Storey's in the Dirt

Regenerative Farming & Food Sovereignty

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Recipes

Simple, seasonal recipes celebrating pasture-raised meats, garden vegetables, and traditional food preparation. From Silkie chicken salad to herbal broths, these dishes honor real food and real flavor.

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Cold Silkie Chicken Salad with Cucumber and Sesame

Summer Recipe Season: Summer Focus: Cooling, hydrating, protein-rich meal for hot weather Key Ingredients: Silkie chicken, cucumber, sesame oil, fresh herbs * * * > “In the heat of summer, food should refresh the body and quiet the fire within.” * * * Why This Recipe Works This light, chilled dish is a perfect way to enjoy Silkie chicken in the warmer months. After slow-cooking your Silkie bird, the meat can be shredded and repurposed into a crisp, flavorful salad that offers hydration, cooling energy, and plenty of nourishment—without weighing you down. The cucumbers bring water content and digestive ease, while sesame oil and fresh herbs (like mint or Thai basil) add aromatic depth and a touch of richness. The result is refreshing, grounding, and ideal for hot days when your body craves light but complete sustenance. * * * Ingredients * 1 to 2 cups cooked Silkie chicken (shredded or thinly sliced) * 1 cucumber, julienned or thinly sliced * 2 tbsp sesame oil * 1 tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar * 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional, for balance) * 1 clove garlic, minced * 1 tsp grated fresh ginger * Sea salt to taste * Optional: 1–2 tsp soy sauce or tamari (for a savory layer) * Optional: 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds * Handful of fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, Thai basil) * * * Instructions 1. Prepare Dressing: * In a small bowl, whisk together sesame oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger, honey, and optional soy sauce until well combined. 2. Assemble Salad: * In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded Silkie chicken, cucumber, and fresh herbs. * Pour the dressing over the top and gently toss to coat. 3. Chill & Serve: * Let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 15–30 minutes. * Garnish with toasted sesame seeds before serving. * * * Serving Suggestions * Serve over cold glass noodles or leafy greens * Pair with iced herbal teas like chrysanthemum or lemongrass * Add avocado slices or soft-boiled eggs for extra nourishment * * * Notes: * Leftover Tip: This is a great use for leftover Silkie meat from broth-making * Flavor Variation: Try adding chili oil or lime juice for a Southeast Asian twist * Prep Tip: Persian or Japanese cucumbers work best for crunch and minimal seeds * * * This salad is a simple, satisfying way to keep cool while still eating nutrient-rich, whole foods—Silkie style. Up next: Light Herbal Broth for Seasonal Cleansing.

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Silkie and Wild Greens Spring Soup

— Spring Recipe Season: Spring Focus: Light detox, seasonal nourishment, early immune support Key Ingredients: Silkie chicken, chickweed, nettle, dandelion greens * * * > “In the early light of spring, even weeds whisper their healing secrets.” * * * Why This Recipe Works This soup captures the essence of spring—fresh, cleansing, and gently nourishing. It’s the kind of recipe that feels like a reset button for your body after a long winter. At the heart of the dish is the Silkie chicken, prized for its rich amino acids, collagen, and immune-supportive compounds like carnosine and anserine. The slow-simmered broth pulls nutrients from the skin, bones, and joints, creating a healing base that is both grounding and deeply restorative. Layered into this mineral-rich broth are wild spring greens that appear just when your body needs them most: * Chickweed is high in vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It’s cooling and soothing, great for reducing inflammation and supporting gentle detox. * Nettle is one of nature’s best multivitamins—loaded with iron, chlorophyll, and trace minerals. It’s a known blood builder and supports kidney function. * Dandelion greens help stimulate digestion and support liver detoxification. They're rich in vitamins A, K, and C. Adding a slice of traditional herbal medicine, this recipe includes astragalus root—a staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine known for its ability to enhance immune function and strengthen overall vitality. It’s especially helpful during seasonal transitions. Together, these ingredients create a broth that doesn’t just feed you—it actively supports your immune system, clears sluggish winter energy, and welcomes spring with intention. * * * Ingredients Base: * 1 whole Silkie chicken (cleaned, skin on or off as desired) * 8–10 cups of water * 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (to draw minerals from bones) * 1 inch ginger root (sliced) * 2 garlic cloves (crushed) * 1 small onion (quartered) * 1 tsp sea salt Greens (added later): * 1 cup chickweed (fresh, chopped) * 1 cup young nettle leaves (use gloves to harvest and handle) * 1/2 cup dandelion greens (tender leaves, chopped) Optional Enhancements: * 1 tbsp astragalus root (immune support) * 1 bay leaf * Dash of pepper or cayenne for warming effect * * * Instructions 1. Prepare the Base: * In a large stockpot, combine the Silkie chicken, water, vinegar, onion, garlic, and ginger. * Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 2–3 hours. Skim off any foam. 2. Add Greens: * Once the chicken is tender and broth is fragrant, add chickweed, nettle, and dandelion greens. * Simmer for another 10–15 minutes, just until greens are softened but still vibrant. 3. Finish: * Remove the chicken, shred the meat, and return it to the soup. * Adjust salt and seasoning to taste. * * * Serving Suggestions * Serve warm with a slice of sourdough or millet flatbread. * Store extra broth and greens in jars for up to 5 days in the fridge. * * * Notes: * Harvest tips: Pick wild greens away from roads and areas sprayed with herbicides. * Nettle safety: Cooking neutralizes the sting—handle with gloves before cooking. * Postpartum variation: Add goji berries and astragalus for added blood-building support. * * * This soup is a perfect way to transition out of winter into spring with food that feeds, supports, and restores. Stay tuned for our next seasonal recipe: Cold Silkie Chicken Salad with Cucumber and Sesame.
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Spring Light Herbal Broth for Seasonal Cleansing

— Early Spring Recipe Season: Early Spring Focus: Gentle detox, liver support, clearing winter stagnation Key Ingredients: Silkie chicken bones, dandelion root, burdock root, parsley, lemon peel * * * > “Spring doesn't ask for perfection—only that we release the old and let the new flow in.” * * * Why This Recipe Works As the seasons shift and fresh greens begin to appear, our bodies naturally crave lighter, cleansing foods. This gentle Silkie-based herbal broth supports that process with ingredients chosen to stimulate liver function, reduce inflammation, and encourage lymphatic flow. Unlike heavy winter stews, this broth is more delicate—designed to sip on its own or use as a base for other spring meals. The Silkie bones contribute easily absorbed minerals, amino acids, and immune-enhancing compounds like carnosine. Herbal additions such as dandelion root, burdock, and lemon peel offer bitterness and astringency, which are key to waking up the digestion and metabolism after winter. * * * Ingredients Base: * Bones from 1 Silkie chicken (or 1 small whole Silkie) * 10–12 cups water * 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar * 1 small onion, halved * 2 garlic cloves, smashed Herbs & Enhancements: * 1 tbsp dried dandelion root (or 2 tbsp fresh chopped) * 1 tbsp dried burdock root (or 2 tbsp fresh chopped) * Zest of 1 organic lemon (or strips of peel) * Small handful of fresh parsley (stems are fine) * Optional: 1 tsp fennel seeds (for digestive ease) * Optional: 1 bay leaf * * * Instructions 1. Combine and Simmer: * In a large pot, add bones, water, vinegar, onion, garlic, and roots. * Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 3–4 hours. 2. Add Aromatics: * In the final 30 minutes, add lemon peel, parsley, and optional fennel and bay leaf. 3. Strain and Store: * Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve. * Store in glass jars or freeze for later use. * * * Serving Suggestions * Sip warm in the morning with a pinch of sea salt * Use as a base for spring soups with greens or root vegetables * Pair with light proteins and fresh sprouts for a cleansing meal * * * Notes: * Bitterness = detox: Dandelion and burdock gently stimulate bile flow, aiding digestion and liver function. * Customizable: Add tulsi, lemongrass, or calendula for calming or floral notes * Storage Tip: Keeps 5–7 days refrigerated or up to 3 months frozen * * * This broth is an invitation to slow down, lighten up, and support your body’s natural seasonal rhythms. Next in the spring series: \*\*Silkie Stir Fry with Garden Veggies.
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