Fat Makes Eggs Tender – Using fat and salting eggs before cooking both reduce the tendency of proteins to bond with each other making the cooked eggs less rubbery.  An omelet cooked without butter will support a 2 lb weight!

Eggs are available from Schacht Farm, Phelps Family Farm, Royer Farm Fresh Meats, Circle L Bison, and Hidden Pond Farm (they also have duck eggs).

Perfect Scrambled Eggs

adapted from Cook’s Illustrated The Science of Good Cooking

Ingredients:

• 8 large eggs* plug 2 large yolks (extra yolks add egg flavor and protect against overcooking)
• ¼ cup half & half or 8 teaspoons whole milk and 4 teaspoons heavy cream
• ¼ t salt & ¼ t pepper
• 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter chilled

Directions:

Beat eggs, half & half, salt and pepper until just combined (with a fork until large bubbles form) – overbeating causes premature bonding of protein molecules.  Heat butter in 10” non-stick skillet on medium-high until pan is coated but not until butter browns.  Add egg mixture and scrape with rubber spatula along bottom and sides until spatula leaves trail, about 1.5 – 2.5 min.  Reduce heat and continue to fold eggs until clumped but slightly wet.  Transfer eggs to warmed plated, season with salt and herbs (optional), and serve immediately. (Serves 4)

Other tips:

1. Choose the right size pan – too large a pan causes eggs to cook too quickly.  Smaller pan helps trap steam and ensures fluffy tender eggs.
2. Better to cook more quickly over higher heat.  Higher heat generated steam than keeps the eggs light.
3. Precook add-ins to drive off excess moisture. Fold in at very end of cooking eggs. (This is when you add the pre-steamed, cut up asparagus!)
4. Use less half & half when adding other ingredients that add moisture.
5. Reduce heat to medium to lessen the risk of weeping caused by add-ins

*Note: In Cooks Illustrated’s taste tests, farm fresh eggs were standouts. Their large yolks were bright orange and sat high above the paler store bought eggs. Their flavor was rich and complex. 

Now that you know how to make the perfect scrambled eggs, as well as where to find the best fresh farm eggs, here are some delicious recipes using them with fresh Market asparagus for amazing and healthy seasonal dishes!

Asparagus has been available from Anna Belle’s Garden, Earthly Delights, Compean & Sons, Anne’s Asparagus (Pete’s Peaches), and Apple Works.

Pasta with Asparagus and Scrambled Eggs

Asparagus Frittata

Strata with Asparagus, Sausage, and Fontina

Bonus Local Chef Recipe: Roasted Asparagus &Tomatoes with Fried Eggs

photos from Everyday Food, Williams Sonoma Agrarian, and Huffington Post 

Brearton & Hughes play a mix of covers and original music that could be classified as easy listening in the traditional folk music style.

If you like what you hear, please consider purchasing a CD and/or leaving a tip.

Email Jamie.indyrainbarrels@gmail.com with any questions!

On her farm she grows over 500 varieties of perennials with personal care to each plant and an emphasis on variety and quality. Her love of and passion for growing called her to start Blue Moon Farm in 2007 and led her to our Market in 2012, where you don’t have to be a landscape contractor to purchase her beautiful perennial plants.

Kate has been in the green industry for over 15 years and is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Horticulture Science. She is a frequent contributor to Indiana Landscape & Nursery News.

Find out more about Kate and her farm on her website here.

The Dog Olympics takes place this Saturday, May 18, at Broad Ripple Park. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. with events starting at 10:30 a.m. Of course that means you will have to do your Market shopping early, but that’s the best time to find everything in full supply. Then you can be off to the nearby park to register your furry competitor in events like the T-shirt race, shedding contest, pie-eating contest, 3-minute makeover, obstacle course, bone-finding contest and barking contest. See — there’s something for everyone!

Entertainment will be provided by Q95′s Dean Metcalf (as if the events won’t be entertainment enough) and gold medals will be awarded to all winning dogs. Get more information by going to www.adoptarpo.org and click on the Dog Olympics link. There is a $5 donation/entry for each event or $30 for all. Doesn’t that sound like fun!