Know Your Ingredients
As I am writing to you now, there is thunder in the air. We are near to dancing outside in our underwear if it would rain. But we don't strip down and dance for thunder yet, so at least I can finish this newsletter!! We have been blessed with rains that others in our area have missed, but we are needing some rain. We are truly thankful for all the grass that is stockpiled in front of us. The farm has many grazing days left as others are looking to their hay barns ready to start pulling out the hay for feeding. Speaking of hay, we put some square hay up this year. We always need some for the fair, animals we have to bring home, or just fun hay rides. It was one of the first 100 degree days. But it is in the barn and worth it now. (Can you tell I stacked it? Yes, some fell off)
There are things we do not produce on our farm. I do not make my own laundry detergent, ketchup or clothes. I think it would be great, but sleep becomes necessary at some point! We live a pretty sustainable life, but there are items we have to go to town to get. In the grocery store (not Wal-Mart! ) we were picking out the things we needed and I noticed Ben looking at the ingredients on the back of a bottle of bar-b-que sauce. I was very impressed. They know that I won't usually buy it if it has MSG or High Fructose Corn Syrup. I am hoping they will make good decisions on their own based on habits and beliefs, not advertising and convenience.
Know Your Ingredients
Speaking of ingredients, here is a foodie fun quiz. If you think you know what this product is, reply to me by email or our Facebook page. The winner will receive 1 lb. of grassfed ground beef OR 1 lb. of sausage link of your choice. I will bring your prize to the market/delivery with me if necessary. Okay, here are the ingredients:
Water, corn syrup, hydrogenated coconut and palm kernel oils, sugar, sodium caseinate, polysorbate 60 and sorbitan monostrearate (for uniform dispersion of oil), natural and artificial flavors, zanthan gum and guar gum (thickeners), artificial color.
Market/Delivery Schedule: Back on Track
Ben and I traveled to Sparta, Illinois this past weekend for him to compete in The Grand American at the World Shooting and Recreation Center. He shoots trap with the AIM/ATA. We didn't make it to the podium this year, but are already looking forward to next year. It was a nice trip, but we are Back On Track this week.
Polk County Farmers Market, Mena, AR Thursdays 7-10am
Gateway Farmers Market, Texarkana, AR Saturdays 7-11am
Delivery to ASN and Village Community Market on Fridays
New Items to Try and Recipes
We have Flank Steak, Skirt Steak, Briskets, Smoked Ham and Smoked Ham slices! These items are newly added or back in stock!
Ingredients: Grass, Sunshine, Water
Glazed Ham in Maple Raisin Sauce
1 Smoked Ham
1 1/2 cups maple syrup or honey (use only 1 cup if your ham is 4lbs or less)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bring ham to room temperature, place in a roasting pan, and bake until heated through (internal temperature need not be more than 130 degrees) Remove the ham from the oven and increase temperature to 425 degrees.
Using a knife, score the outside of the ham by making a series of crisscross cuts. Brush on 1/2 cup of the maple syrup (1/4 cup if your ham is 4 or less pounds) Return the ham to the oven for 20 minutes and baste 2 or 3 times with the pan juices. Remove the ham from the oven, set it on a cutting board, and brush with another 1/2 or (1/4) cup syrup. Tent loosely with foil, and let rest while you make the raisin sauce.
Raisin-Sauce
If your ham is less than 4lbs, halve all the ingredients.
1 cup water
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 T. butter
2 T. lemon juice
1 T cornstarch or arrowroot
1/4 cup ice water
To make the sauce, place the roasting pan on two burners over low heat. Pour in the cup of water and the remaining 1/2 cup maple syrup and simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Add the raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter and lemon juice; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the mixture by about a third, and lower to simmer. Whisk the cornstarch or arrowroot and ice water until smooth, and slowly pour into the sauce. Contine to cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer, until the sauce has thickened. Carve the ham, and serve the sauce on the side.
Thank you for your continued support of our efforts and farm. We will, again this year, have a booth at our Polk County Fair. We will have free drawing for an 1/8 of a Grassfed Beef. This is appoximately 50lbs. of beef. There are two ways to sign up. Come by the fair booth (August 31-Sept. 4) or sign up online on our Facebook page during the Fair week . I will add the Facebook entries after the fair and then draw a winner.
Blessing to you all and remember it is easy to Know Your Ingredients when you Know your Farmer!!
Tracy
