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Chicken and Egg: A Memoir of Suburban Homesteading with 125 Recipes
Chicken coops have never been so chic! From organic gardens in parking lots to rooftop beekeeping, the appeal of urban homesteading is widespread. Chicken and Egg tells the story of veteran food writer Janice Cole, who, like so many other urbanites, took up the revolutionary hobby of raising chickens at home. From picking out the perfect coop to producing the miracle of the first egg, Cole shares her now-expert insights into the trials, triumphs, and bonds that result when human and hen live in close quarters. With 125 recipes for delicious chicken and egg dishes, poultry lovers, backyard farmers, and those contemplating taking the leap will adore this captivating illustrated memoir!
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 10, 2015
This is a lovely, readable book with delicious sounding recipes and a sweet story of how the author first started keeping chickens in her backyard. I was disappointed with it because the subtitle led me to believe that there would be more information about raising chickens to become more self sufficient. I recommend this book for the recipes with a few cute chicken stories thrown in as a bonus but it is not in anyway a handbook for homesteading or raising chickens as more than egg producing pets.
The recipes look delicious, though for the most part I won't be using them without tweaking since maybe half use butter or other dairy products and we have a dangerously severe dairy allergy in my family. The author includes handy cooking tips and advice on her directions for each recipe.
I was more interested in the memoir part than the recipes when I decided to read this book. I'm interested in homesteading so the subtitle caught my eye and I enjoy reading about other people's experiences raising backyard chickens. It's like hearing another couple's love story when you are happily in love too. However the author states in the intro that she had only had chickens for four or five years at the time she wrote the book, so her advice grates on my nerves a little. Going with the love story analogy again, it's a bit like reading a book about how to have a happy marriage by someone who had only been married a few years. For instance, the author is not likely to have deal much with illness, injury, old age, decline in egg production that comes with these issues. These are things a person should consider before getting chickens to raise for eggs because as a responsible chicken owner will either have to cull their bird (and hopefully eat it so as not to waste it) or be prepared to have a chicken pet for many more years without the benefit of eggs. The author does have some really good thoughts about the importance of realizing where our meat comes from and eating with a consciousness and thankfulness of the animal's life.
Her advice about hatching chicks (only for those who are, in her words, "obsessive compulsive") is simply wrong and misleading. She states that any fluctuation in temperature and humidity will kill the embryo which shows that she's never tried it. Yes you want to keep it as constant as possible but naturally brooded eggs are exposed to the elements for at least a few minutes everyday when the hen gets up to eat and poop and the eggs survive. (I have hatched eggs in an incubator and under a broody hen so I have experience.)
I have some serious issues with the subtitle. The author only has three hens and bought one of the most expensive trendy coops I've drooled over online. As far as I can tell, that is the extent of her "homesteading". I am not disputing her experience and I think it's important for everyone to do their part to eat more locally and aware of the living conditions of the animals they eat or use for milk and eggs, etc. But three hens is not suburban homestead by any stretch of the imagination. I would have been much happier with this book if I hadn't read the subtitle.
(I currently have 24 chickens, six geese, and thirteen turkeys but I started out by babysitting my friend's five hens in my suburban backyard. )
The recipes look delicious, though for the most part I won't be using them without tweaking since maybe half use butter or other dairy products and we have a dangerously severe dairy allergy in my family. The author includes handy cooking tips and advice on her directions for each recipe.
I was more interested in the memoir part than the recipes when I decided to read this book. I'm interested in homesteading so the subtitle caught my eye and I enjoy reading about other people's experiences raising backyard chickens. It's like hearing another couple's love story when you are happily in love too. However the author states in the intro that she had only had chickens for four or five years at the time she wrote the book, so her advice grates on my nerves a little. Going with the love story analogy again, it's a bit like reading a book about how to have a happy marriage by someone who had only been married a few years. For instance, the author is not likely to have deal much with illness, injury, old age, decline in egg production that comes with these issues. These are things a person should consider before getting chickens to raise for eggs because as a responsible chicken owner will either have to cull their bird (and hopefully eat it so as not to waste it) or be prepared to have a chicken pet for many more years without the benefit of eggs. The author does have some really good thoughts about the importance of realizing where our meat comes from and eating with a consciousness and thankfulness of the animal's life.
Her advice about hatching chicks (only for those who are, in her words, "obsessive compulsive") is simply wrong and misleading. She states that any fluctuation in temperature and humidity will kill the embryo which shows that she's never tried it. Yes you want to keep it as constant as possible but naturally brooded eggs are exposed to the elements for at least a few minutes everyday when the hen gets up to eat and poop and the eggs survive. (I have hatched eggs in an incubator and under a broody hen so I have experience.)
I have some serious issues with the subtitle. The author only has three hens and bought one of the most expensive trendy coops I've drooled over online. As far as I can tell, that is the extent of her "homesteading". I am not disputing her experience and I think it's important for everyone to do their part to eat more locally and aware of the living conditions of the animals they eat or use for milk and eggs, etc. But three hens is not suburban homestead by any stretch of the imagination. I would have been much happier with this book if I hadn't read the subtitle.
(I currently have 24 chickens, six geese, and thirteen turkeys but I started out by babysitting my friend's five hens in my suburban backyard. )
April 13, 2013
Eh. This book is mostly recipes. A few look like things I'd try, a lot are fairly standard, and some are too high falutin' for me. (Saffron? Really? Who can afford that?)
The "memoir" aspect of this book is very brief - it could be a magazine article. If you've never had chickens, but think they sound interesting, you'd probably enjoy the author's story. If you've had chickens for a bit, her story seems a bit city slicker-ish, but not in an amusing way.
The "memoir" aspect of this book is very brief - it could be a magazine article. If you've never had chickens, but think they sound interesting, you'd probably enjoy the author's story. If you've had chickens for a bit, her story seems a bit city slicker-ish, but not in an amusing way.
June 23, 2020
Given to me by a friend, I find the recipes simple, but with unique distinction. All have been DELICIOUS!
December 15, 2024
Wonderful recipes. Good chicken info
August 19, 2014
My problem with this book is that I thought I would enjoy it more for the memoir part and not use the recipes so much so I bought it for Kindle. Big mistake. The recipes all look incredible and even though I've easily owned this book for more than a year I've just, finally, remembered to bring my Kindle to the kitchen to cook with it.
The recipes have the instructions first, followed by the ingredients, which I find a little disorienting (again, I'm blaming my Kindle - even though I do love it....) but they are very precise and ensure the dish will turn out correctly.
The Ratatouille with eggs is the absolute perfect combo/measurements for a ratatouille so I will use that elsewhere (pasta, pizza topping, rice, side dish, etc.) as well as in this recipe which proceeds to bake it with eggs and cheese.
Deep Dish Mushroom Bake is really good - but be warned - unless you are feeding a crowd, go ahead and halve the recipe.
The little chicken raising tidbits are good and the personal stories are fun, too. A very nice mash-up of memoir and cookbook. I really wish I had bought a hard copy of this but live and learn!
The recipes have the instructions first, followed by the ingredients, which I find a little disorienting (again, I'm blaming my Kindle - even though I do love it....) but they are very precise and ensure the dish will turn out correctly.
The Ratatouille with eggs is the absolute perfect combo/measurements for a ratatouille so I will use that elsewhere (pasta, pizza topping, rice, side dish, etc.) as well as in this recipe which proceeds to bake it with eggs and cheese.
Deep Dish Mushroom Bake is really good - but be warned - unless you are feeding a crowd, go ahead and halve the recipe.
The little chicken raising tidbits are good and the personal stories are fun, too. A very nice mash-up of memoir and cookbook. I really wish I had bought a hard copy of this but live and learn!
July 26, 2016
I never have understood the thrill of keeping chickens, but reading Janice Cole's love affair with the birds gives me a better idea of why some are drawn to the mess, noise and confusion. It's the eggs: perfectly formed (usually, at least after the first year), beautifully colored and variously sized, and of course there's the cooking thing.
Or maybe it's the chickens. Feathered, frantic and fretful, Cole's chickens have personalities and her efforts to keep her birds healthy and happy in a suburban backyard is comical.
Overall, a lovely book - gentle and humorous with an informative narrative, splendid recipes and exquisite photographs.
What a wonderful work by Janice Cole and Alex Farnum. Thanks for publishing this, Chronicle Books! I didn't expect to find it in a Portland Pendleton store.
-- Ashland Mystery
Or maybe it's the chickens. Feathered, frantic and fretful, Cole's chickens have personalities and her efforts to keep her birds healthy and happy in a suburban backyard is comical.
Overall, a lovely book - gentle and humorous with an informative narrative, splendid recipes and exquisite photographs.
What a wonderful work by Janice Cole and Alex Farnum. Thanks for publishing this, Chronicle Books! I didn't expect to find it in a Portland Pendleton store.
-- Ashland Mystery
May 13, 2017
A fast read about one middle aged woman who gets a small flock of backyard chickens and her one year adventure with them. I bought this book on a kindle sale, and I cracked it open at my son's boring tball practice looking for ANYTHING to take the boredom away. I was so pleasantly surprised by her ease and style in writing that I was halfway done by the time practice was over. It should be noted that over half of the book is egg or chicken recipes. Since I can cook well and always looking for new recipes, this was a surprise bonus. I'm glad I own this book instead of just borrowing it so I can refer to the recipes in the future (good pictures!). I loom forward to my own flock of backyard chickens one day and thus book was a great story of keeping them!
July 18, 2016
I'm always looking for new ways to use my CSA share & since the Little Free Library at my CSA had this book I decided it was a match made in heaven.
This is a GREAT collection of recipes, particularly if you find yourself with a glut of chicken and/or eggs & want some new ways to enjoy them. I can't WAIT to make some of the recipes from this book. The book is organized by season, taking other seasonal foods into account, which is a lovely way to consider dining. For two food staples, there is a lot of creativity in these recipes.
This is a GREAT collection of recipes, particularly if you find yourself with a glut of chicken and/or eggs & want some new ways to enjoy them. I can't WAIT to make some of the recipes from this book. The book is organized by season, taking other seasonal foods into account, which is a lovely way to consider dining. For two food staples, there is a lot of creativity in these recipes.
July 31, 2011
This book has lovely photographs and wonderful recipes. I've made the first recipe and it was divine. I found my way to chicken ownership much like the author so it's a familiar story, but I don't think the writing is particularly strong. The majority of the book is filled with good-looking recipes, however, so I'm not regretting this purchase at all. I'm very happy to add it to my collection of egg cookbooks.
January 21, 2012
This is more cookbook and photobook than memoir, but I enjoyed reading about the adventures of raising three chickens in Minnesota. It sounds more entertaining than inspiring. About half the recipes are for chicken, which limits their utility to this vegetarian. I'm not sure whether I'll keep the book or pass it to a meat-eating friend. I made "risotto" style scrambled eggs from the first recipe this morning for breakfast, and they were dreamy.
May 21, 2012
Really fun book, filled with great recipes (I have five or six I want to try right now), and brief stories about her chickens, their personalities, and what it is like to have chickens in your urban backyard. Rosy would really love to watch (catch) chickens. She's fascinated by them on TV, so I have a feeling we won't be getting chickens for our backyard anytime soon. Highly recommended for people who like cookbooks, the concept of urban farming, and who like chickens.
June 22, 2011
loved it, easy to read and the recipes looked divine. It was nice reading about a normal person who just wants a few chickens for fresh eggs. The "I'm soooo greeen and you're not" contingent gets tiresome, there are many more common sense people out there who want to read about the grown up reality of it, not the how I wish it were ideal.
March 7, 2013
I liked this book, but there was nothing that really engaged me. The recipes seem nice though I was not compelled to make any of them. The chicken keeping advice was mostly sound. The memoir passages were enjoyable but ultimately not very memorable.
I liked it, but I don't think it was what I was expecting.
I liked it, but I don't think it was what I was expecting.
May 11, 2011
I loved reading the brief stories in this book. It was fun & inspiring. Last night we made the Roast Chicken with Crispy Smashed Potatoes for dinner and it was amazing. Now that I'm back in the habit of going to the Farmer's Market on a Saturday I think this book will be invaluable! :)
August 25, 2016
This book was a wonderful surprise. I ordered it for my Kindle on a whim when it went on sale. It's charming, funny and the recipes look delicious and uncomplicated. I love cookbooks and memoirs, so I plan to order this in paper very soon.
February 27, 2013
3.5 stars
This book contains some lovely recipes and a small but interesting story about how the author became a chicken-keeper. If there would have been photographs for more recipes I would have given this book four stars.
This book contains some lovely recipes and a small but interesting story about how the author became a chicken-keeper. If there would have been photographs for more recipes I would have given this book four stars.
July 30, 2014
So many recipes that sound good; I may or may not have used half a pack of sticky notes to bookmark recipes on this one.
I can't really vouch for the memoir part of the cookbook, as I skipped past those parts (raising chickens doesn't quite interest me).
I can't really vouch for the memoir part of the cookbook, as I skipped past those parts (raising chickens doesn't quite interest me).
September 30, 2014
Enjoyed her narrative of how she got into raising chickens and her experiences. Although I didn't read the recipes, the titles of the recipes looked yummy and is definitely something I will have to return to.
March 29, 2011
This is the book that made me want to have backyard chickens. I can't wait to go buy it because it's got a crapton of awesome sounding recipes too :)
June 20, 2011
I enjoy these backyard farmer books. This one has beautiful photos and great recipes. It is a perfect housewarming gift or addition to any kitchen library. LOVED.
May 9, 2012
I just made the Warm Village Salad recipe. It was amazing! Can' wait to try more recipes!
May 26, 2013
My mother and I both love this cookbook. Every recipe we've tried is delicious. I gave it 4 stars just because I don't really read all the urban homesteading stuff.
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September 2, 2013looks like an interesting read. I'm hoping this won't be another impersonal cookbook.
January 27, 2014
More of her personal story with her 3 chicks, but enough informative material to get me started. I now know what breed I prefer.
February 18, 2014
A few cute stories, but very little how-to information. If you're looking mostly for a recipe book, you'll like this. Steer clear if you're looking for chicken keeping info.
January 28, 2016
Beautiful photos and recipes. i like how it is arranged by season. My only critique is that the font is small and pale brown, so difficult to read at times.
October 28, 2015
Heart-warming. Lots of chicken recipes. Would recommend if you eat a lot of chicken.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews