Category Archives: healthy living

The Happy Egg Co. Happy Hens Lay Happy Eggs. Free Range Eggs Flocking to Southern California Soon.

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Have you ever thought about where your eggs come from?  Are your eggs caged-eggs, cage-free, free-range, or organic? Huh, What?? Luckily I was invited out this past week for a presentation by the Happy Egg Co.’s eggs-pert and third generation chicken farmer Cyd Syzmanski to learn about the differences and about their hens (affectionately refered to as “the girls”) to clear up any confusion on these very vague terms.

Caged- Eggs

Come from hens who live their entire lives in a wire cage that is so small that they cannot even stretch and flap their wings. These hens are definitely NOT happy girls! Who wants to live like that? I certainly do not! I LOVE my sunshine! Oh, and I like to be able to stretch and move my arms and legs too.

Cage-Free Eggs

Cage-free eggs come from birds that are not raised in cages, but usually are in an open barn. The hens have bedding material such as pine shavings on the floor and are allowed perches and nest boxes to lay their eggs.  However, they may still be at close quarters with many other hens — just not in cages. These girls are also locked inside for their entire lives. They NEVER get to see the light of day, poor things. I don’t know about you, but I would not like to have to be forced to live this way either!

Free-Range Eggs

Free-range eggs are laid from hens that have the opportunity to go outside. Some farms may keep birds outside in a small fenced in area. They may travel in and out of a barn at free will or spend some portion of their day roaming outdoors. Finally some sunlight!! This is by far the best choice for the girls at the happy egg co, but they go even farther and give them a whole 4 acres of land to roam free on!! The Happy Egg Co. set the golden standard to what all “free-range” hens and their eggs should be held to.

“At the happy egg, the definition of Free Range is the best standard as it addresses the total welfare of the hen from balanced nutritious feed to acres of land to roam in the sunshine and fresh air as well as access to an enriched, safe barn with nests.”

Organic Eggs

BEWARE of this label!! Organic eggs are laid from hens that EAT an organic feed and don’t receive vaccines or antibiotics which is a GOOD thing of course, BUT  these girls may be kept in a caging system unless specified otherwise on the carton. There are currently no standards requiring organically fed hens to be kept in a free-range system. For a company to be certified by the USDA  as organic, the grains used for the hens’ diets must be grown on land that has been free from the use of pesticides and fertilizers for at least three years.  Genetically engineered crops are not allowed, and the hens must be raised without hormones, antibiotics, or other drugs.

Allowing hens to be hens and to engage in their natural behaviors is the happy egg co.’s definition of Free Range and is truly the gold standard. Lovingly referred to as the Girls, they are never locked up in a cage, barn, or forced to go anywhere else that they don’t want to go. In an eggshell, farmers provide them with the freedom to flap their wings and fly as they roam across four acres of pasture.

The Happy Egg Hens are so happy because they have daily access to:

* 4 acres of pasture to roam free among the trees, shade, sand pits, and just to enjoy the fresh air and warm sunshine on their feathers with their favorite girlfriends.

*Large protective barn to keep them safe overnight from the elements, they have the freedom to choose where to roost for the night and can even choose their favorite nesting box, as well as some fun toys to peck at so they don’t get bored (since they don’t have access to any TV’s, computers with internet, or other technology to keep themselves entertained with like we do).  😉

*Clean water and feed consisting of an all-natural formulated diet of corn and soy.

Happy eggs come from happy family run farms, which is the best way to raise happy, Free Range hens. No huge chicken factories here. Small family farmers are chosen based on several criteria, most importantly that they are good animal stewards who are very passionate about improving the life of the hens they care for everyday.  With their network of small farmers, they will be scaling up to distribute across California and the nation.

Eggs are a staple in any home, and are packed with protein and nutrients galore which makes them perfect any time of the day. From fluffy omelets, to decadent French Toast, moist cakes, chocolate brownies, to quiches and more; the recipes for eggs are endless. To make the tastiest dishes, you want the highest quality ingredients, that you and your family deserve. The happy egg co. believes that the best eggs can only come from the happiest hens that are treated like gold and are well cared for, which just makes sense. I would be happy too if I were able to frolic and play outside all day as I pleased!

Now, look below at the packaging. How awesome is that? Not only are the hens, and the eggs happy, but even the packaging of these eggs are happy!! Adding a ray of sunshine to the otherwise dreary and boring gray, white and sometimes light blue egg cases, happy eggs are packaged in a happy sunshine-yellow carton with big pillars that cradle and protect the eggs. Cute pictures give you easy to understand information on the carton as well.

*Random Fact* Did you know that the color of the egg is determined by the color of the hens earlobe? The happy eggs girls are a Bovan Brown hybrid known for its egg-laying ability and easy-going temperament.  Their girls always lay brown eggs, because their ear lobes are BROWN!!

So where can you buy the happiest eggs on earth? No, unfortunately not at Disneyland (although that would make sense to me too if you could since that’s the happiest place on earth) Schucks!! Starting Oct. 15, you will be able to find these happy eggs in their happy sunshiny day packaging at select Ralph’s and Fresh & Easy locations in Southern California, between Santa Barbara and San Diego for approximately $4.99 a dozen making it a breeze to add the best eggs possible to the family table.

At the Happy Egg Co, the goal is to make Free Range eggs available to everyone. Happy Hens lay Happy Eggs.  Happy hens that are treated well will lay the highest quality eggs.   Always putting the hen first, the girls roam free across acres of pasture on small family farms tended by experts who are passionate about what they do. The result? Only the highest quality eggs that will make your dishes the freshest, finest and tastiest as humanly (or is it henly?) possible.

For More Information on The Happy Egg Co:

*U.S. headquarters is in San Francisco. The happy egg co. brings its years of experience with Free Range eggs as part of Noble Foods Ltd. and the happy egg co. brand in the United Kingdom.

*Website: www.thehappyeggco.com

*Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HappyEggCoUSA

*Twitter @HappyEggCoUSA

Disclosure: I was invited to an egg-cellent presentation and brunch by the Happy Egg Co.  All opinions stated above are my own and  I will be looking for the Happy Eggs in my local super market in just a few short weeks!

Got Strawberries?

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Oh Strawberries! You are luscious, sweet, soft and juicy. There’s NOTHING that can keep us away from you! Not even an over heated car beeping for us to pull over…

This past Friday evening, Mary & I had the pleasure of attending an event put on by the California Strawberry Commission that was held in Newport Beach at TrueFood Kitchen, a restaurant I have long wanted to check out since I heard rave reviews about this place when it first opened from a friend. Mary and I both agreed, that we cannot WAIT to return to one of their locations (in Santa Monica, Newport, San Diego or in Arizona). There is something for everyone on the menu; whether you’re Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan or carnivore they are sure to have something that will tickle your fancy. BUT before we could enjoy all this strawberry and fresh amazing food fun, we had to get there first!!

Of all the times for a radiator hose to decide to pop off & cause Mary’s car to overheat & throw poor Mary into a huge scare, it HAD to be on our way to the strawberry fun?! Apparently, it did! But, we kept our cool and tried to make light of the situation and hope for the best that we would make it (since we had a scare that the radiator had either blown or the hose was leaking, which meant we would have had to been towed somewhere!) Luckily all it took was some coolant, water and a hose to be put back on and then we were on our way again an hour later! Thank goodness for social media, I was able to notify through my iPhone on Facebook, e-mail and twitter to a few who were attending and in charge of the event our whereabouts and dilemma. Everyone was so welcoming & gracious to us despite our major delay.

As we arrived we were greeted with food & drinks galore, opting for the Strawberry Mojito as it WAS a strawberry event!! It was delicious. I love any fruity drink, so this one was right up my alley. The appetizers were all amazing as well, with many strawberry goodies. Besides strawberries galore, there were several items from the TrueFood starter menu we got to enjoy including the; Shitake & Tofu Lettuce Cups (very light, crisp and refreshing with a zangy sauce that I loved), Thai Spicy Shrimp Dumplings (which we could have eaten all day given the chance), a Kale Salad that was marinated in lemon juice and wasn’t overcooked and soggy nor was it too hard and chewy. It was just right! There was also pizza that was fresh right out of the oven that really hit the spot. My favorite though has to be the steak tacos! Freshly baked tortillas with tender steak and topped with a generous amount of avocado (another favorite of mine!), tomato, cabbage, with spices and sauce. They were breath-taking. I loved every morsel of those things!

While we were munching & mingling, we had the pleasure to listen to a great lecture on the health benefits of strawberries from Illinois-based Nutrition Expert & Author, Mr. David Grotto. He explained the many benefits of a healthy diet in a fun and humorous way as he mentioned the 2 most important staples: Alcohol & Dessert! (In moderation of course). He then went on to explain the true meaning of “WTF?” for us: Where’s The Fiber? With year-round availability, California strawberries are a healthy and versatile fruit to enjoy every day that are PACKED with fiber.

Being a total book nerd I was excited that in our “swag bags” we were all given copies of his book, 101 Optimal Life Foods, which covers many of the ailments we deal with day in & day out; many of which can be reversed by simple changes in your diet and/or lifestyle. Diets that can help us treat each of these troubles as well as recipes to go with them are discussed in great detail. Here is a picture of me with David Grotto, the author of this life-changing book.

Here are some fun facts I learned about Strawberries!!

*A serving of strawberries is equal to about eight whole strawberries.

* A serving of strawberries has more vitamin C than an orange and is packed with beneficial antioxidants and nutrients including potassium, folate and fiber.

*Are naturally low in sugar- one serving has only eight grams

*Strwaberries may help reduce the risk of heart disease, fight some types of cancer and lower blood pressure!

That’s one powerful super fruit if you ask me!! 😉

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What about DESSERT?? You may be thinking? Of COURSE! What kind of strawberry event would that be without some strawberry desserts? 😉 They had strawberry cupcakes, strawberry rhubarb a la mode (my favorite!), and a choclate pudding with strawberries.

So to put it lightly, Strawberries have it going on! Along with David’s book, we were also treated to a yummy recipe book with beautiful photos of each dish. I never knew that there were so many amazing things you could make with the strawberry, but this book will give you countless ideas that will make your mouth water just looking at the pictures. What are some of your favorite recipes that call for strawberries as one of the main ingredients? I’d love for you to share them here! 🙂

Even my cat MOE approves of strawberries!! He gives them 2 paws up!!! 😉

*Disclosure: I was invited to be a guest at this event hosted by CA Strawberries. All food & drink I had the pleasure of sampling was complimentary, as well as the gift bag provided to me. All opinions are my own & I had a wonderful time!

A Lovely Lunch at Stonefire Grill

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Looking for a new place to try out for lunch or dinner? Don’t feel like cooking on these toasty 95 plus degree dog days of summer? Want to try some new healthy options? Want a unique, fast-casual dining experience with a distinct and innovative style? Well then Stonefire Grill  is the place for you!! After hearing some great things about this place,  last month I had the chance to give  Stonefire Grill a try for the first time and it did not disappoint.  I really loved everything about this place.  Everything on the menu we had was delicious! Seriously, you could close your eyes and point to a random place on the menu and order. It will taste amazing.

Stonefire Grill first opened in Valencia in 2000 by sisters, Mary and Maureen Harrigan.  They wanted to move away from lengthy dining and thus created a fast-casual eating establishment. The focus of Stonefire Grill is on fresh ingredients to create dishes that are freshly prepared and simply delicious. Diners can enjoy Stonefire Grill in one of 7 locations, at home, or catered for a party.

When you first walk in you would order your food at the front, find your own seating, and they bring the food to you. Everything, from plates to soda fountain drinks to BBQ sauces, are left in one section of the dining area so you can get up and get whatever you need whenever you needed it.

Stonefire Grill recently added some refreshing Quinoa salads to their menu, which were the first items we tried. Quinoa is the seed that is high in protein and contains all 9 essential amino acids, making it a “super food” as it is a complete protein. Furthermore, for all of you health nuts out there, it is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus, and is high in magnesium and iron. It is also a great source of calcium, and thus useful for vegans and those who are lactose intolerant. Quinoa is gluten-free, easy to digest,  and contains no wheat and,when heated, is fluffy and creamy with an al dente texture that takes on the flavor of other ingredients in the dish. Quinoa has taken center stage on Stonefire Grills’ menu with the introduction of 3 new dishes. My favorite of the three was the Healthy Hybrid; so light and refreshing, just PERFECT for lunch on a summer’s afternoon!

Stonefire Grill offers 3 variations:

Keen Green: A blend of fresh spinach, pesto and quinoa with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado and Parmesan cheese for $8.99.

  Healthy Hybrid: Quinoa with garbanzo beans, red onion, green bell peppers, Kalamata olives, cucumber, tomato and artichoke hearts tossed with Dijon mustard vinaigrette and topped with feta cheese for$7.99.

 Quinoa (side):  Simply prepared in vegetable broth with a dash of fresh lemon, mint and green onions; single $1.59,small $2.99, medium $4.99 and large $8.99.

The entire lunch was amazing, I kept saying the same thing after the first bite, “This is sooo good!!”  The rest of our table agreed, there wasn’t anything we tried that we didn’t like. Everything was so fresh and tasty. We tasted the new quinoa salads; Keen Green and Healthy Hybrid, Tri Tip (both the Pepper Garlic & BBQ), Fresh Lemon Garlic Salmon, BBQ Chicken, Garlic Bread, followed by their famous homemade Carrot Cake, Fudge Brownie, and Cheese Cake for dessert. The food is primarily served family style as the portions are great for sharing. We had the petite salads, and as you can see, they are definitely big enough to share with others, or enough for you to take an extra meal home with you. The bread sticks were amazingly flavorful and buttery.

As for the meat, I am in love with the Pepper Garlic Tri-Tip with Gorgonzola butter. It was sooo tender, cooked to perfection, melt in your mouth good. The BBQ Tri-Tip was also delicious, but I love pepper garlic and gorgonzola butter!!! The salmon was simply prepared, very flavorful, light and flaky and grilled to perfection. The chicken was also very tender and had a nice Mesquite BBQ flavor to it. Next time, I can’t wait to try their ribs!! I have heard the meat is just fall off the bone delicious. Each item was cooked well, not overdone. All creations were very pleasing to the palate as well as to your wallet as the  food is priced affordably. You get a lot for your money as the portions are very generous. We had plenty of left overs at the end as we all took a box home with us for dinner! The Tri Tip is $13.99, The 1/2 Chicken is $6.99, and the 1/2 pound Salmon is $9.99. My favorites from the afternoon were the Healthy Hybrid, Pepper Garlic Tri-Tip, and the Carrot Cake!

Speaking of Dessert, I hope you left some room for some!!! Here are some pictures of the sugary, sinful delights. As you can see, they are plenty big enough to share with everyone at your table! We had a full size of the Heavenly Cheesecake (ONLY $5.49) and look how HUGE it is!! I only wish we had gotten a full size carrot cake piece too, as we only ordered a 1/2 portion ($3.29) I am usually a cheesecake girl, but the Incredible Carrot Cake is just that, INCREDIBLE!  It won me over. We also had their famous fudge brownie too ($2.79), which I would order again as well. It was very chocolatey, fudgey, and oh so good!!

Stonefire Grill is truly a restaurant that I will be going to again and again. Perfect to go out to with friends or family or if I’m just tired and had a long day and want take-out. If you live in or are visiting in LA, Orange County, or Valencia, then Stonefire Grill is a must try.

Locations:

Valencia, West Hills, Fountain Valley, Irvine, Chatsworth,
Pasadena, Thousand Oaks

Social Networks:  Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Disclaimer: I was not financially compensated for this post.
The brand/PR representative invited me to taste the new menu. The opinions
expressed in this post are solely mine and I was under no obligation to provide
a positive review. I received permission to post company trademarked logo and
images on my blog.