Purebred Berkshire hogs are known for their outstanding flavor, and some Berk breeders are working hard every year to keep them at the top of the flavor list for American pork.
After careful research, Lindsey and I recently traveled to Nebraska to pick up a new boar for our farm. This guy has a family history of award-winning meat quality and I’m super excited to introduce him to our herd.
We were also able to walk around this farm and see the well-known sires and dams that I’ve only seen as names on pedigree charts online.
Some people dream of meeting Brad Pitt….I was honored to see “Vegan’s Revenge” and “Hustle Belle”. 😀
On the way back, we picked up 2 expectant sows in Iowa from another farm where most of our current sows have family connections to. These two ladies are excellent genetic additions to our farm as well and their female offspring will stay on the farm to become mothers themselves someday.
It’s an honor to keep the Berkshire top-notch meat quality traditions alive and bring YOU some of this too.
I debated on even sharing this “recipe” since, according to one of my teenagers, this is a common food in most households, except ours evidently.
Roasted vegetables.
I cover either fresh cut up veggies or frozen ones with a little oil, spread in a pan, sprinkle on salt or a favorite seasoning and put on convection bake at 350 for 10-30 minutes, depending on how many are in there and how cold they are. Regular bake also works, just keep them in there a little longer.
My favorite seasoning is “Farm Dust” by Rustic Roots Farm in Alexandria MN. I bought it last summer at the MN Garlic Festival.
This is such a simple way to make veggies…I’m not sure why it took me so many years to discover/try it.
And even better, everyone in the family devours them. 3lbs broccoli disappears in 15 minutes.
If this phenomenom hasn’t reached your household yet, I’d highly recommend it!
Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change or shift like a shadow.
James 1:17
In the fall, we decided we would offer a whole/half hog option for our 100% Berkshire pork.
It’s been several years since we offered this and we weren’t sure how much interest there would be.
I said at the beginning that if we sold 5 hogs to lovely families like you, I’d be very suprised and thankful.
(I’m not able to make it to farmer’s markets and honestly, I don’t know very many people. I enjoy my website, but views aren’t overly high. This isn’t a recipe for sales success.)
When we were up to 8 sold, I was ecstatic.
And that number kept growing.
We physically have 19 hogs in our farmyard and 2 weeks ago, we sold the last half hog available.
I’ve moved well beyond surprised and ecstatic. I’m humbled and very VERY thankful.
Sometimes when we pray for something, the answer is “no”. (The apostle Paul prayed over and over for the Lord to take away his “thorn in his flesh and God never did.)
Sometimes it’s “wait awhile.” (The prophet Elijah prayed for rain for 3 years before God sent it.)
And sometimes God says “yes, and let me surprise you in ways you never imagined.” (Joseph was a despised younger brother sold into slavery, in prison unfairly and then God made him 2nd in command of all Egypt!)
This is one of those kind of times for us.
Wow.
We were not able to bring our pork to the kitchen tables of 25 families because the website is so awesome….or I’m a crackerjack saleslady….or our table is extra spectacular at the farmer’s market.
God said “Yes, I’m blessing you in this way today, in ways that don’t make any logical sense to human brains.”
And for that we are very thankful. And should we really be surprised?
May we never underestimate the power of our loving God when he chooses to hand out gifts.
To God be the glory, great things he has done!
