DDC Week 4-Chicken and green beans

Between Christmas and being sick this week, we really had a throw together whatever we could find meal. I had gotten a whole Chicken at the Bardstown Road Farmers Market from Schacht farm the last time I was there. I had planned to go to the farm nearby to get some spinach and something else to have a spinach and goat cheese stuffed chicken, but, seems all farms and farmers markets are closed until January. So, I threw the chicken in the crockpot and added some frozen green beans from my garden and that was dinner! Simple and not really enough! Ahh, better plan better next time!

The chicken was very tender and the whole thing fell apart at the touch of a utensil. But, it was a bit dry. Not the best of my dark days meals. Looks good though, doesn't it? Well, I have many more chances to come up with something great! I'll just keep trying!

DDC Week 3-Bison Burger

This is where our dinner came from this week! Kentucky Bison Co. The farm is right down the road from us. We don't usually get to see the bison out, they are often over the hill or somewhere unseen. But as we were driving home from church yesterday, they were out in the field closest to the road and I got a few good pictures! They are pretty neat to show the kids too.

 Here are my ingredients for dinner. Lettuce and canned tomatoes, and dried ground hot peppers from my garden, fresh tomato from Conrad Hambley farms, Garlic from Field Day family farm, Honey and potatoes from Byrnside Orchard. Cheese from Cloverdale Creamery at Stone Cross Farm. And the Bison, from Kentucky Bison Co. 

 I used my canned tomatoes to make some ketchup. I added the honey, apple cider vinegar, some of my dried ground pepper and the garlic, pureed and simmered it. Turned out good, but not really like ketchup. Dh said it tasted more like a bbq sauce. Ahh, worth a try. It tasted good on the burger.

I also made the rolls and buns. I can get local flour but by the time I thought about it, I did not have time. They turned out good. I roasted the potatoes in the oven with olive oil, salt and Bourbon Smoked Pepper. And we grilled the burgers on the charcoal grill seasoned with the Bourbon Smoked Pepper as well.

This meal was great as well. This was the first time I have tried the KY Bison. Dh gets it at the 'local' restaurant down the road when we eat there, and I knew he liked it. Turns out I did too. I was afraid it was going to have kind of a wild flavor, but it didn't. It tasted slightly different than beef and is said to have much less fat than beef. This meal was a thumbs up for me! It wasn't as successful for the kids this week though! They find the pepper a bit spicy. They did eat most of it though, even though not too willingly! But hey, their 4, we can't expect anything less!

If you want to see the recap for of my meals and other folks in my group (3) who have taken up the challenge visit (not so) Urban Hennery

Dark Days Challenge Week 2

This weeks meal was absolutely delicious! I thought I had all the raw ingredients here in my picture before I began, but I forgot to put the apples and cheese in!

 This weeks challenge took me to the Bardstown Road Farmers market. Bardstown Rd in Louisville is known for it's many local businesses and it isn't surprising that this is where the only market is that is open all year long! Eli and I braved our first snow of the season and ventured out on the roads with all those crazy drivers to get to the farmers market! This is dedication I tell you! ;) 

Surprisingly enough, even in the snow, there were plenty of vendors, though I don't think there were as many as intended to be there. I went to the farmers market's website and signed up for their newsletter and every week they send me a list of vendors that intend to be there and what they will be offering! How convenient is that?!

Well onto the food! I took $20 bucks to the farmers market intending to only spend that much! I bought some apples, broccoli and butternut squash from Conrad Hambley Farm of Corydon, IN. Their apples came from Huber farm though, which is out that same direction. I got some garlic from Field Day Family Farm of Louisville, and I had $7 left. So, I went up to Dream Catcher Farm and asked what I could get for $7 and he gave me a deal on some pork chops!

I also stopped at the fruit market and picked up some 'Cowbells in Clover' Cheese (raw) from Cloverdale Creamery of Taylorsville, KY. And some Sweet Kentucky Sorghum from Bourbon Barrel foods.  I pan fried the Pork Chops using the Bourbon Smoked pepper I picked up last week. I baked the squash and apples after letting them sit in the Sweet Kentucky Sorghum for a bit. I steamed up the Broccoli and shredded the cheese on top. This meal was sooooo yummy! I was very pleased with everything we tried and how we prepared it, even though I had fully intended to grill much of it! And the best part...the kids loved it! They ate in record time, the whole meal! The boy was a little more difficult than the girl, but overall, they did great! First meal in a while that I didn't have to keep dragging them back to the table telling them to eat their food or else! Ha ha!

Dark Days Challenge Week 1

Bourbon Smoked Pepper Roast

This weeks Dark Days Challenge took me to Foxhollow Farm where I picked out the easiest thing. Beef Roast, carrots and potatoes! While I was browsing I noticed a  Bourbon Smoked Pepper and thought it might make a good seasoning for my roast. Who doesn't think of bourbon when they think of Kentucky, right? It smells so yummy, like beef jerky! Bet it would be good on some smoked jerky too!

I also used up the rest of my tomatoes that turned on the window sill. 

These are the goods from the farm.  I discovered Foxhollow is very close and I have passed by it several times never knowing it was there! They had quite a few local items including meat and produce from their own farm and other local farm items such as eggs, flour, seasonings, fish, cheese and milk. It will be a great resource through out this challenge since they stay open all winter!

 I put the potatoes, tomatoes, roast and some garlic (I found at the Bardstown Road Farmers Market from Field Day Family Farm) all in the crock pot to simmer all day! Doesn't it look yummy!

 Then I roasted the carrots in the oven with a little oil for about 20 minutes each side. Yummy, they were the best part of the meal. So sweet and tender! We made a nice candle lit dinner out of it! Then the kids ruined it because they wouldn't eat any of it, well, dd ate a few carrots!

I have to admit, I felt like a lost child when I walked into the Farm store. They had a decent amount of stuff to choose from, but trying to figure out an entire meal knowing it had to be entirely from scratch to meet the challenge was a bit intimidating. You really have to know your recipes to know what you can do with what they have. It will get easier I'm sure, as I get to know the store and what they have and whatever else I can find locally. 

For next weeks meal, which will only be in a few days, I visited the farmers market for the first time. I will be doing something with pork chops, squash, broccoli and apples! Come back and see what I come up with!