So I have found a local (well, kinda local, about 40 minutes away) farm where I can buy fresh eggs from free range chickens.  I am ridiculously excited about it.  I probably seem like a little kid.  Today I am taking a drive out to the farm and I get to see the chickens and other animals and buy some eggs.  It's a beautiful day here for a drive out in the country.  And I have a whole list of delicious things I plan to make with my eggs.

Since I am cutting back on dairy products, at least until I can find a place to buy local raw milk from pastured cows, I plan to rely on eggs for more of my protein needs than I have in the past.  I am going to make egg salad for sandwiches to replace my grilled cheese sandwiches.  Well, maybe I'll just eat the egg salad without the bread, too, because I don't really need the bread.  I am going to bake a sugar free Jello cake.  Anybody need a recipe for Jello cake?  It's super yummy.  I might even sneak some protein powder into it.

My partner wants to go to the farm with me since it's his day off.  He asked me a little while ago how much farm free free range eggs cost and I told him and he asked how that compared to eggs at the store.  I told him it was about three dollars more and he rolled his eyes and said "I see."  I said, "well, look at it like this.  If I offered you three dollar to go torture a chicken, would you take it?"  He said he gets my point. 

"I said, "well, look at it like this.  If I offered you three dollar to go torture a chicken, would you take it?"
ROFL!!!! OMG Kelly!!! You actually made me laugh out loud for real!!!!   I love the way you think!!!! Anyway, I hope you enjoy your drive and your eggs. I would love to have the recipe for sugar free jello cake. That sound super yummy! Thanks! Have a great rest of your day!                                       -Julie

Hee hee.  Well, that's how I came to the conclusion that it is worth spending $4.25 for a dozen eggs.

for the Jello cake, I use a sugar free cake mix but you could bake a cake from scratch if you wanted.  I like white cake better but last time I was shopping I only found sugar free yellow cake.  It will do.

You bake the cake according to the directions on the box (mine calls for three eggs).  You mix up Jello, the flavor of your choice, according to the directions on the box.  Then you poke holes all over the cake with a fork and pour the liquid Jello over the cake. 

Then you refrigerate the cake for a couple hours so the Jello will set.

You can make this as a sheet cake but I like to do two layers because it looks much prettier.  Getting the cakes out of the pans is a challenge once the Jello has set, though.  What I do is put a few inches of warm water in the sink and dunk the pan in the water for a minute or two, being very careful that only the bottom and sides of the pan get wet and that the cake does not.  Then you invert the cake pan over a plate, like you normally would.

I frost the cake with the Light Coolwhip, whichever one is lowest in sugar.  The cake looks really pretty when you cut it.  You can use two different colors of jello, if you want, which is even prettier.

And you can mix a scoop of protein powder in the cake when you're mixing it up if you want.  I love sneaking protein into things.

Yum!!! I remember my mom making this cake as a kid, although not sugar free!  She would put it in a 9x13" pan and the frosting would be vanilla pudding.  Thanks for reminding me how much I loved it when she made it - I am going to make it - sugar free version!!

Enjoy your eggs and your drive in the country - it is a beautiful day!

 lol i think you will enjoy your eggs.  My mom used to get cream from a farm friend.  I lived in ND and we were always close to farms..ha  anyways this cream came in a jar was so heavy it was more like sour cream consistency and was a bit yellow and it was very very good.  I know as a kid i stayed with a friend of mine a lot who would milk cows and bring it in for breakfast but i really can't remember how it tasted.  As far as i know she is still alive and is 48 years old now and healthy.  good luck on your search and with the eggs.  Oh and YES on the jellow cake please.  

 Oh that sounds like so much fun. and yummy as well. I know your in Ohio not sure where. But could you raise your own chickens? I have a couple friends that do that and they love it. 

I don't know if I could or not.  I live in a mobile home park.  They might have a rule against it.  I don't have a very big yard but there is room out back for a few chickens, I would think.  It's something I would consider, I think.

Used to raise Aracaunas. They're chickens that lay "easter eggs". Well, they're not that brightly colored, but the egg shells come in soft blues and greens and pinkish with bright yellow yolks. The kids loved them growing up.

I got some brown ones and some very pale green ones today.

I had some cousins that used to have chickens when I was growing up.  I remember they had eggs in different colors and I wondered what they did to the eggs you buy in the store to make them all the same color.

Quick question? We buy free range/cage free organic (no hormones added...) eggs at our grocery store. Lots of Calif. brands to choose from. Doesn't your grocery store sell them too or is the farm 40 miles away your only choice?

Jan