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Another convert to…
…sous vide cooking. The young son of a friend recently was given a sous vide cooker for his birthday. His very first attempt at a ribeye steak (grass fed if not Thistle Hill) was a smashing success. Incidentally, if you’re one of those who prefer your meat more well done. Your just increase the settings We were late to using the sous vide method. Son-in-law Curt introduced it to Thistle Hill about two years ago. Being a traditionalist, it took awhile for me to be converted but there’s no doubt this technique of slow-cooking guarantees a perfect steak every time! Heating in water results in a more tender, moist steak…
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Lest we forget…
…pork is on the way. Five pigs that look like they’ll be ready from now to Christmas. This year we’re raising mostly Berkshires…with some Tamworth thrown in. Most pig growers seem to eventually settle on Berkshires for the flavor…and all-around performance. In the past we’ve favored Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot, but we thought it was time to try the popular favorite. All three of English heritage breeds and each has their advocates. These Berkshire are the best-mannered we’ve had so far…and finishing faster than others. In this picture they’re being fed a mixture of spent brewers grain and a growers ration heavy on corn. Ours pigs are raised entirely…
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Fox guarding the hen house…
…that’s how the self-proclaimed Lunatic Farmer Joel Salatin describes the latest advisory committee to the USDA’s meat and poultry inspection division. Salatin joins Greg Gunthorp in pointing out that the watch dogs include solely Big Ag and its academia sycophants but leaves out any representation from the “little guys”. In fact, the big processors include two from a Brazilian giant that has been scandal-plagued in recent years. Joel writes the following to his Congressman and suggests we all do. https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com/blog/8/20/2020/open-letter-to-your-congressman David
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There’s nothing we like better…
…almost…than seeing the final result of what we do at Thistle Hill on a customer’s table. (Well maybe being invited over for dinner is a little better!) Thanks to Jim Houck, he orders halves and wholes to share with his family, for sending this photo of a Thistle Hill rib roast. Jim says the flavor was “amazing”! Not many of our customers ask for the standing rib…preferring smaller steaks instead. But Jim is a contractor and needs his protein! We’re about to harvest a beevein a few days but there’s only a quarter left! Contact Church quick for your amazing eating experience! And contact Jim if you need a contractor. …
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Couldn’t have said it better….
…mostly I ignore the rants of vegans and the extreme animal rights people…because they’re beyond reason. But I was tempted to sound off after Joaquin Phoenix used his Academy Award victory to launch a diatribe against those who eat meat. In fact commercial farming of vegetables is far more destructive of the earth and its environment than responsible grazing. But Joel Salatin, a neighboring cattleman who is a leader in the grass fed industry, did the job for me. https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com/blog2/2/14/2020/joaquin-phoenix-hates-you-nbsp
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The unappreciated steak…
…but not here at Thistle Hill. Others can have their filet or rib eye but no steak tastes better to me than the Delmonico! Church liberated a couple of Delmonicos from the freezer the other day…and started with a short marinade. He followed with his favorite cooking method which is Sous Vide and then a quick flash searing on the grill. The result using that technique is a perfect steak every time! If you’ve wondered, the Delmonico was introduced at a New York restaurant of the same name back in the 1800s. The Baked Alaska also originated there…as did Lobster ala Newberg and clam chowder. And if you’re a fan…
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Best meat in the world…
…well even we wouldn’t go that far! But one of customers wrote that on his check last weekend. Church didn’t notice the comment until later. But thank you John and Robin L! Maybe no better meat in the world? David
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What were the odds…
…with four daughters what were the odds they would all marry men who love to cook? I’m a lucky guy and am particularly blessed when Thistle Hill can supply the entree! Son-in-law Curt Humphreys demonstrates what a pork loin should look like: perfectly pink. You won’t find flavor like this at a supermarket. Curt did a simple topping of garlic and rosemary and a few fresh mushrooms. David
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Living up to its reputation…
…our Mule foot pigs are sometimes called “the ham breed” and now we know why. Curt topped the ham with chutney and cloves and the family pronounced the results excellent. In Spain this would be called an Ibérico ham…a great delicacy at $400 or more. There they fatten on acorns and while we can’t claim that, by coincidence there were acorns on the ground in the pasture as these pigs matured. Flavor is, after all, less a function of genetics than feed. But it was this we were aiming for when we selected the Mule foot pig! David
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Chops…
Mack serves up the first pork chops from our latest pigs. And Nala is worried. She only counts three chops! In the past we’ve used Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot pigs…English heritage breeds. This time we’re trying a Spanish pig…the Mule foot. The flavor of these first chops seemed the same though the meat was fatter. The Mule foot is known for its ham though and we have yet to sample that. I’ve noticed that the imported ham is selling in specialty stores for more than $300 a pound! We’ll save ours for the holiday. David