Lisa Steele's Blog, page 6

Maine Wild Blueberry Cobbler

Fresh wild Maine blueberries make the best pies and cobblers, but if you can't find them fresh, then frozen will do.

Fresh wild Maine blueberries make the best blueberry pies and cobblers, but if you can’t find them, then frozen will do. And if you can't find any wild Maine blueberries, then regular blueberries will do.

I love a good blueberry pie, but when I’m short on time, this cobbler is the next best thing because it is quick and easy to assemble and bakes in no time. 

This recipe is so easy, ...

Watermelon Slushies for Chickens

Watermelon slushies provide chickens essential hydration as well as beneficial nutrients on a hot day.

Chickens not only can eat watermelon, they should, and they love it!  And it’s one of the best summer treats for your chickens because its high water content helps keep them hydrated.

In addition to being full of moisture, watermelon contains Vitamins A, B6 and C, magnesium and potassium. It's also a great source of carotenoids which make nice orange egg yolks as well as cucurbitacin, which is th...

9 Essential Tools for Egg Lovers

Eggs are so versatile and can be prepared in so many different ways - which requires that you have some essential tools in your kitchen to prepare them correctly. 

I eat eggs almost every day for breakfast (at least when my chickens are laying!) And since the average American eats about 280 eggs a year, apparently I'm not alone. 

I would say it's a safe guess that the majority of American families are sitting down to a breakfast of eggs more often than not.

Fried, scrambled, poached, soft-boiled, h...

What are These White Stringy Things in my Eggs?

Don't worry. Those white ropy strands aren't an embryo, an imbilical cord or a sign that the egg has been fertilized. They're actually a sign of freshness.

Contrary to popular belief, that white stringy thing floating in your egg isn't a baby chick’s umbilical cord. It’s not an embryo, either. It’s actually a sign that the egg is super fresh.

What are These White Stringy Things in my Eggs?

When you crack an egg into a bowl or your frying pan, you might have noticed opaque twisted strands floating i...

The Differences between Chickens and Ducks

Chickens and ducks are very different when it comes to feeding, housing and caring for them.

Although we have been raising both chickens and ducks for almost 15 years, and they have been sharing a coop and run for the majority of that time, they are actually very different in so many ways. 

While chickens and ducks can successfully live together in (relative) peace and harmony, it is important to understand all the ways that they differ in their dietary, living and other needs in order to provide ...

Goat Cheese Frittata with Fresh Herbs

Celebrate spring with fresh herbs and tangy goat cheese baked in fresh eggs.
Frittatas are sort of like crustless quiches. I love how quick and easy they are to make - and they're delicious warm right from the oven or at room temperature.
Unlike quiches, they're not technically baked, but instead briefly cooked on the stove top, then finished up under your broiler.
And they're versatile. You can use any combination of meats, cheeses and vegetables in your frittatas, so they're a great way to clean ...

Simple DIY Tote Brooder Box for Chicks

This new and improved brooder box design requires only a plastic tote, some wire screen and a few zip ties.
Years ago, I made a brooder box out of a plastic tote for my brand new baby chicks. It involved cutting boards, screwing together nuts and bolts, and required a saw, a drill...
That box served me well through several batches of chicks and is probably out in the barn still somewhere. 
But when I was writing 101 Chicken Keeping Hacks in 2018, I thought I could simplify the process a bit. 
And I ...

Fried Egg with Asparagus and Hollandaise

You won't even miss the carbs in this elegant twist on a traditional Eggs Benedict recipe.

Flavorful asparagus provides the foundation for the fried egg, and then the whole thing is drizzled with decadent homemade Hollandaise sauce in this elegant Fried Egg with Asparagus and Hollandaise recipe. 

We used to grow our own asparagus in Virginia, and for anyone who has tried, you know that it takes several years, along with a lot of patience and scrawny spears, before you’re finally able to harvest fu...

Big Mac Pizza Recipe

Here's a Big Mac copycat recipe. Make it at home - but make it a pizza.
I try to avoid eating fast food as much as possible, but who hasn't been on a road trip absolutely starving (or bored!), so you stop at McDonald's and grab a Big Mac. 

I'll admit to that and so I definitely am familiar with the taste of a Big Mac burger with special sauce.

Two All-Beef Patties, Special Sauce...

Furthermore, who as a kid didn't sing the quintessential jingle, "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese,...

How (and Why) to Sprout Microgreens for your Chickens in 5 Days

Sprouting microgreens for your chickens provides them a nutritious treat they'll love - in just 5 days!

Microgreens have become popular in human cuisine over the last few decades and with good reason. They add not only a pop of green on the plate and a bit of delicious crunch, they're also packed with nutrients and anti-oxidants.
But they're not only for people. Your chickens will love them too!How (and Why) to Sprout Microgreens for your Chickens in 5 DaysMicrogreens are easy to sprout and will b...