Can you Taste Pastured Chickens?

It is hard to think about Spring when outside it is Snowing Big TIME, but it will come with those warm days. These warm days mean grass will begin to grow and Somerset Farm goes into full motion...all feet and beaks moving!
The grass begins the Pastured Chickens farm enterprise so many of you have had the opportunity to eat such healthy and delicious chicken. This enterprise provides so many wonderful aspects to the land and healthy eating. I would encourage each of you to start thinking on signing up for this seasonal chicken operation. One customer has brought up the next best thing you might want too consider a used or new fridge/freezer. This can be a good food inflation proof item in the coming years!
Please visit this website for more information or call(540-460-5230). I have placed a image of the mobile chicken pen which provides fresh daily green salad bar for healthy growth and meat for your plate!

Somerset Farm Has Relocated

Somerset has been presented with a wonderful opportunity to move closer in to the township and connect with a "like mind" family in grass based farming. The move was overwhelming and distracting in many ways while keeping all the livestock happy and unstressed...not to mention me. The time passed swiftly once the hen layers were moved in November cold days. First item to take place was build a Hoop House or Ricken (aka. rabbit/chicken) Hotel. The hoop house was built with the help of Robert Fonner and my devoted family. The structure is 20' wide by 48' long with tallest ceiling height at 10'6".

The HOOP HOUSE has been instrumental in keeping all livestock weather secured and operational for eggs and new baby kits (rabbit babies). More to this story with pictures upcoming.

Snow Keeps Coming

The snow keeps coming and freezing days make water for livestock difficult. This year has been very surprising in,so far at this writing, dumping over 52" of snow plus some freezing ice. As I was complaining to myself about cleaning the driveway for the millionth time (most useless work), it dawned on me that God has a purpose for this snow.....give us much needed water for the coming year. Who knows this summer could be dry and hot leaving us wandering back to these snow days as a blessing.
Somerset Farm has been very blessed in having new egg customers come on board this Feb.11 at the Moreschi house (called Maury Cliff's Neighborhood Buying Club). Also, I have very loyal egg followers coming to Pearson's house each Tuesday (called Mother Buying Club). All in all, the small farmer might complain about the weather,but in the end loyal healthy eaters have been a blessing to meet and provide healthy eggs/chicken/rabbit.
Till next time keep watching for more things on the website and keep those snow shovels handy!

Rabbit Recipes: Le Lapin a la Provencal

Please enjoy the eighth entry in our collection of some of our favorite recipes for a great rabbit dinner!

First, a bit about our pastured rabbit:

Although somewhat an uncommon meat in the United States, rabbit is a popular meat in much of the rest of the world, especially in Europe.

Rabbit is a very healthy meat. It is lower in fat than turkey, chicken, beef or pork, and has a higher percentage of protein than any of them, too. It is very easy to digest and is often used for people on special diets. Weathertop rabbit is also unique in that our rabbits eat fresh grass every day, resulting in high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their meat.

A word about cooking your rabbit: As with all pasture-raised meats, you will need to cook rabbit a little "lower and slower" (lower heat and longer time) to prevent it from drying out. Also, because rabbit is so low in fat, it is advisable to cook it in a method using moisture, such as in a sauce, or well-covered.

Enjoy!


LE LAPIN A LA PROVENCAL

1 Rabbit cut in 8 pieces
3 tomatoes
8 garlic cloves
1 cup white wine
Olive oil
Tarragon
Salt & pepper

Season rabbit pieces with salt & pepper. In a Dutch oven sauté rabbit pieces on high heat in olive oil with crushed garlic. Peel, seed and crush the tomatoes (or use canned crushed tomatoes instead), and add to the pot with the tarragon. Pour in white wine and check seasoning. Simmer for 1 hour over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent tomatoes from sticking.

Rabbit Recipes: Mustard Rabbit

Please enjoy the seventh entry in our collection of some of our favorite recipes for a great rabbit dinner!

First, a bit about our pastured rabbit:

Although somewhat an uncommon meat in the United States, rabbit is a popular meat in much of the rest of the world, especially in Europe.

Rabbit is a very healthy meat. It is lower in fat than turkey, chicken, beef or pork, and has a higher percentage of protein than any of them, too. It is very easy to digest and is often used for people on special diets. Weathertop rabbit is also unique in that our rabbits eat fresh grass every day, resulting in high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their meat.

A word about cooking your rabbit: As with all pasture-raised meats, you will need to cook rabbit a little "lower and slower" (lower heat and longer time) to prevent it from drying out. Also, because rabbit is so low in fat, it is advisable to cook it in a method using moisture, such as in a sauce, or well-covered.

Enjoy!


MUSTARD RABBIT

1 rabbit cut in pieces
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
Salt & pepper
3 Tbsp peanut (or other) oil
1 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup diced bacon
1/4 cup Cognac
2 Tbsp flour
2-3 cups dry white wine
1 cup stock

In 1 Tbsp oil brow bacon and set aside. Dredge rabbit pieces in mustard, salt & pepper. Add remaining oil and butter to pan with rabbit. Brown until golden, 10 minutes on each side. Pour Cognac over meat and flame. Transfer to platter. Sprinkle flour into pan drippings and stir until lightly browned. Pour in wine and stock, and add rabbit pieces. Cover and simmer until rabbit is tender, and sauce begins to thicken, about an hour. Stir in bacon and serve.

From Swiss family

Rabbit Recipes: Marinated Rabbit

Please enjoy the sixth entry in our collection of some of our favorite recipes for a great rabbit dinner!

First, a bit about our pastured rabbit:

Although somewhat an uncommon meat in the United States, rabbit is a popular meat in much of the rest of the world, especially in Europe.

Rabbit is a very healthy meat. It is lower in fat than turkey, chicken, beef or pork, and has a higher percentage of protein than any of them, too. It is very easy to digest and is often used for people on special diets. Weathertop rabbit is also unique in that our rabbits eat fresh grass every day, resulting in high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their meat.

A word about cooking your rabbit: As with all pasture-raised meats, you will need to cook rabbit a little "lower and slower" (lower heat and longer time) to prevent it from drying out. Also, because rabbit is so low in fat, it is advisable to cook it in a method using moisture, such as in a sauce, or well-covered.

Enjoy!


MARINATED RABBIT

1 rabbit cut up
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 Tbsp oil

For Sauce:
12 pickled cocktail onions
12 stuffed olives, sliced
1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 Tbsp butter

For Marinade:
2 cups red wine
2 cups chicken broth
1 tsp allspice
2 bay leaves
1 tsp thyme

Rub rabbit pieces with salt and pepper. Place in bowl with marinade. Refrigerate overnight. Drain rabbit, but do not dry. Strain marinade. In large cast iron frying pan over high heat, brown all sides of rabbit quickly in oil. Pour in marinade and simmer for 1 hour or until tender. Just before rabbit is done, sauté onions, olives, and mushrooms in butter. Add to rabbit, serve with boiled potatoes.

Rabbit Recipes: Herb Roasted Rabbit and Potatoes

Please enjoy the fifth entry in our collection of some of our favorite recipes for a great rabbit dinner!

First, a bit about our pastured rabbit:

Although somewhat an uncommon meat in the United States, rabbit is a popular meat in much of the rest of the world, especially in Europe.

Rabbit is a very healthy meat. It is lower in fat than turkey, chicken, beef or pork, and has a higher percentage of protein than any of them, too. It is very easy to digest and is often used for people on special diets. Weathertop rabbit is also unique in that our rabbits eat fresh grass every day, resulting in high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their meat.

A word about cooking your rabbit: As with all pasture-raised meats, you will need to cook rabbit a little "lower and slower" (lower heat and longer time) to prevent it from drying out. Also, because rabbit is so low in fat, it is advisable to cook it in a method using moisture, such as in a sauce, or well-covered.

Enjoy!


HERB ROASTED RABBIT AND POTATOES

4 lb rabbit, cut in pieces
8 medium red potatoes, quartered
2-4 large garlic cloves
6 Tbsp olive oil
4 oz slab bacon, cut into 1" cubes
6 Tbsp fresh rosemary, or 2 Tbsp dried
2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
Course salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Place potatoes and garlic in large shallow roasting pan. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp olive oil and toss to coat. Bake 30 min. Meanwhile, combine bacon and 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet and place over low heat. Cook just until bacon begins to wilt then remove. Sauté rabbit to brown on both sides. Remove roasting pan from oven and reduce heat to 350. Add rabbit, rosemary, pepper, salt, reserved pan drippings, and remaining 3 Tbsp oil. Toss thoroughly, and return to oven for 20 min. Sprinkle bacon on top and bake until meat is tender and vegetables golden, about 20 or 30 minutes longer.