FREE SHIPPING STARTING AT $175

Cooking with Your Farmer - Sweet Lou

posted on

February 2, 2024

If you have visited our booth at the La Grange, Elmhurst, or Wilmette farmers markets - you know her well.  Lou Ann is the 6th generation farmer, and 1st generation to trek miles from the farm to sell meat that she produces.  

I grew up on her cooking, and never ate a meal I did not enjoy. She earned the endearing name Sweet Lou from one of the best frequent flyers of the market.  So here’s Sweet Lou, working her magic in the kitchen making her finest chili.  She uses simple ingredients, great meat, and plenty of love.

Products from the farm featured in the video

Bulk Italian sausage: https://jakescountrymeats.com/store/product/bulk-italian

Chicken Bone Broth: https://jakescountrymeats.com/store/product/bone-broth-chicken


More from the blog

When Life Gives You Turkey...

We are picking up our latest creation from the farm’s bounty today. Real nourishing bone broth made from our pastured turkeys. This broth is made by simmering turkey backs and turkey feet with a medley of local vegetables. We are left with turkey backs after breaking down the whole carcass into pieces like wings, legs, breasts, and thighs. Our farm relies on utilizing the whole animal in order to maintain sustainability. Turkey backs and feet are generally used to create healthy bone broths, or can also be used to fuel a raw dogfood diet. The strong hands that crafted this broth are from our friends and long-time wholesale partners at Sauce and Bread Kitchen. Why bone broth? Not all broth is created the same, and it starts with what goes into the pot. When you simmer bones slowly over time, especially joints, feet, and connective tissue, you begin to draw out the deeper nutrients that aren’t found in a quick stock. Collagen, gelatin, minerals; the kind of nourishment that comes from using the whole animal, the way it was traditionally done. You’ll notice the difference right away. A true bone broth has body to it. When chilled, it gels. That’s a sign of the natural collagen that supports joints, skin, and overall recovery, especially this time of year as we come out of winter. But just as important as how it’s made is where it comes from. Our turkeys are raised outdoors, on pasture, moving, foraging, living the way they’re meant to. That life translates into stronger bones, healthier fat composition, and ultimately a broth that carries more depth; both in flavor and in nourishment. Compare that to most grocery store broths, where the source is often unknown, the cooking process is shortened, and the final product is diluted to hit a price point. It serves a purpose, but it’s not the same. This is slower. More intentional. Made from animals you know, raised on a farm you trust. Something you can sip on its own, or use as a base to bring real flavor and nourishment into your meals.

When Spring Hits Hard On The Farm🌱

Spring doesn’t ease in around here, it shows up all at once. What looks like a simple change in season is actually a full reset on the farm. There’s work waiting in every direction, new life showing up, and a few surprises we didn’t plan for. We wrote a bit about what this past month has really looked like behind the scenes. If you’ve ever wondered what spring actually feels like on a working farm, this one’s worth a read.

Spring Turkey Update?

Once a year, we process our pasture-raised turkeys into a limited batch of ground turkey. The birds are raised outdoors with room to forage, which leads to better nutrition and flavor. This is a seasonal product, available only while it lasts, and it’s packaged and frozen to hold quality long term. If you’re looking to stock up on a reliable, high-quality staple, now is the time.