Have you ever had a conversation with a two-year-old? If so, you’ll recall that his/her side of the conversation consisted mainly of "why?" Have you ever read an owner’s manual that told you to do or not do a particular thing, but you wanted to know why? These days manufacturers’ lawyers are including their two cents in the instructions, such as "doing/not doing so will cause you to blow yourself up, get your fingers sticky, be abducted by aliens," etcetera. That’s to cover their back pockets, namely, the one with the wallet. But, they still don’t say WHY. Have you ever read a recipe that tells you to break an egg into a separate container before adding it to the other ingredients? WHY??! Okay. Well. The first time you break an egg filled with grey, smelly sludge into a pound of butter and four cups of sugar, "why?" will all become abundantly clear. I never forgot that NOR the lesson, but I still want to know "why?" Now I have the internet and can usually find out for myself.
But, speaking of eggs--wait. Let me get my low phosphate, unscented soap box. Do you know where eggs come from? Chickens, yes, but have you ever thought about those little chickens? So as not to doom large corporations that have gotten wealthy off the suffering of animals, I won’t direct you, but, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding for yourself the online video that shows, among other horrors, these little chickens hard at work, 24/7, no sleep, no boyfriends, popping out really cheap eggs for you. It’s the animal version of a sweat shop and we have laws protecting humans from such misery. These little chickens pop out eggs until they can’t anymore or until they die. Either way, it’s a short, dismal life.
What you can do-- You can start by not buying eggs. No. I couldn’t do that, either. You need eggs for baking, and besides, a hard boiled egg is some of the best fast food on the planet. I tried the veg thang, but like Cher says, "Sometimes you just gotta have a cheeseburger." So, anyway, what you can really do, and this is easy—you can start buying eggs that come from free range chickens. Means they get to run and play and pursue satisfying relationships. They get good, clean food and when chickens aren’t all crowded up in stressful conditions, they don’t require antibiotics in their food every day. Try to find the vegetarian diet type. The lower quality (read: cheap) eggs come from chickens that get fed waste products, including animal parts. And chickens that eat a vegetarian diet don’t stink, not that that matters when you’re buying store-bought eggs, but if by chance you'd consider adopting a couple or three hens of your own for really fresh eggs--an incentive. Yes, you’ll be paying a little more, but for much better quality eggs. You’ll get these beautiful sturdy shells and bright yellow yolks sitting way up high. Mmmmm. The good eggs can be found at the Co-op, of course, but some of the big stores (Safeway, Raley’s) have them, too. Yours doesn’t? Ask! Ask every time you go in, and make some phone calls, too. Supply. Demand. You remember. Eventually, hopefully, the chickens will have happy new years, too.
- The Dove Lady never outgrew the "why?’" stage. She loves to bake, has forgiven Safeway, and she doesn’t like cheese on her hamburgers. Just plain yellow mustard with white bread.
