And now, healthy eggs

Out in the market now are specialty eggs, but what exactly are these? Produced by Bounty Farms, there are four types – Omega enriched, Nutri-filled, Organic Selenuim enriched and Vitamin E enriched. We wondered how eggs could become enriched and we were enlightened by John of the company, who welcomed our queries and gave us useful information. 

Initially the chickens are segregated in houses. They have 14 of them, each designated for a specific breed. This poultry technique has been passed on by US organic experts. Given that eggs are naturally rich in Vitamin E, the breeders enrich the fowls by feeding them with corn (which results in orange-hued yolks), yogurt and soy. While the chicken have basic intake, the supplementary diet is given to produce the healthy eggs. They are graded and classified. Only the large and extra large ones are put in the market. They are packed in 10s and cost P79.

The enriched eggs have positive attributes – lowering of blood sugar, controlling blood pressure, reduction of cancer risk, strengthening of the immune system and, for the beauty conscious, Vitamin E makes the skin glow.

Selenuim is also present in fish, meat, grains and nuts.

Two friends, Mao (short for Maria Teresa) and May, creative foodies, recently came up with an innovative spread, something a lot of homemakers will be surprised about, as we were. This is bottled pepper jelly, made of creamed sweetish red peppers minus the seeds, so those afraid to indulge will have no problems with their uric acid count. Spread on crackers with cream cheese, this makes a good starter. It is sold by the bottle or with cream cheese and crackers, in regular and gift boxes in two sizes – P150 for a bottle of 110 gms and P500 for 300 gms. Calling their outfit Pleasures and Tradition, they also make traditional fruit cake (with imported fruits and walnuts), food for the gods, butter and prune cakes, raisin oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip cookies. Call them at 842-3492 , 0917-5289976 for Mao and 0918-4245559 for May.

A bakery located on the side of Makati Supermarket carries the brand Reyna. They have mamon with cheese, packed in 10s at P120.

We particularly like the mini ube loaf (P24 each), which reminds us of our younger days when we’d fill up pan de sal with spoonfuls of ube jalaya. This one is generously done with the sweet yam, alternating in swirls with soft monay-type bread.     

More friends who have made food their business – in our base in Molino 4, Nening sell fruits – kiwi, apples, by the box. She has New Zealand meat including lamb chops, ribeye, wagyu as well as oysters and salmon. Of course she has the usual pinangat from Bicol. For prices please call 394-8568.

Mary Lou, who has been so amazed with food cooked with coconut, especially coconut milk in ice cream, has some frozen items in her home also in Molino 4. Call 909-3070 for the following: coco-based ice cream and ice drops. Ice drops come in various flavors – cool buko, buko juice, pandan, buko salad, among others. Each pack contains two sticks. The ice cream made of coco cream and coco sugar comes in pints and quarts, from P99 to P190. The special ube-buko is at P210 a quart.

Reader feedback – we thank our reader Danny for tips on how to roast lamb in a different way. His email is obviously an off shoot of our last column. Lamb connoisseurs, his family enjoys what he does every month – roast lamb. He does not pierce the meat, but manages to insert crushed garlic and rub rosemary on it.

The difference is, he bakes it in an oven bag which he says keeps the lamb moist. He also pan-fries the vegetables.

Another friend, Lita, once told us that she wraps the lamb with a wet towel before roasting or baking. No, no danger of burning the cloth. Anyway, lamb is a most delicious meat to have on any table.

Plan your Christmas feast now!

E-mail comments and questions to this new address: l[email protected]. Ms. Castillo’s former address has been hacked. Please ignore any e-mail sent from that address.