Earth Lover's Companion: You've Got a Friend on the Farm

I read a blog from Shannon Hayes this morning on the fluctuation of devoted farmers leaving their basic belief in locally raised food, good land practices and organic production of food in order to stay farming.    Shannon has struggled with the family farm and creatively mixed her writing skills with her farming ad marketing skills to develop a healthy and positive rebuttal to farming's battles and the environment's troubles.  Her writing can inspire anyone.  Her cooking can inspire you  to start up the grill, put on the cast iron dutch oven and enjoy family, nature and all it takes to produce a fine meal from growing to eating. 

Long Way on a Little: An Earth Lover's Companion for Enjoying Meat, Pinching Pennies and Living Deliciously

From the cover:
“Every earth-conscious home cook who wishes to nourish his or her family with sustainable, local, grassfed and pastured meats should be able to do so, regardless of income,” argues Shannon Hayes. “We just have to change how we’re eating.” In her largest, most comprehensive volume to-date, North America’s leading authority on grassfed meat examines the conundrum of maintaining a healthy, affordable and ecologically conscious meat-based diet, while simultaneously paying America’s small sustainable farmers a fair price for their food. The core reference for any home cook, Long Way on a Little is packed with Hayes’ signature delicious no-fail recipes for perfect roasts and steaks cooked indoors and out on the grill, easy-to-follow techniques to make use of the less-conventional, inexpensive cuts that often go to waste, tips on stretching a sustainable food budget, and an extensive section on using leftovers and creating soups. Written with her accessible style and engaging wit, Long Way on a Little not only helps home cooks make the most effective and economical use of their locally raised livestock, it also delivers a practical understanding of the role of livestock in rebuilding a sustainable society. While addressing the topic of making local food more affordable, Hayes also frankly grapples with tough health issues confronting so many Americans today, from diabetes to grain, dairy and gluten intolerance. The result is family-pleasing, nutrient-dense, affordable cuisine that is a joy to prepare, rich in authentic flavor, and steeped in the wisdom of the world’s greatest culinary traditions. She has served up an illustrative and thought provoking guide that is as stimulating to the mind as it is to the palate.


Features:
• Recipes for cooking all major cuts of grassfed and pastured meats
indoors and out on the grill
• Carbohydrate counts on all recipes for low carb and diabetic diets
• Guide to Grain-free, Legume-free, Dairy-free and Paleo-friendly recipes
• Full-color insert illustrating fundamental techniques for working with
whole animals: from grilling steaks and rendering fat, to making soap,
salve, candles and more
• Extensive section on soups and leftovers
• Lively, up-to-date discussions of current issues pertaining to sustainable
livestock farming in North America
• Money-saving tips for making delicious meals go as far as possible

The Farmer and the Grill 
From the cover:
When The Grassfed Gourmet was released, Shannon Hayes woke up the nation with the radically simple idea that understanding the world of sustainable farming naturally leads to understanding great food. Thousands of cooks – both beginners and seasoned epicureans alike, discovered the thrill of working with grassfed and pastured meats with her simple, delectable recipes that made “real food real simple,” and her passionate prose that told the story of pasture-based farming, one of the country’s greatest food and environmental movements.

Now, America’s favorite foodie farm girl takes us on yet another culinary adventure as she explores the world of grilling, barbecuing and spit-roasting grassfed and pastured meats. Packed with fool-proof techniques, tasty and easy-to-cook recipes, witty anecdotes and insightful essays, this new little gem from Shannon Hayes promises to rapidly grow dog-eared and care-worn as it accompanies socially conscious cooks into the kitchen, out to the grill, then onto the back porch swing for some delicious reading. Features:
- guidelines for sustainable, environmentally friendly outdoor cooking
- hints from “the inside” on selecting and working with pasture-based farmers
- principles for accommodating for natural variation in grassfed and pastured products
- fabulous recipes for all cuts of pasture-raised beef, lamb, pork and poultry
- delicious herb rubs, marinades and barbecue sauces to make at home
- tips on authentic, Argentine-style asado cooking
- myriad suggestions for having fun in the kitchen while nourishing your family and world

More information on Shannon Hayes and Sapbush Farm

Don't forget to visit her store or order some wonderful products.