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I have a very good recipe for pound cake. Actually, I should probably call it a four-pound cake. Why? Because it uses a pound of flour (that's four cups), a pound of sugar (two cups), a pound of butter. And a pound of eggs. Of course that's without their shells. And it depends on whether they are medium, large, or extra large eggs. Figure a pound of eggs will be around 6 or 7 eggs. When large eggs were selling for $1.99 / dozen the necessary number of eggs was immaterial.
But now there is a problem with eggs. They are in somewhat short supply.
More expensive too. (Coffee and chocolate also, but let's take one thing at a time.)
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The shortages are explained as a result of bird flu. Entire laying flocks have been slaughtered.
There is a lengthy lead time to breed hens, hatch the chicks, raise pullets to six months old
which is when they'll start to lay. And they are then only productive for a couple of years.
Eggs seem to be priced at about 50 cents per egg. That's at a Wal-Mart here in New Jersey
Available in the usual carton of a dozen eggs. Of 18. Also a shrink wrapped pair of cartons.
Wal-Mart also has supersize cartons of 60 eggs. Maybe for use by a small cafe or bakery?
Once upon a time Shoprite used to sell little quail eggs but not currently.
Just so you know, that's a teaspoon. Expensive. Suitable for elegant little deviled eggs.
Egg and egg alternatives are gaining more prominence on store shelves.
I had to look at the Just Crack an Egg kit and think about it.
Microwavable omelet kits from Kraft Heinz. But you provide the egg.
Scramble an egg. Or stretch it by beating an egg with a little milk, then soak some stale bread.
And make pain perdu, lost bread. Or call it French toast. Homemade grape jelly goes well.
Suggestions for non-egg substitutes. I have not tried any but am dubious
..
Also prominently displayed, sometimes right in a case next door to the eggs. Vegans must be overjoyed.
Where I live in New Jersey is semi-rural. People have livestock such as sheep. Also backyard chickens. And hens lay eggs whether you use all their eggs or not. More in late spring and summer when days are longer, fewer eggs in winter when days are shorter. But the hens keep eating all year long. People with more eggs than they can consume themself often sell eggs at the bottom of their driveway, out by the road. Used to be a picnic cooler, a sign, an honest box. Today, sometimes more elaborate.
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A simple box on a post with a shingle roof. They were out of eggs when I stopped by to photograph.
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A more elaborate home store offering eggs for sale. I liked this one because they had some cold packs inside the cooler.
They are selling both chicken eggs - by the dozen, and duck eggs - by the half-dozen. I especially like using duck eggs
for baking. Indian Runner, Khaki Campbell, and Cayuga are breeds of ducks which lay nearly as well as do chickens.
And duck eggs are bigger than chicken eggs, 1 1/2 or 2 chicken eggs = 1 duck egg.
I asked my friend Lisa, who bakes all the delicious things at The Bridge Cafe in Frenchtown. She said, "Some items are eggless anyway such as fruit pies, sourdough etc." Which made me think of the delicious shortbread I've made with lavender sugar. So baking is still an option. But probably not pound cake.
If you have any comments or questions, you can e-mail me: jgglatt@gmail.com
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