Farm Life, Farm Rice
11 February 2023
NeverStill, Oregon
The weather was very pleasant this week with clear, warm days in the mid 50s and cold, crisp nights in the lower 30s. We continued a very productive trend for 2023 by making further progress on our farm kitchen “remodel”. We were also able to tidy and organize more of the outdoor farm spaces and refined our duckling brooder for the second batch of ducklings which arrived this week.
The kids have been spending a lot more time outside with the nicer weather. I never tire of their jolly smiles and rosy cheeks, along with the squeals of joy and peals of laughter as they frolic about the farm. After a day of brisk outdoor work and play, we unbundled into the farmhouse and enjoyed the open layout of our new kitchen to make “farm rice”, the recipe of which I share below. The simplicity of the preparation is a welcome meditation after a long day, and its versatility is well suited to the variation and bounty of a busy kitchen. We use the base recipe as an opportunity to use up various bits and bobs lying about. For example: the duck fat pan drippings from the night before, bacon grease from breakfast, a random bacon end or heel of a smoked ham, a stray carrot or even a half finished apple, a chunk of onion remaining from what was needed for another recipe and so on. The liquid base can be simply water, but we like at least some portion of it to be bone broth, or even the leftover liquid from poaching sausages or blanching a vegetable. The crucial ratio to remember is 2 cups dry rice to 3 cups liquid. If using a salted liquid, be sure to omit the salt in the recipe. I hope that you are enjoying reading and preparing these recipes as much as i enjoy commiting them to print!
Rose will be operating the Magic Meat Truck this weekend. We are well stocked with duck fat, smoked ham and ham hocks, bacon, pork chops, ground beef, all cuts of lamb, flavorful Red Ranger chickens, fat ducks, and a lovely selection of sausages.
Find the Magic Meat Truck Saturday morning at University District, Saturday evening on Vashon Island, Sunday at Ballard, and Monday evening in Portland! Details of time and address are at the bottom of this email.
Xoxo,
—George & Rose
