Alpaca Farm Girl » farmstead http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com Things That Make You Go Hmmm... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:52:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 The Bird: Free Range or Organic? http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com/2008/11/the-bird-free-range-or-organic/ http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com/2008/11/the-bird-free-range-or-organic/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:06:29 +0000 Katy http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com/?p=527 A catalog came last week that caught my attention. I usually make myself throw them all away immediately. On the cover was a succulent photograph of a roasted turkey and the headline read Farmstead Thanksgiving. I felt as though they were speaking directly to me. Yes, we must have a Farmstead Thanksgiving here on our farm where Tapioka’s very due date is Thanksgiving. Sorry if I just ruined your appetite. Mine took a nose dive as well with that last comment.

I wondered.. what exactly is a Farmstead Thanksgiving? Basically, it is celebrating using ingredients grown locally, off the farm that are easy-to-find. Williams-Sonoma has several holiday recipes on their website including

Okay, I like cream. The catalog says, “These comforting dishes evoke a bygone era, when families gathered around the farmhouse table to share a home-cooked meal for the holiday.” I am so hooked at this point.

Then I see the turkeys. I know I’m going to need a turkey. I usually buy “fresh” ones a few days before the big day. Last year we had a family debate over whether the turkey was REALLY fresh or if it had been frozen at some point, and if the frozen ones are REALLY more fresh because they are flash frozen…and so it went. No one really cared because it tasted great, but I live in a family where everyone knows everything. Don’t you want to join us for the holidays?

This year I am going to buy one of these new-fangled, healthy choice birds from Willie Bird. I need your help. I can’t decide on the organic turkey or the free-range turkey. I’m not sure exactly what the difference is. And for those of you who do the organic thing, tell me why you do organic. My DH is very green and he could regale me for hours on the virtues of pesticide-free, but I’d rather you tell me your thoughts. (I’ll ask him on our next long car trip). Also, what are the benefits to free range? I’m really needing your help here. Please leave me your comments!

Fun Find: Real Simple and William Sonoma’s Contest to outfit your kitchen.

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