Outstanding in the Field, again

Last Sunday (which just happened to be Mike's birthday), we went to another Outstanding in the Field event. If you recall, we went to one in Minnesota on July 31. This one was held at Jolie Vue Farm, which is where we get our monthly meat delivery from. This truck is part of the the Grass Fed Express, but I doubt that it actually makes 60+ mile trek into town.

It was HOT outside, so you can see why everyone was trying to huddle in the shade while Jim Denevan gave his talk.

This is the herd of cows whose off-spring make their way into our freezer.

After eight months with their mothers, these guys have it made in the shade while they fatten themselves up native grasses.

And here is where the pigs live, out in the forested areas.

One of the two heritage breeds, Berkshires and Durocs, that are raised here.


Some of the prep work being done to serve dinner to 150 out in the middle of the farm field.




The menu...

Roasted pig noses (they tasted better than they looked!)


Chilled cushaw squash soup with arugula pesto & purple hull pea crostini


Goat tamales in banana leaves


Grilled Gulf whole snapper with chile glaze, squash, radishes & field peas


Crispy roasted pork belly, apples & red cabbage


Toasted, herbed cornmeal poundcake, goat cheese mousse, blueberry compote and butternut squash, spicy walnut & sage macaroons.


Quite a different menu from the event in Minnesota, but that's what locavorism is all about! The food was all great, even the pig noses and tails, but hopefully next year they will hold this event in late October instead of September, when the chance of cooler weather is more likely.

Outstanding in the Field: MN Edition

Friday night we went to Outstanding in the Field in Delano, Minnesota. I took a few pictures, but my semi-professional photographer daughter, Kate, took a bunch and has posted them on her blog. Enjoy!

Les Petites Images: Outstanding in the Field: MN Edition

Heath ceramics

On the Saturday we were in the bay area, we took a drive over to Sausalito and visited the Heath ceramic factory and store. I had been wanting to do this for a while, and when we were in Berkeley we learned that Chez Panisse uses their dinnerware. They have been in the same location for 55 years.


In addition to dishes, they also make ceramic tile.

Mike was very patient as I oohed and aahed.


I would have loved some of that cobalt blue...





So many pretty things...

We didn't buy anything, but we came home with a greater appreciation of the pieces we have. These serving bowls and platters belonged to Mike's mother, so I guess they would be considered vintage.


I bought these matching cups and saucers on eBay several years ago.

As well as these plates....

And speaking of Chez Panisse, I just saw this interview with Alice Waters posted on Design Sponge.

Just as I promised...

Gosh, I don't know how it got to be the middle of March already...I don't even know what happened to February! We got our latest delivery from Jolie Vue Farms on March 1st. Yes, those are marrow bones! I think I will just roast them for myself...Mike doesn't go crazy over marrow like I do. Somehow, taking pictures of a bunch of frozen meat seems silly, not like the pretty pictures people take of their CSA vegetables.

Of course, I can always liven things up with a cute picture of my cats. Purrkins was checking out the empty cooler that the meat came in. Graycie was probably looking for something to jump up and break.

I do have a produce picture for you, though. I picked this tomato on March 1st as well. I had planted one tomato plant last September. It survived Hurricane Ike and has continued to grow all winter. We never had a hard frost, and somehow it managed to produce this one poor little malformed tomato (which was quite tasty, by the way). It is covered with blossoms now, so maybe my tomato growing luck has changed.

This is my latest quilting project, made from April Cornell charm packs I bought at the Quilt Festival in 2007. It is off to be quilted as we speak. I plan to use it on the foot of our bed, picking up on the brown and aqua theme I have going.

We were in Fort Worth last weekend for the Texas Radiological Society meeting, so of course I had to stop at Cabbage Rose. I did buy some fabric, but it is for a surprise for someone who might read this blog, so I will have to wait to share it with you as well. I am scheduled to have rotator cuff surgery (ugh!) on April 3rd, so I need to get as much done as possible before then. Fortunately, I will still be able to type with my left hand and play Facebook Scrabble!

A little bit of Christmas...

We got our second meat delivery last Sunday. I decided that it would be a good idea to date the packages, since some are duplicates from last month that we haven't used yet. I think there may be a meatloaf in our foreseeable future, what with ground beef and pork and all. We also have a package of veal liver. I don't remember the last time I cooked liver, but I think it involves bacon and onions. This is what we received:
NY strip 8 oz.
Pork shoulder roast 2#
Whole chicken 2#
Ground beef 2#
Pork cutlet 8 oz.
Bratwurst 1½ #
Pork sausage 1#
Ground pork 1#
Boneless pork chop 8 oz.
Hot dogs 8 oz.
Veal liver 1#

Mike and I opened our presents on Christmas Eve, because we left Christmas morning to drive up to Mansfield to spend the holiday with my family. My stepsons came as well, which was great, but I was really sad not to be with Kate and Kyle. I'm so glad I had last week with them, even if being gone the week before Christmas put me way behind schedule.

Purrkins wanted to help with the opening of gifts.


Although I should have known that he had an ulterior motive...

After Mike went to bed, I finished binding this quilt, which obviously did make it back from the quilter's. I gave it to my sister for Christmas. Mike had drawn her name, but we all know how that works! (I recommend clicking on the picture for a close-up :-)

Locavorism

I have been fascinated by the concept of eating locally ever since I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Obviously, living in city, we are not able to raise our own food. Heck, I can't even grow tomatoes successfully! We shop a lot at Whole Foods and at the Bayou City Farmers' Market when we can. After reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, I really started thinking twice about buying red meat. We don't eat much beef or pork, usually only a couple times a week, but after reading about CAFOs, I didn't want to eat any at all. Free range chickens are fairly easy to come by, and we do eat a lot of fish (the local version being gulf shrimp), but getting grass fed pastured beef and pork is a challenge. There are a few vendors at the farmers' market, but not a huge selection. And there is open season on wild pigs in Texas, but I don't think that I am ready to take up hunting quite yet. After a little web searching, I found Jolie Vue Farms and discovered that they have a monthly home delivery program, (and you all know how much I love having things delivered :-) We signed up for it, and look who came today.

Our monthly supply of meat arrived in this cooler...

Purrkins was interested to see if they included any kitty treats...

This is what was in our initial delivery:
Boneless pork chop 8 oz.
Pork porterhouse 14 oz.
Beef sirloin tip roast 2 #
Pork spare ribs 2#
Bacon 8 oz.
Ground pork 1#
Pork cutlets 1#
Ground beef 3#
Pork shoulder roast 2½ #
Whole chicken 3#
Italian sausage ¾ #
Smoked ham hocks 1#

A lot more pork than we normally eat, but it will be interesting to decide what to do with it all.

And they also included this cookbook, with recipes and tips on cooking grass fed meat.

I am excited to be able to make this change in our lifestyle...eating healthier food, supporting the people who produce it and reducing our carbon footprint in the process.