January 2025 CSA Newsletter

January 2025 CSA Newsletter

Happy New Year! When John & I started this ranch as a just married, expectant couple way back in 2003 a five year plan felt daunting. Looking forward another 5 years we have some pretty large goals and a few of them are already happening. The first, a brand new, simplified website. I'll admit it... I over-complicate things. Not meaning to, it just happens... my natural gift you could say?

My second big goal is emptying our home of unneeded stuff.  I was looking at a photograph gifted to us by a neighbor from the 1950's and every old building on this ranch has been taken down, recycled and replaced, except for the old farmhouse. Makes me kind of sad that some things were just not built or maintained as they should have. The old farmhouse is no exception. Beams in the new section were not covered and rains have leaked in and slowly been rotting them. Our kitchen, mudroom, and pantry are listing away from the old, original house. Our desire is to save the old portion in some way and either include it in the new home or use it as a cottage on another location of the ranch. Perhaps a spot for visitors to stay?!

Share invoices come out on the 21st of every month and I will post this newsletter on our blog shortly after. I will also email you the link so you don’t miss the news. If the first shipping date doesn’t work for you, just let us know and we can arrange a later ship day. Here is the upcoming schedule!

• January Shares Shipping; January 6th or another week
• February Shares Shipping; February 3rd or another week
• March Shares Shipping; March 3rd or another week

Share options for this month ( below is an example share for a Small Beef, Pork & Chicken, your share may be different) are pretty flexible, let us know if you would like to switch out any cuts or need something for a special dinner.

• Bone-in or Boneless Berkshire Pork Shoulder or Ham Roast
• Ground Beef ( 1-2 lb. )
• Sausages ( Breakfast, Sweet or Hot Italian, Chorizo or Kielbasa) OR Bacon or Ground Pork
• Chicken Boneless/Skinless Breast, Drumsticks, Wings or Feet (2-3# pack for broth)
• Berkshire Pork Country Style Ribs, Spareribs, or Baby Back Ribs
• Beef Ribeye, Rib, T-bone, or NY Strip Steaks
• Beef Sandwich, Sirloin, Sirloin Tip, or Beef Stew

Just email us with what you are looking to add and we will do the rest! With dark January before us, slow cooked, deeply satisfying meals are just the thing. My father-in-law makes a good one and I asked him to share his recipe with you all.

Poppa's Beef Stew Recipe

• 1-2 lb. of thawed Beef Stew
• 2 big potatoes
• 1 large onion
• 1 lb. bag of frozen mixed veggies
• 1 can of Diced tomatoes with chilies
• 2-3 TB of Worcestershire Sauce
• 1-2 cans of Beef Broth 
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Optional 10 oz. can of sliced mushrooms
• Optional 2 cups of diced celery
• Optional 10 oz. tomato paste for more flavor
• Optional - 1/4 tsp of Cayenne Pepper for some heat

Put diced onion & celery in Dutch oven or 4 quart 4 quart pot with a touch of olive oil, butter or some type of fat over med-low heat. Cook until just softened a little. Add your thawed Stew Beef to brown it. Then pour in your broth and simmer for a few more minutes. Add in your frozen veggies, diced potatoes and cover it with broth and/or extra water. Put the lid on and cook until the potatoes are tender. Optional - to thicken, add a few tablespoons of cornstarch to cold water and stir, add that to your stew and stir in well. Will thicken over a few minutes. Bon appetit!

Do you have any goals for the new year? Perhaps it is eating better, making time to enjoy meals with friends, cleaning a room out or more? If you have feedback in any way we can make your goals easier to achieve, we would love to hear them. 2024 was a very, very good year and we are incredibly grateful for each of you helping us in that. May you have a richly blessed 2025!

Warmly,
Kassandra