More Turkey Recipes from the Farms That Know
Plus this weekend's bundle-up market schedule and some eye-popping sky photos
Sometimes I Can’t Believe My Eyes
This was sunrise yesterday (November 10). No words necessary. This one is worth more than a thousand of them. There are a couple more below, also pretty, but this one gets the gold star.
This Weekend’s Chicago Region Market Sked
OK, can’t pull any punches, after a prolonged warm spell, it’s going to be cold this weekend. And what does that mean for the handful of markets that have extended their outdoor seasons? It means our awesome local farmers need you to show up and buy, even more than usual.
While we need to be outdoors only for the few minutes it takes for us to buy our stuff and go, the vendors have to be out there for hours — not just during the market’s open times but for a couple of hours more, arriving while it’s still dark out to set up their tents and products.
So be Chicago tough, parka up and buy some local food. (Of course, if your nearest market has already started its indoor season, the cold really isn’t a problem, right?)
Friday, November 11
St. Charles INDOOR Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon, Baker Memorial Church
Saturday, November 12
Grayslake Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Green City Market Lincoln Park, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark, Chicago
Green City Market West Loop, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 115 S. Sangamon St.
Logan Square Farmers Market Saturday Pop-Up, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Solidarity Triangle, Chicago
Naperville WINTER Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to noon, 200 E. 5th Ave.
61st Street INDOOR Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 724 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago
Woodstock INDOOR Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m, McHenry County Fairgrounds, Building D, 11900 Country Club Rd.
Sunday, November 13
South Loop INDOOR Market at L&A Healing Studio, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2018 S. Michigan, Chicago
The Dole INDOOR Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 401 Country Club Rd., Crystal Lake
More Pasture-Raised Turkey Prep Ideas
On Wednesday, I published my own self-described foolproof recipe for roasting a turkey. But who am I besides a passionate home cook with no particular training? So in the time-honored tradition of second opinions, here are links to recipes published by some of our local turkey farms themselves. Just click the link in each farm’s name.
All-Grass Farms, Dundee, Illinois
Caveny Farm, Monticello, Illinois
Jake’s Country Meats, Cassopolis, Michigan
Speaking of turkey, the folks at 99 Counties, a regenerative farming operation based in Keystone, Iowa, reached out to share some important information about the availability of turkeys for your holiday meals.
You may have heard in the news that turkeys may be in short supply this year because of the avian flu outbreak earlier this year, which according to Centers for Disease Control killed more than 8 million turkeys. Avian flu, however, was much more devastating for birds raised on factory farms, where confinement in crowded facilities allowed the contagion to rip through the flocks.
Pasture-raised birds spent most of their lives outdoors in smaller flocks. Neither John Caveny of Caveny Farm nor Harry Carr of Mint Creek Farm (Cabery, Illinois) — who I interviewed for my article about turkey farming for Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois — mentioned avian flu as a problem for them this year.
99 Counties shared the following about the turkey availability issue:
“99 Counties has taken it upon itself to ensure consumers in Iowa and Chicagoland won’t have to go without a bird this holiday season. The environmentally friendly meat brand is working with 23 farmers across Iowa to provide delicious, organic turkeys this holiday season — and plenty of them!
“Consumers have enough on their minds this time of year, and the last thing they need to worry about is being able to find a turkey for their holiday meals,” said Nick Wallace, Co-founder, President and Chief Farm Officer of 99 Counties. “We have plenty of delicious turkeys because we partnered early on this year with one family who has a rich history of raising some of the best pasture-raised birds–not some corporate factory farm. So we’re ready to deliver to customers’ front doors right now.”
Iowa is normally a little outside the Chicago region I write most about, but I’ve included them here because they do deliver in Chicagoland (from a warehouse in Naperville).
According to 99 Counties, customers may order turkeys until Wednesday, November 16 and will receive them in time for Thanksgiving. 99 Counties offers delicious and nutritious turkeys that exceed the highest standards in animal welfare. And because all meat products are regeneratively raised, customers may feel confident when feeding their guests knowing that all meat from 99 Counties is non-GMO, 100% chemical-free and Certified Organic. People who sign-up for a membership ($99 annual fee) receive 25% off the company’s free-range turkeys, plus 10% off all other meat products, PLUS free doorstep delivery to customers in Iowa and the Chicagoland area.
Wallace writes on 99 Counties’ home page, "We believe that regenerative agriculture holds the key to solving many of the problems we face today. By supporting farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture, we’re combatting climate change while rebuilding farm town communities and providing families with high-quality food.”
Local Food Forum heartily agrees.