Some new Herbage...

Another snowy day in Paradise.  It was beginning to look like mud season had arrived early yesterday what with all the melting going on.  We went up to Farmington yesterday and picked up a couple of bales of organic hay for the pigs and what with maneuvering the tractor to put it into storage; we managed to tear up most of the road leading out to the woods.  Now that I’ve had to go out and plow, I’ve continued the destruction of our driveway.  Ten degrees colder; that’s all we needed for the last couple of nights.  That concludes my complaining about the weather for now.  We won’t discuss the tailgate falling off the back of the truck somewhere in Rome yesterday…

That's Hamlet not helping Christine clean out the pigs smaller home.  His idea of helping was to lay across the entrance.

So….while we have no new culinary herbs or spices for you this week, we are pleased to announce that we now have the following Herbs for Natural Health available:

Name # Indicates not Organic but is Wild Harvested	Volume	Price
Agrimony	1.50	$2.50
Alfalfa Leaf	1.00	$2.50
Angelica Root	2.00	$3.75
Ashwagandha Root	2.00	$2.00
Astragalus Root	2.00	$3.25
Bitter Orange Peel	2.00	$2.50
Black Cohosh Root	2.00	$4.00
Blackberry Leaf	0.70	$2.00
Blessed Thistle	1.00	$2.75
Borage	1.00	$2.25
Burdock Root	2.00	$2.75
Calendula Flowers	0.50	$2.00
Catnip	0.70	$2.25
Comfrey Leaf	1.50	$2.25
Dandelion Leaf	1.00	$2.25
Dandelion Root	2.00	$3.00
Echinacea Purpurea	2.00	$2.50
Elderberries	2.00	$2.75
Feverfew	1.00	$2.25
Frankincense Resin   #	3.00	$3.50
Garcinia Fruit	2.00	$3.00
Goldenseal Root Powder	1.00	$8.00
Heather Flowers	1.00	$2.50
Helichrysum Flowers	0.50	$2.00
Hibiscus Flower	2.00	$3.25
Holy Basil	1.50	$3.00
Hops	0.50	$2.25
Horehound	1.00	$2.50
Hyssop	1.00	$2.00
Jasmine Flowers	0.70	$2.25
Lavender Flowers	1.00	$3.50
Lemon Balm	1.00	$2.00
Lemon Verbena	1.00	$2.75
Licorice Root	2.00	$2.50
Linden Leaf & Flower	1.00	$2.75
Lovage Root Slices	2.00	$3.25
Marshmallow Root	1.50	$2.50
Mugwort	1.00	$2.00
Myrrh   #	3.00	$3.75
Neem Leaf	1.00	$2.00
Nettle Leaf	1.00	$2.25
Oregon Grape Root   #	1.00	$2.50
Peppermint Leaf	1.00	$2.25
Plantain Leaf	1.50	$3.50
Red Clover Blossoms	0.70	$2.25
Red Poppy Flowers	0.50	$2.00
Red Rose Petals	1.00	$2.75
Rosehips	2.00	$2.75
St. John's Wort	2.00	$2.75
Saw Palmetto	2.00	$3.00
Skullcap	1.00	$3.00
Stevia Leaf	1.00	$2.00
Sweet Woodruff	1.00	$2.00
Turmeric Root, Sliced	2.00	$3.25
Valerian	2.00	$3.50
White Ceremonial Sage	1.50	$3.50
White Oak Bark	1.50	$2.50
White Peony Root	2.00	$2.50
White Willow Bark	1.50	$2.50
Witch Hazel Leaf	1.00	$2.00
Wormwood	1.50	$2.25
Yarrow Leaf & Flower	1.50	$2.50

Naturally, there is a disclaimer:  Any information that we share in regards to any of the above products is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Okay, with that out of the way, all of the above items will be available in 4 ounce by volume re-sealable bags.  All items are organic unless otherwise indicated.  We will not have these items at market other than sample bags.  You may place an order with us and we will bring it to the following week’s market.   Alternatively you will be able to order it from our website and have it shipped directly to you.  If there are items you are looking for please let us know and we will do our best to locate them for you.

Here’s a recipe we made last week with the remainders of the pork shoulder that we smoked for the chili we made for the Old Goat Chili Cook Off, which took fourth place.  I think it was a bit warm for the delicate Maine palate.  I tend to forget that my medium heat might be someone else’s hot.  Eastern River Cattle Company however took home First Place. Lucky bast…..Good time was had by all.

Tomatillo Stew with Hominy and Smoked Pork

Serves 8

1 1/2 lbs. tomatillos, husked and halved

1 Large Onion, quartered
2 Tbsp. Ancho Chile Powder
1 Tsp. Jalapeno Chile Powder
4 Large garlic cloves, smashed
1/2 Cup Cilantro
2 Tbsp. Oregano leaves3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
8 Cups Chicken Stock

Three 15-ounce cans of hominy, drained
1 lb. Smoked Pork Shoulder
Sea Salt

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Finely shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced radishes, chopped green onion, diced avocado, sour cream, tortilla chips and lime wedges, for serving.

In a blender, combine the tomatillos, onion, chile powders, garlic, cilantro and oregano.  Pulse until coarsely chopped, scraping down the side.  Add 1 cup of the chicken stock and puree until smooth.  In a large stock pot, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the tomatillo puree and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce loses some of its raw aroma, about 15 minutes. Add the remainder of the chicken stock and the hominy and bring to a simmer over moderate heat.  Add the shredded pork to the stew, season with salt and pepper and cook just until heated through.

Serve the stew in in deep bowls, passing the lettuce, radishes, onion, avocado, sour cream, tortilla chips and lime wedges at the table.

Okay, this is going on long enough.  We will have duck and chicken eggs as well as a selection of fine pork products.  Take care and we’ll see you at the market.

Oh yeah, here’s a picture of the new future bacons…Solo and Tippy.