Sorry. This form is no longer available.
Farm Facts & Cooking Tips
Pasture raised offers health benefits
Truly pastured animals get plenty of sunshine and fresh air. This combination produces meat and eggs that are lower in cholesterol and saturated fats, higher in beta-carotene, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and CLA (conjugated linoleic acids). We supplement our animals with organic feeds, free from pesticides, herbicides, medications and genetically modified corn.
Chickens, turkeys, and pigs raised at Rainbows End Farm are out on pasture as soon as they are old enough to stay warm on their own. Their ability to roam around gives their meat a firmer texture and lower fat content.
This meat is leaner than commercially-raised animals and there are no fluids or preservatives injected into the meat. It needs less heat and less time to cook. Some suggest reducing heat by 15% to 25%. When cooked too fast, the high heat destroys the structure of the proteins, which makes the meat tough and chewy. The slower the meat is cooked the more it will retain its tenderness and flavor. We typically roast our birds covered, with foil or a lid, to hold in the moisture. Cooking in a slow cooker or crock pot is one of our favorites. Another benefit of pastured meat, you will notice less shrinkage, you get more of what you are paying for. Pastured animals are better for your health because you are not injesting antibiotics, growth hormone and chemicals from the meat.
We now have lamb!
Icelandic sheep are a heritage breed that excel on grass pasture. They need no grain supplementation or finishing like commercial breeds. Icelandic lamb is milder in flavor and considered a gourmet meat. They have less lanolin than other breeds—even the older animals are known for not acquiring a “mutton-y” taste.
Laying Hens
Our laying hens have the run of the farm making them healthy, happy chickens. Pasture raised egg yolks are usually a golden orange because they can have a beta carotene content of more than seven times the national average. Higher levels of beta carotene, the body’s precursor to vitamin A, are not the only benefit offered by eggs from free-roaming hens. They have been shown to have higher levels of fatsoluable vitamins such as D and E. These nutrients are essential to maintaining healthy function of the heart, immune system, skin, and even brain.
Our chickens are let out in the morning and sheltered at sundown. Due to this mobility you may on occasion find a small brown or red spot. This is natural and harmless. It is caused by the breaking of small blood vessels in the initial development of the egg.
Have you ever wondered why egg whites might be cloudy? The white of a very fresh egg contains dissolved carbon dioxide, which gives it a cloudy appearance. Some eggs have more; some less. As the egg ages, the carbon dioxide escapes, so that the white becomes more transparent.
A transparent white does not indicate a problem, as an egg that has been stored in the refrigerator is almost certain to be fresh for three to five weeks after it has been packed.
Farm fresh eggs are really fresh! They may have been laid just this morning. As such, they require a little more time when cooking. For hard or soft boiling, add two minutes to your cook time. For peeling ease, crack and peel eggs under cold water.
Bee Facts
All our beehives are located on our farm. We do not feed antibiotics to or medicate the bees. The extracted honey is strained through two screens and has never been heated or pasteurized which allows it to retain the nutritional properties and healthful benefits.
True raw honey will crystallize more quickly than processed honey when kept at lower temps. If you want to avoid this, do not keep in cooler places like basements or fruit cellars. If you choose to bake with honey, be aware your goods will brown faster. To avoid this, it is recommended that you lower your heat by 25°. The added bonus is your baked goods will remain moist longer.
Our goal is to have happy and healthy patrons. Thank you again for choosing our products. If you have any ideas of additional offerings you’d like us to consider, please send us an email or give us a call at (262) 224-5556