eggs

Egg Post Follow-up: Separating Eggs Using Your Hands

Cooking

Well, it did not take long for me to try my hand at separating eggs using my hands. My son found the perfect opportunity for me when he was making a Gluten Free Pancake recipe from Chef Gordon Ramsay. Knowing I wanted to try this he called me into the kitchen.

Of course I was ready to try this! Washing my hands in preparation for my latest challenge, I warned him that we may waste a few eggs (not really…I can not stand to waste food…I would just save and scramble them for breakfast tomorrow…) in the learning process. I got my bowls ready and cracked the first egg with one hand into the palm of my other hand. I caught the yolk nicely in my palm and let the whites drain through my open fingers into the bowl. Success! Can I do it again? I proceeded to crack the second egg into my palm and yes, success again!

Using the hand method to separate eggs.

How do I compare separating eggs using the hand method to that of the shell method? I actually prefer the hand method. Thanks Gordon Ramsay for this new technique! Why do I prefer this method? Obviously, since I love the one handed egg cracking method, this works for me. Using the shell method, if you do not crack the shell perfectly down the center, separating the eggs can be a little more challenging. The hand method is also faster, in my opinion, than cracking the shell and sending the yolk back and forth between shells until fully separated.

Now that I have found my preferred method of cracking and separating eggs, I think I will search for other kitchen techniques that I can improve upon. I know my knife skills could use sharpening.

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Nesting Grebes at Lake Hodges

Travel

Are you interested in birds? If so, you may want to check out Lake Hodges located in Southern California. Right now is the perfect time to take a short hike to see the Grebes nesting on the lake.

Grebes build large nests at water level on the sticks and branches that are protruding from the water. It is quite a sight to see. In-between the sticks there are lots of nesting birds. My son and I were lucky enough to see one of the birds take a break from the nest and go for a swim, exposing a couple of yellow eggs. Of course the mommy did not go far from the nest and kept swimming close to check on the eggs.

It is an easy walk from the gravel parking lot to the Pedestrian Suspension Bridge where you can view the Grebes nesting. Once on the bridge just look west (away from the freeway) and you will see the nests. I highly recommended that you bring binoculars to view the birds. You can also see them by zooming in with your camera. Without binoculars or a camera you will not be able to see the birds in detail. Also, be sure to bring water. Even though it is a short walk, Escondido gets very hot depending on the time of day you are there.

Besides viewing the Grebes, Lake Hodges offers other activities as well. You can bring your mountain bikes or hike on the many trails around the lake. If you walk to the end of the bridge and turn left, there is a nice hike to a stream and then back around past the lake. A drive to the other side of the lake would also allow you to rent kayaks, which my family and I did one year.

To get to the Pedestrian Suspension Bridge to view the Grebes, take exit 26 W. Bernardo Drive/Pomerado Road off I-15 in San Diego, CA. Head left (West), pass the bridge, and park in the gravel lot on your right off West Bernardo Drive. There is a pathed bike/walking path from the lot to the bridge.