All about eggs. On topic, tangential, and especially about powdered eggs.

Powdered Eggs

Where can you buy powdered eggs? (not egg replacement)

• Co-op?   Nope
• Safeway?   Nope
• Sobeys?   Nope
• Superstore?   Nope...Yes I even entered that place in my searches.
• Ameranth?   Nope
• Random store called 'Health Food' in Brentwood mall?   Yes!

Why would you buy it? Good question, mostly so I can cook yummy food when I'm out camping, also much lighter. Clarification: Use them in baking, they are disgusting on their own.

DO NOT REHYDRATE THE EGGS IF YOU ARE GOING TO BAKE WITH THEM!!!

Bad Eggs

How do you tell if an egg is bad without cracking it?

Float the eggs in a bowl/pan/pot/sink of water. The only real requirement is that the container be deeper than the egg is tall. And the water is cold (you don't want to cook it prematurely).

• If it sinks to the bottom it's good.
• If it's on the bottom but slanty, it's still good.
• If it's on the bottom but standing up, it's good, but use it for baking because it might taste off.
• If it floats, it's bad.

Why? As the egg gets older, gas builds up inside, either through rotting or absorbing gas from outside. Whichever one it is, more gas = more floating.

Tangent A - Easter

Why rabbits and eggs for easter? Quite a few reasons. I'll put a quick summation here, if you want to know more, google it. Btw, chocolate is poisonous to rabbits, so save it for yourself.

• The rabbit is actually a hare, but bunnies are cuter.
• Rabbits and eggs are symbols of fertility. Did you know that rabbits can concieve while pregnant?
• Many ancient legends (chinese and saxon) connect the moon with hares.
• Easter is a pagan celebration of the vernal equinox and springs arrival.
• In 325 A.D. it was decreed that Christian Easter would be the first sunday after the full moon.
• Eggs were (are?) not allowed during catholic Lent, hence the surplus and popularity at easter.
• Christians used to dye eggs red to represent Christ's sacrifice.
• The first modern version of the easter bunny was a lot like santa, only giving presents to good children.
• German immigrants to North America seem to have started the tradition.

Other Egg Replacements

So if you don't have eggs, or don't want to use eggs, what can you do? That depends entirely on what the egg does in the recipe; moisturizer, binder, body, etc. For example, if there is oil and water in the recipe, it's probably a binder. If you beat the recipe at high speed at any point, it's probably a leavening agent (light and fluffy). If there are a lot of eggs, it's probably for the taste/body. Thus using your great deductive skills you can pick what you want from below, I have even helped by giving suggestions where I can.

• 1 egg = 1/2 banana - (moisture, possible binder too)
• 1 egg = 1/4 cup apple sause - (moisture, possible binder too)
• 1 egg = 1 tbsp oil + 2 TSP baking POWDER + 2 tbsp water - (leavener, binder)
• 1 egg = 1 tbsp milled flax seed + 3 tbsp water - (body, binder?)
• 1 egg = 1/4 cup silken tofu (blah!) - (body, texture)
• 1 egg = 2 tsp baking powder + 2 tbsp water - (leavener, binder)
• 1 egg = 1 tbsp soy flour + 1 tbsp water - (body, leavener)
• 1 egg = Egg replacement powder (ewww)
• 1 egg = 2 tsp baking powder + 2 tbsp water - (leavener)
• 1 egg = 1/4 cup soy milk - (body?, moisture)
• 1 egg = 1 tbsp soy powder + 2 tbsp water - (moisture, possible body)
• 1 egg = 3 tbsp puree fruit - (moisture, possible binder too)
• 1 egg = 3 tbsp mayo - (moisture, binder, body)

While searching for the shape of eggs (why are they egg shaped?) I came across this page: http://chefinyou.com/egg-substitutes-cooking/. It's got my list here all beat to heck :(

Tangent B

Don't microwave eggs, the shell acts as a pressure vessel while the contents boil until everything explodes violently. Don't believe me? Watch it on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=microwave+egg&aq=f. Ah Youtube, what would we do without you?

Egg Shape

As I indicated above, I was trying to find out why an egg is egg shaped, rather than, say, spherical. Well I finally found an answer I like. Bird eggs are enlongated because that way when they roll, it's in a circle and will not roll downhill. Very important when your in a tree. People also say it would be easier to lay, but since the vast majority of eggs laid are big end first, I can't see how the shape helps there.