No, We’re Not Vegetarians…

Should be obvious, right? We raise chickens, rabbits, and ducks. We’ve processed members of each of those groups (and Muscovy really does taste like beef!). People with whom we’re acquainted know this…and yet, countless times, they can’t – or don’t – seem to grasp why we won’t eat a chicken sandwich from some popular fast food place, or partake of catered BBQ. For the record: the aforementioned “people” doesn’t include our friends who “get it”.

Continue reading “No, We’re Not Vegetarians…”

Goodbye, 2016…Hello, 2017!

2016 Photo CollageIt’s that time again – this year is coming to its end. We like to look back at the year because you can forget how much you learned and during that period. We also like to recognize our accomplishments, as well as identify needed improvements. We characterize 2016 as our year of learning on the farm.

Chickens

2016 started on a sour note, with about half of our small flock of layers lost to predators. We implemented deterrents and learned about the importance of having a vigilant rooster (or two) to keep watch over the flock. We hatched 4 groups of chicks and learned about integrating new chickens into an existing flock. We processed roosters, treated injuries, and let a (surprise) broody hen hatch some eggs.

Ducks

We started with a small group of Muscovies going into 2016, due to some predator losses. We were thrilled when the ducks began laying, and wanted to expand our flock. Continue reading “Goodbye, 2016…Hello, 2017!”

Love Curry? Try It With Rabbit!

Rabbit_CurryRabbit meat is delicious, low in fat, and high in protein.  It’s mildly-flavored and can easily substitute for chicken in recipes. Since we grow our own here at the farm, we’re always looking for creative ways to prepare tasty rabbit-based meals.

Recently, a friend suggested making curry with rabbit. Strangely, though we love yellow curry, we were stuck in the mindset that you just use chicken as the protein. Using rabbit instead made total sense! Continue reading “Love Curry? Try It With Rabbit!”

Comfort Food: Congee

Duck_CongeeWe like easy recipes for tasty meals, and one-pot meals are a bonus. One such meal is congee, a savory rice porridge (but not like oatmeal) that’s true comfort food.

Congee (Jook) is an Asian dish, and may be eaten as breakfast. While we could totally see having this hot porridge for breakfast, we usually have it for lunch or dinner.  It’s satisfying but not too heavy. You can tweak it however you choose, and it’s pretty forgiving. The basics*: rice and water.  You cook the rice in water until it reaches a smooth consistency, add a protein (like duck, chicken, rabbit, beef, etc.), minced ginger, garlic, soy (we use Bragg’s liquid aminos) and fish sauce (Nước Mắm Chấm). Continue reading “Comfort Food: Congee”

Easy Soft Tacos

Rabbit_TacosHere’s an example of one of the ways you can use super lean and tasty rabbit meat.  We slow cooked one and then removed the bones. The meat that was left was used to make tortilla soup (perfect for these chilly days) and today’s lunch: soft tacos.  Look good?  They were!