Blog
Shepherd’s Pie: The Comfort Meal I Always Double and share
Shepherd’s pie is one of those meals I come back to again and again because it fits real life so well. It’s comforting, nourishing, simple to make, and always loved by everyone around the table. I almost never make just one—I usually double it for a future freezer meal or make extra to share with a friend who just had a baby or isn’t feeling well. Made with our ground beef and tallow, it’s the kind of hearty one-dish meal that helps busy families eat well without complicated ingredients or extra stress. Just simple, nourishing food that brings people together and makes home feel warm.
Chicken Cure-All Soup: A Bowl of Comfort for Sick Days and Slow Evenings
When sickness hits or the weather turns cold, there’s nothing more comforting than a pot of homemade chicken soup. In this post, we’re sharing our simple chicken cure-all soup made with a whole pasture-raised chicken—perfect for nourishing your family or sharing with someone who needs a warm meal. Cozy, healing, and made with chicken from our farm!
Our Farm’s Beef Is Finally Here
After years of dreaming, planning, and caring for our own herd, we’re finally offering beef raised on our farm. Our Pineywoods cattle are a heritage breed known for thriving on pasture and producing deeply nourishing, flavorful beef. In this post, we’re sharing why we chose this breed, what makes our beef different, and how to cook it well. If you care about where your food comes from, this one’s for you.
A Simple Approach to Nourishing Food
As a new year begins, many of us start thinking about our health and the food we’re feeding our families — especially during a season when sickness feels everywhere. You may wonder if there’s something more you can do, or if food really makes a difference at all. The truth is, nourishing your family doesn’t have to be overwhelming or all-or-nothing. Small, intentional choices add up over time. In this post, I’m sharing a simple, grace-filled approach to real food and a helpful guide to get you started. If you’ve been longing for clarity instead of confusion, this is for you.
Three Bean Bone broth chili
This chili is everything we love about fall — cozy, hearty, and packed with protein to keep your family full and happy.
It’s perfect for those week nights when you’re running between soccer practice and dance class — and the last thing you want to do is cook.
There’s something so satisfying about walking through the door, knowing dinner’s already done.
Our new favorite deli meat hack
If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store staring at the deli counter wondering what’s actually in that meat… you’re not alone.
I’ve been on the hunt for a clean, simple deli meat that I’d feel good about feeding my family—and honestly, I hadn’t found one we truly loved.
I finally found a recipe that checks all the boxes.
This roast is lean, packed with rich beefy flavor, easy to slice, and makes the most delicious homemade deli meat. I couldn’t wait to share it with you!
Bacon Pie
Joe has never been much of a cook. His specialties include eggs, grilled cheese and frozen pizza.
So you can imagine my surprise when his mom told me that before I knew Joe, he had called her asking for a recipe.
He was having some friends over and wanted to make them one of his childhood favorites….Bacon Pie.
It’s the perfect blend of bacon, swiss cheese & onion in a quiche-like dish that makes it’s own crust.
I’m excited to share the recipe with you with a few tweaks!
Sausage Cheddar balls
I’ve been tweaking my sausage ball recipe for a while now and have made these for parties, appetizer night, girls get-togethers and most recently to freeze for and easy breakfast side once baby girl is here.
The key for me is getting your sausage to room temperature first and using melted butter. It makes the balls come together a lot easier!
Finally, a Ribs Recipe I Enjoy!
I’m sure like me, you’ve had your fair share of frustration with ribs. They’re either not tender enough that you have to work to eat them or the recipe is super complicated. I have been attempting pork ribs recipes since we started raising our own pork back in 2020 and had yet to find a way to prepare them that I truly enjoyed. That is, until I finally stumbled across this method and made it my own. This recipe is SUPER simple. You just need a crockpot and an oven. Plus, the prep is minimal!
The Secret to Flavorful, Tender Chicken
One Thanksgiving, I learned to dry brine our turkey and it was a GAME CHANGER.No cooking and dissolving a brine and waiting for it to cool and no mess in the fridge. The result……tender, juicy and flavorful meat. So then I started using the same method on our weekly chicken dishes. Come along with me while I walk you through how we dry brine our chicken.
You’re Part of Something Bigger Than a Meal
You may have heard Joe or I refer to our type of farming as regenerative. Unless you’ve joined us for a farm tour, you may not quite understand the depth of what that word means.To regenerate means to replace something lost or injured. Our goal on the farm is to leave the land better than we found it, to bring it to life again, to quite literally regenerate the microbiology and ecosystems beneath and above the soil.
You Are One of the Gifts of Farming
A lot of you know Lindsey as the amazing lady that mans our Mobile Farm Store at Social Q Smokehouse every Thursday in Morehead City. What some of you may not realize is that her and her husband also help us butcher and package chickens for you and your families! They’ve toured the farm and learned all the ins and outs of what we do and why we do it. Lindsey is a very reflective and thoughtful person so when she sent me her most recent reflections, I knew I had to share!
The Synergy of Nature, Creature & Farmer
I remember feeling so grateful & in awe of the whole process of watching these chickens be nourished by the land and their feed and ultimately becoming nourishment for us. After reading Lindsey’s words, I was reignited with why we do what we do and with a renewed passion for the way we choose to farm. She took me back to the beginning of our farm and reminded me of the importance of the work we do.
Navigating Egg Labels with your Farmer
Food labels can often be confusing or even misleading. Let’s break them down together. When you see the label “free range”, what do you picture? Chickens frolicking through green pasture all day long?! At least that’s what the picture on some egg cartons shows, but that may not be the reality. There are so many options at the store: Free-range, Certified Humane, Cage-free, Omega-3 Enriched, Organic, Vegetarian Fed, etc. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and just choose the first carton you find without a broken egg or the one with the prettiest picture. Let’s dig into what all the labels actually mean.
Handmade Lard Balm
Last Christmas, I got struck with some creative energy and figured I should harness it – I learned that you can make moisturizing balms with lard! Though it should make total sense because it’s a fat just like coconut oil or shea butter or cocoa butter, I just never thought about lard being used for anything but cooking.
Two Ways to Thaw Frozen Meat
If you’re new to buying meat from us or another local farmer, you may not be familiar with purchasing frozen meat. Since all of our meat is frozen, our goal is to help you feel confident in thawing meat from us in a way that does not compromise the quality or food safety of the meat.
Simple Nourishing Bone Broth
If you’re like me, you value nutrition, taste and ease when it comes to what you eat and bone broth is the key to all of these things in our home. Bone broth is a traditional food loved by our ancestors, it supports your immune system, and helps to stretch your food dollars. Whether you’re throwing a quick pot of rice together, preparing a nourishing soup, or you simply want to enjoy a nutritious warm drink to start your day, bone broth has completely revolutionized our kitchen and our bellies.
Cast Iron Lard Biscuits
I had never been a huge biscuit person until recently. These are melt-in-your-mouth, flaky, buttery, savory and pure deliciousness. They are amazing with apple butter, jam, sausage patties, or for an epic breakfast sandwich. They come together quickly and are simple to make. Enjoy!
Lard Vs. Leaf Lard
If you were to ask me the difference between leaf lard and regular lard 2 years ago, I would have had no idea how to answer. I didn’t even know what lard was before raising pigs. I thought it was the same thing as crisco! I’ve learned a lot these last few years, especially when it comes to honoring the whole animal we’ve worked so hard to raise well. I’m still learning daily.
A Farmers Guide to a Perfect Roast Turkey
You’ve made your Thanksgiving plans, reserved your turkey fresh from our farm and now you’re anticipating a wonderful meal with those you love. This turkey was raised the way God intended – enjoying fresh grass, bugs and lots of sunshine. You will love knowing where your food comes from and your taste buds will too. Whether you’re confident in the kitchen or just starting to dip your toes into cooking, we hope this step-by-step guide will be helpful for you.