By Debra Morris –

Have you ever wondered why shells on chicken eggs are different colors? You can find some really beautifully colored eggs at your local farmers market. The color of the shells ranges from the usual white, through shades of cream, light brown and brown, to light and dark turquoise.

A chicken’s genes determine the color of the eggshell. You can tell what color the egg will lay by looking at the earlobes. A hen has earlobes you say? Never thought about it? Yes, although their ears are covered in feathers, the chicken’s earlobes are visible and come in a variety of colors. White-feathered hens with white earlobes lay white eggs. Red or brown hens with red earlobes lay brown eggs. Blue to green chicken eggs come from the Aracuana, a breed of chicken developed in Chile. Araucanas have also been crossed with other breeds to produce the Americauna, sometimes referred to as the “Easter Egg Chicken” because of its brightly colored eggs.

The color of a chicken’s feathered coat is irrelevant to the color of the eggs; Chickens actually come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes, ranging from the odd-looking Frizzled Cochin to the elegant black-and-white Sheetenvelders. Originally all chicken eggs were probably brown. Over time, selective breeding for white eggs became the norm. It wasn’t until the late 20th century that brown eggs were reintroduced, and then those breeds with bluish eggs came back, although breeders and farmers were obviously familiar with them.

Eggs of different colors have essentially the same taste, with the taste itself being determined by the chicken’s diet. Have you ever cracked open a farm-fresh egg to discover a deep, rich yellow yolk? Compare that to the pale yellow yolk you get in supermarket eggs. Grazing chickens are free to roam and eat insects, grass, and other natural foods in their environment. You can freely consume the required dietary minerals that are passed to the eggs and the shells.

Get your eggs from the Castro Farmers’ Market for the prettiest colors and flavor you can find. Visit Clara’s Egg Farm in Watsonville. Compare them to supermarket eggs. We bet you will notice the difference in quality and taste.

Scrambled eggs with onions and potatoes

1 small potato
1 shallot
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
1 stick of butter
1 tablespoon cream cheese
pinch of salt

Microwave potato on high for 4 to 5 minutes. Let the potato cool for at least 2 minutes and then check if it’s done. Cut the potato into bite-sized pieces and slice 1 teaspoon green onions; Reserve these to add to the scramble.

scrambled eggs

Crack eggs into a bowl. Add ¼ cup milk and a pinch of salt. Break up all the yolks with a fork and beat the mixture until it is the same color and consistency. Add the cream cheese and work into the eggs with a fork.

Heat a pan over medium heat and add a knob of butter. Move the butter around with your spatula and brush the pan with butter. When it starts to sizzle, add chopped potatoes and spring onions.

Add a pinch of salt and pour in the egg mixture. Keep moving the eggs, using a spatula to keep the eggs off the edge of the pan. It should be silky but not undercooked so that it becomes too mushy. You don’t want to overcook your eggs. They become dry and start to clump together. Remove pan from stove and serve.

Debra Morris is spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA). For recipes, information about farmers markets throughout the area, and more, visit the PCFMA website: https://www.pcfma.org/

This month at the Castro Street Farmers Market
Released April 6, 2023

The post Farm Contemporary Eggs in a Rainbow of Colours – San Francisco Bay Occasions appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

If you didn’t make it to the sierra this year to see the fall foliage, you’re still in luck. Fall colors are currently peaking in many areas of the Bay Area.

Although there is minimal natural fall color in the California coast, there are still plenty of options for foliage in the area. Options include coastal mountains, public gardens or arboretums, and the Wine Country vineyards.

“When it comes to the Bay Area, the San Francisco Peninsula is often good,” said John Poimiroo, who runs CaliforniaFallColor.com. It publishes daily blog updates with photos showing the latest fall color conditions across the state.

Fall colors on display along Acapulco Drive in Campbell.

John Poimiroo / Courtesy CaliforniaFallColor.com

The best places to see the fall foliage in the East Bay are Danville, which Poimiroo says has peaked, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. On the peninsula, Burlingame should be many dark colors, as should Los Altos, Hillsborough, and Campbell.

“Instead of driving around aimlessly, I’ll find a sidewalk cafe in Danville or Burlingame Avenue and then maybe enjoy some of the neighborhood colors,” said Poimiroo.

The Santa Cruz Mountains have some beautiful fall foliage, including Uvas Canyon County Park, Patchen Pass, Summit Road, Roaring Camp, Highway 9, and Stevens Canyon Road. However, the colors at higher elevations are most likely above the peak.

In this photo, Vishal Mishra found beautiful fall foliage along Stevens Canyon Road in Cupertino.

Vishal Mishra

According to Sandy Steinman of California Fall Color, the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden is the most reliable color in the Bay Area. “The streets of Berkeley are full of color,” she noted. “A mix of early, full colors and past highlights, especially the Liquidambars.”

A nice hike to see some fall colors in the East Bay is the Wildcat Creek Trail in Tilden Regional Park.

Fall colors are abundant along the Wildcat Creek Trail in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, California.

Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE

In San Francisco, the Japanese Tea Garden and the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park have some lovely lace colors.

In Marin, trees that change color line many streets of downtown San Rafael. If you’re heading to West Marin, the drive on Sir Francis Drake through Samuel P. Taylor State Park features some beautiful patches of golden and yellow fall colors interspersed with sequoia trees.

Fall colors will peak on November 18, 2021 along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Samuel P. Taylor State Park in West Marin.

Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE

Another good bet is to go to Wine Country. “The vineyards are really beautiful. Each vineyard has a different type and variety, so the autumn colors appear at different times, ”said Poimiroo.

“The tip color is found in late-ripening vineyards,” he continued. “So go to areas where Cabernet Sauvignon is grown. The Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley in northern Sonoma County are a destination.

“And of course you can add wine tasting with the fall color viewing,” added Poimiroo.

The Trentadue Winery vineyards look beautiful and will turn color in November 2020 in Geyserville, California.

David Laurence Sharp

For the latest California fall conditions, visit californiafallcolor.com.

The post Fall colours are peaking across the San Francisco Bay Space appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.