April 24, 2014

Spring Spa Day At City Boy Hens

By City Boy Hens ¶ Posted in Backyard Chickens ¶ 12 Comments

Well…Spring has FINALLY sprung at City Boy Hens. After almost 6 months of Old Man Winter’s wrath, we are finally being treated to some warmer temps and with that comes……….some major free ranging for the “girls”. Having 2 women in our house, I do my best to remember to “pamper” them from time to time and occasionally remember to bring home flowers or gift certificates for manicures, pedicures or foot messages. So glad I am a guy! What a lunch bag let down those would be to get as gifts!

Anyways, as the chickens free ranged in the backyard last week, it kinda’ reminded me of a “pampered day” for Endearing Daughter and Beloved Wife. And………no……… I’M NOT COMPARING MY DAUGHTER & WIFE TO CHICKENS!

So….with that said……here’s a Spring Spa Day at City Boy Hens:

First: A Glorious Dust Bath In CB’s Garden!

Second: A Light Lunch Of Delicious Mixed Greens!

Third: Soakin’ Up Some Rays On The Deck!

Fourth: Work In A Relaxing Neck Massage!

Fifth: Catch An Afternoon Nap!

Welcome Spring. I hope you’re here to stay! You have surely been missed. We’re all glad to have you back!

April 17, 2014

The Best Backyard Chicken Dog EVER!

Man oh man…….I had The Best EVER Backyard Chicken Dog. How can I safely say that he was the best? Simply because he did his job with excellence. Never once did he take a run at the hens. Never once did he shirk his responsibility as protector of the backyard. Never once did a raccoon, fox, hawk or anything enter the backyard when Stanley was out on patrol. Never once!

Many a night, he exhausted himself running along the backyard perimeter making sure that those raccoons stayed high up in the trees on the other side of the fence. Many a day, he sun bathed on the grass or patrolled along worn down snowy paths; always surveying the landscape with eyes and ears on full alert. Through it all, he was my champ.

In the beginning, it was a challenge to train this retriever to accept these new “additions” to our “urban farm”, but after one weekend of intensive backyard schooling, this “bird dog” recognized his role as protector and did it with excellence. Through it all, he always did his job. But, best of all, he gave us more laughs than I could have ever imagined. I never dreamt that a dog could be so funny! Whether it was his howling accompaniment when Endearing Daughter played the harmonica, or his desperate cries for rescue from the cottage swim raft when Dutiful Son had to “paddle” him back in the canoe, Stanley kept us all in “stitches”.

This past week, we said so long to our champion protector. Stanley was the best! Man’s best friend? That title is just not fitting enough. He was more than our “best friend”. He was, and will always remain an integral member of our wonderful family. I hope that you, the reader, are just as fortunate as we have been to have an incredible dog like Stanley. He was the best!

So………so long my good friend. Long may you run. Welcome to your new role as the backyard chicken protector in the sky! You, my champ, are terribly missed. Thank you for doing your job so well, but more importantly, thanks for making us laugh!

If you need to brighten your day or just get a “chuckle”, I encourage you to CLICK HERE and read some of our great “laughs” with Stanley.

April 10, 2014

Crescia: The Easter Bread From Le Marche, Italy

By City Boy Hens ¶ Posted in Food, Uncategorized ¶ Tagged crescia, Crescia di Pasqua, Easter, Easter bread, Le Marche, Pesaro ¶ 10 Comments

My Family came to Canada in 1913 from the town of Pesaro in the Province of Le Marche, Italy. Over the years, traditions were lost or no longer practiced as my ancestors blended more into the Canadian fabric. But, Crescia has always survive the test of time and it has now been alive and well for 4 generations in our Canadian family. I’m sure it’s not the same as the one my great-grandmother (Bisnonna Laura) made, but I hope it’s a close second.

Crescia is a vastly different bread, depending on the region of its origins. It can be as thin as focaccia or as high as the crescia that originated in Pesaro. The later is the one that my Family has made for generations, though it was denser and did not rise as high as the one that I make. But, it is similar in its signature ingredients of eggs, black pepper and cheese.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Easter breads are so laden with eggs. As you backyard chicken owners know, heritage breed hens take a break from laying eggs during the Winter and resume their production in the Spring which happens to coincide with Easter. As well, eggs, cheese, meat and olive oil were historically omitted from the diet in Italy during the period of Lent so everyone must have been “chompin’ at the bit” to return to these foods after those 40 extremely bland days!

As I write this post, the scent of baking crescia fills the air! It reminds me of my ancestors who came to this great country over 100 years ago. Times were a lot harden then, but they were also flavoured with great traditions which always revolved around food. Unfortunately, a lot of those great traditions have been lost or misplaced in our progression to a busier life.

I’m not sure if we have made a good trade. Perhaps, it’s worth “stepping back” now and then and carrying on some of those great traditions that remind us of our roots and the journey that has brought us to this today!

I hope I “did you proud” Bisnonna Laura!

If you would like to make crescia, please CLICK HERE for my family’s recipe.

Happy Easter / Buona Pasqua to all!