogilvie

At this particular time of year everyone is probably thinking about eggs - the glossy chocolate variety that are usually encased in a large quantity of cardboard and plastic packaging or sometimes billowing cellophane with a big fancy bow. I've had eggs on my mind most of this year for a very different reason.

My 7 year old daughters' teacher (who will remain nameless) apparently spent the whole of his Christmas holidays building his own chicken coop in his yard and when back to school in January he decided to share his chicken raising passion with every little girl in class 2a.

So we've had the chicken coop, a pre-built one, I may add, for 5 weeks now and we have a mixed-breed family of 5 laying hens. A hen lays an average of 300 eggs a year, so we also have a great deal of eggs, which is probably why they are uppermost in my mind.

The egg has long been a symbol of rebirth, the life cycle and fertility. Interestingly its' symbolic power is rivaled only by that of the cock. It is the ability of the egg to create a new life that made it so mysterious to pagan believers. People used to believe the earth was shaped like an egg and early myths believed the yellow egg yolk, symbolized the sun, which in turn was viewed as a source of life. As eggs embody the very essence of life, they have throughout the ages been imbued with mystical properties of being able to divine the future.

Historically different cultures have their own traditions and beliefs concerning eggs. In Egypt eggs were hung in the temples to encourage fertility, in Germany farm workers used to smear their pitches with egg whilst digging the soil, as they believed the egg would help the ground to be more fertile. Some people shunned eating eggs or destroying them at all, for fear of harming fertility.

As Europe became Christian, eggs became a symbol of Easter and the resurrection of Christ. In the past, Christians gave up eggs for Lent, the 40 days that Jesus was in the wilderness. But even though people didn't eat them, the hens kept laying them! So people would hard-boil and decorate them which helped preserve them longer and serve as part of the holiday festivities. The egg is also part of the Jewish Passover holiday that takes place in the Spring, symbolizing sacrifice and rebirth.

It is therefore in the Spring, when everything is coming back into life after the winter, that the egg is most closely associated.

The whole chicken raising experience is positive, despite my original objections to the kids. I'm a very keen cook who likes good, fresh ingredients and we all love the difference in taste we are getting from our eggs. Eggs are so versatile and should be the star of your cooking all year round, adapting your culinary use of them to the seasons.

This year for Easter we're doing something different. We've bought a selection of egg cups to sit our freshly laid eggs in, once the kids have decorated them. We'll wrap them simply in brown paper and give them as gifts.

However, I'm not going to insult your intelligence by pretending that eggs are any substitute for chocolate.

Happy Easter!

To read more about eggs, raising chickens and egg cups with a difference visit Eggs are not just for Easter. -------------------------------------------------- For more resources on food, see www.greatestfoodsource.com.

How to Cook the Best Ham

By Ed MacDonald

Ham is one of those meats that are traditionally reserved for holiday gatherings. Why? Maybe because so few people know how to cook the best ham dish. If you would like to enjoy this delicious meat anytime of the year (or week), be sure to follow these simple cooking instructions for a fast and easy dinner that everyone will enjoy:

• Buy only ham that is a bright grayish pink in color and has a firm texture
• To prepare your ham for cooking, begin by trimming any excess fat from the rind - note: some cooks begin cooking their ham first to allow the fat juices to blend into the ham before trimming the fat away; this option is up to you, although it does make for a tastier dish.
• Score your ham by making diagonal cuts along the top and sides (be carful not to pierce the meat). This will help your marinade glaze soak through during the cooking process.
• If using cloves, add them now.
• Bake your ham in a 325 degree oven for about 15 minutes per pound (for precooked hams; longer for uncooked ones), or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 degrees. Be sure to place it in the baking pan fat side up
• Always use a baking pan to allow the drippings to gather at the bottom of the pan for easier basting.
• Turn ham about halfway through the cooking process
• About 45 minutes before you expect your ham to be finished, remove from the oven and glaze.
• Once your ham has reached the proper temperature, remove from oven.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before carving to allow its internal juices to settle. Otherwise it could bleed much of its juicy flavor upon cutting.

As you can see, learning how to cook the best ham really only requires taking some effort to concoct a great glaze and take a little time to slowly roast your ham to perfection.

If you know how to cook, you can not only cook food traditionally reserved for holiday gatherings, you can cook dishes which are quick and easy, besides being tasty and healthy. But before you enter the kitchen, you need to know some simple and basic cooking tips. You can read numerous informative cooking tips at Best Cooking Tips ----------------------------------------------- For more Cooking Recipes, see www.greatestfoodsource.com.