From the Fyr (11.13.2025)

Dishin’ On the Cafe:   Bacon? Did someone say bacon?The OG BEC (original LI breakfast sandwich) is still hot in the cafe this week but of course with our own little F&S flare. Mushrooms, peppers and onion and some garlic scape mayo take this OG sandwich from geek to chic! While I’m a huge fan of our egg sammie, if there are two things I love most in the foodie world it’s sandwiches and Mediterranean cuisine. Put these two together and you’re looking at one fine lamb sammie topped with tzatziki, peppers, onions, and feta on our very own, freshly made sourdough schiacciata.  I think one of the best things about having lunch in the cafe is you’ll always find a friendly familiar face. Come, bring a friend, share one of our plentiful sandwiches and close out your workweek with a bang or a banh (mi).

Made with Love in the Market : While many folks love to warm their hearts during the Autumn months with your good ole Pumpkin Spice Latte (Speaking of, have you tried our rival chai spiced latte??!), I personally prefer a good hot cup of soup. It definitely soothes the soul (and your gut!). We took our abundant hauls of squash from the farm and whipped up some squash soup to be enjoyed all winter long.  Picture this - cool, windy, snowy Sunday in January. You’re exhausted and fed-up from the holiday chaos and celebratory foods. You don’t want to do anything except Netflix and chill (adult version), and eat. You suddenly remember that quart of frozen soup you bought a few weeks back from the market! Perfection. Heat, eat, and take a seat. Stocking your freezer with nourishing soups is honestly one of the best forms of self care. And preventative care! Eating soups, and other warm cooked vegetables in the winter supports the gut and immune system.  Pro tip: take that soup, pour it over some pasta and add some parmesan and/or ricotta cheese. Meal for the whole family. You can thank me later.  

We’ve also got a deal on Bone Broth this week - buy five, get one free! That’s a $20 savings!  Why bone both? I am so glad you asked! Consuming bone broth can support your joint and bone health as it’s packed with collagen (which turns to gelatin - yes, the original JELL-O), when cooked. Unlike JELL-O, collagen and gelatin contain amino acids that support joint tissue health. Additionally, bone broth can help to heal a leaky gut, reducing inflammation and supporting a healthy microbiome. It also contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, as well as nutrients zinc and selenium. Not only do these help the immune system, but they also aid in hydration, bone and nail health. Glycine has also shown to have potential benefits in sleep, brain function and anxiety reduction. 

While I can get behind sipping a nice hot cup of bone broth (by the way, we’ve got that available all winter long in the cafe!)There are so many other ways I use my broths this time of year to boost nutrients in recipes for the whole family. Here are some of my faves:

• Make grains like rice, quinoa, or millet with bone broth instead of water.

• Add to soups

• Pour over veggies roasting in the oven

• Pour over a roasting chicken

• Braise or saute with it

• Steam veggies for your littles (great way to boost nutrients in the veggies and make a complete meal!)

• Use in ramen dishes

• Sauces, gravies, and reductions!

• Freeze into cubes to use for later or use in smoothies! Yes, smoothies. It pairs greatly with avocado and greens.

Need another idea for a family meal night? Try the jerk chicken. So many recipes you can make with this as the star of the show. See below for a few delicious ideas!

Crew’s Fyr Pick of the Week: This week Chef Erik (check back soon to meet our Chefs!) is jonesin’ for some of our jerk chicken with our roasted farm veggies and Peach habanero hot sauce. Easily a dinner for 2-4 peeps. What really gets him; "It's the little bits of marinade that stuck to the skin and coked into little crispy flavor bombs of concentrated smokey jerk goodness."

Market Grabs: Never been to the market? Well, get on over here then! Not only do we offer freshly made soups, foods, spreads and baked goods, but we also stock our favorite products from other small businesses we believe in. We get that shopping is time consuming and we want this to be your one-stop-shop for everything you need! 

If you’ve got time to shop around a bit, I highly suggest checking out some of our unique, small biz-owned, artisanal products we offer. Just in this week, we’ve got two amazing new vinegar offerings! The first is a Heritage Apple Cider Vinegar made by Little Long Ears Provisions from Traverse City, Michigan. It’s made from heritage and heirloom apples grown on a USDA organic farm.  Homemade with the “mother”, this is a health food you need in your pantry! Just 1-2 Tbsp per day gets you your daily dose of live probiotics, B-vitamins and polyphenols!  Another fun small-batch ACV to try (also with “the mother”) is our Sideyard Vinegar by Sideyard Shrubs in Santa Barbara, CA. A small, female-owned company, they use fruit from farmers they “knows as friends and feel like family.” This batch is infused with syrah grapes from Stolpman Vineyards, a family-owned certified organic biodynamic vineyard from CA. Check out this fyr Chimichurri recipe they recommend!  Mix a little of our bone broth with some ACV, ginger, and lemon for a quick immunity shot for your gut. Try this daily or if you feel a little something coming on.

Looking for a little Friday evening treat with the fam? We’ve got you! Get in on the ready-to-bake Brown Butter Chocolate Chip cookies from North Fork Baker.  Pop them in the oven and they (and you) are golden. Everyone will be into it. In fact, with this cold windy weather, you may as well pair it with our hot chocolate mix (a great gift idea for the holidays!) In fact, Jess is also the goddess behind all of our cookies, banana bread, and pastries.

Kitchen Spark: We all find ourselves in food ruts, so here’s a little spark to light the fyr in your kitchen!  

Threw some rice and coconut milk on the stove, added frozen peas. This meal was ready in 10 minutes. Not pictured here was the delicious and cooling lime yogurt sauce and pickled veg. We were too hungry to wait!

JERK CHICKEN RICE FOR THE WHOLE FAM

Ingredients:

• 1 package Jerk Chicken from the market

• 1.5 Jasmine Rice

• 1 can coconut milk (look for one with no gums like Native Forest’s Simple)

• 1 cup frozen peas

• Pickled peppers and onions

• 1 lime zested and juiced, plus additional for garnish and flavor

• 1 cup plain yogurt 

• 1 clove fresh garlic

• 1 Tbsp honey or maple syrup

• EVOO

• Salt and pepper

• Cilantro and scallions (optional)

• Like it hot? Pair with our Peach or Persimmon Habanero Hot sauce

• Not so hot on hot? (optional) mango salsa to cool things down, just omit the jalapeno

Instructions:

1. Rinse 1.5 cups of rice until water runs clear. Add to a small sauce pan with 1 can coconut milk, 1 cup water, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and let simmer until rice is cooked through. Add peas.

2. While rice is cooking, pull the chicken from the bone and set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, mix yogurt, lime zest and juice, and honey/maple syrup. Add in garlic, 1 Tbsp EVOO, salt and pepper. Set aside.

4. Once rice is finished, top with chicken, and serve with the yogurt sauce, habanero sauce, salsa, pickled veg, herbs, and lime!

Like the idea of that one-stop-shop? Here is your grocery list for products available at 8 Hands Farm!

• 1 package jerk chicken

• 1 package organic jasmine rice

• 1 container pickled vegetables

• 1 yogurt

• Raw honey or Maple Syrup

• Fresh garlic

• EVOO

• Salt and pepper

• Habanero Hot Sauce (Persimmon or Peach)

• 5 quarts bone broth 

• 1 quart squash soup (to save for later)