Illinois...

[BigBlueHen53]

"All the detailed instruction "....... you trying to say something lol

Just that I am a self-taught cook with a loooong way to go, lol! Need all the help I can get. I watch cooking shows with my finger on the pause button bc they go so fast! I wouldn't have known to cook down the broth twice like you do to intensify the flavors, can't wait to try it! No wonder mine is always so insipid. Thanks!

 

[BReeder!]

Because it's getting colder, it's a little easier to break a broody. It may take as little as kicking her off the nest a couple times a day & putting her outside in the cold. (If not an all-out, full, determined, screeching broody, she will sense the cold and hold off for a couple months.) If stubborn, she may need a wire bottom cage for a while. It's impossible to "fully break her." It's genetics and those hens that like to go broody, will continue to go broody. Some more frequent than others, but broody fever will strike again. You just can't predict when.

My Cookie goes broody all the time. She's a good mama too and hatched most of my flock. The easiest broody was one of my flock leaders (Princess). She passed her high pecking order along to her chicks. It was funny to see all the hens move out of the way when a tiny chick approached the feeder. (The other hens knew Princess was not far behind!) Like clockwork, Princess only went broody once a year in June.

Our Lav Orp is named Princess.

 

[BReeder!]

Just that I am a self-taught cook with a loooong way to go, lol! Need all the help I can get. I watch cooking shows with my finger on the pause button bc they go so fast! I wouldn't have known to cook down the broth twice like you do to intensify the flavors, can't wait to try it! No wonder mine is always so insipid. Thanks!

Stay at it. The more you challenge yourself in coming the better you are. Look up duck cassoulet. That was my hardest challenge so far. It was a Mother's Day dinner for my wife that took three days to make. Bread making is a lot of fun, and typically not as expensive. Simple things like making stock are just as good for your culinary development though. There's a chef who makes people cook a perfect egg as part of his interview to get a position on his kitchen staff. It goes to show that there's technique and skill even in cooking simple foods.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Stay at it. The more you challenge yourself in coming the better you are. Look up duck cassoulet. That was my hardest challenge so far. It was a Mother's Day dinner for my wife that took three days to make. Bread making is a lot of fun, and typically not as expensive. Simple things like making stock are just as good for your culinary development though. There's a chef who makes people cook a perfect egg as part of his interview to get a position on his kitchen staff. It goes to show that there's technique and skill even in cooking simple foods.

I have made my own delicious 50% whole wheat bread for years, the challenge now is arthritis in my shoulders requires me to find no knead recipes! I also make my own yogurt. And recently learned how to make a perfect sunny-side-up egg with no grease and fully cooked (not slimy!) white. Next challenge: perfect poached! Also working on bechamel and cheese sauces, and a caramel sauce that stays smooth, even in our humidity! Sigh, so many challenges, so little lifetime, lol!

 

[SnootyHen]

View attachment 2425394
This is embarrassing......I had to have my dad get some at the store today. He told the cashier that is was for a lady with almost 50 chickens. She laughed.

I still have to buy eggs regularly. And it's annoying because so many of my friends are like "what are you gonna do with all those eggs!?!?" Ummm, my family eats a dozen a day on a normal day. That doesn't include baking or giving away any. Even when all 12 of mine are laying we'll probably have to buy some. Boo. I must need more chickens!!

 

[cavemanrich]

requires me to find no knead recipes!

try this one.

 

[Molpet]

I have made my own delicious 50% whole wheat bread for years, the challenge now is arthritis in my shoulders requires me to find no knead recipes! I also make my own yogurt. And recently learned how to make a perfect sunny-side-up egg with no grease and fully cooked (not slimy!) white. Next challenge: perfect poached! Also working on bechamel and cheese sauces, and a caramel sauce that stays smooth, even in our humidity! Sigh, so many challenges, so little lifetime, lol!

Bread machine kneads the bread for you. Maybe you can find a used one

 

[Faraday40]

@BigBlueHen53

Bread machine kneads the bread for you. Maybe you can find a used one

x2 Just about to say that. I just throw ingredients in on dough cycle and then shape & bake. Used bread machines are cheap and plentiful at Goodwill stores.

 

[Faraday40]

Our Lav Orp is named Princess.

Technically she was "Princess Lay-a", a pretty white backyard mix. At that time, we also had a Hen Solo, Darth Layer, Chew-BAWK-a, Yolk-a, and Skywattle.

The big black orp (Darth Layer aka Darthy) was very special and the reason we started breeding orpingtons.

 

[Faraday40]

Happy Thanksgiving! Ours will be a virtual celebration this year.

Another 1st is processing our own tom turkey. Did it on Sat, but meat is not as soft/floppy as a store chicken. This Thanksgiving project started back in April with turkey eggs. I'd hate to ruin the experience by cooking too soon.

Are there any tricks to speed up the 'resting period'? (Limbs bend, but there's a little resistance/firmness to it.) Otherwise our Thanksgiving will have to be tomorrow.