5 ways to use your eggs - Easter special
How does the Easter Bunny stay in shape during the off season?
…he gets lots of eggs-ercise!
And just like that, the Easter bunny has come and gone. We hope everyone from the CHOMP family had an egg-cellent Easter weekend and enjoyed as many chocolate eggs as we did (…guilty)! Alright, we're done cracking ourselves up with these egg puns, we just can't help but love a good yolk.
So what is the significance of the egg during Easter?
Easter is a religious holiday and its traditions and customs have evolved throughout time. To Christians, this holiday celebrates the resurrection of Christ. However, many of the current Easter traditions are not found in the Bible. For example, the Easter eggs. So who, what, when, where and why did Easter eggs become such a thing?
The egg - symbolic of new life and fertility - has been related to pagan festivals to celebrate spring and a time of rebirth/new life. Sounds relevant. But what about all the colourful and decorated eggs? Well, the tradition of egg decorating can be dated back to at least the 13th century. And one possible justification to this is linked to Lent when eggs were forbidden. Once the fasting period was over, people would decorate and paint the eggs to celebrate the holiday.
From tuning into your artistic side (painting them) to your competitive side (hunting them) and to your gourmand side (eating them), Easter eggs are easily enjoyed by everyone.
Finally, after reading more about the history of the Easter egg, we came across more insightful details that would be silly not to share. You would think that Easter eggs came from chickens. BUT in this instance, they are the product of the Easter Bunny. Did you know that this belief actually originates from a German folklore (Osterhase), dated from the 17th century? This mythical egg-laying hare is said to deliver the eggs to children.
FUN FACT: Cadbury was the first to create the modern chocolate Easter egg in 1975.
Alright, now we move on to the egg-citing part of the blog: TIPS. Specifically, tips on how to use your eggs (bet you didn't see that one coming). Eggs are such a staple ingredient and they can be used in sweet and/or savoury dishes. Their use even extends beyond the cooking realm. Here are some ways of using your eggs that prove their versatility (BONUS: these tips fit in so well with our zero-waste motto):
Well obviously… cooking: think quiche, fritata, shakshuka, fried, scrambled, poached, boiled, steamed, soufflé… The list goes on!
Reduce bitterness: add them to your ground coffee prior to brewing. Make sure to wash the shells properly and remove any egg residue. Dry them up and crush them before adding to your ground coffee to reduce any bitterness. This also is a great way to add calcium.
Soil additive: crushed eggshells are perfect for your houseplants. They not only add minerals but also keep the soil aerated.
Start seedlings: the nutrient content in eggshells are the perfect host for starting your small seedlings. Plus it also looks super cute.
Calcium supplement: eggshells are very high in calcium. By baking the clean eggshells in the oven for 8 minutes at 180ºC then grinding them into a fine powder, you can mix this homemade calcium supplement into anything (juice, coffee, smoothies, etc.).
