Meet CSA Members Katie & Sean
Members since 2022
I want to introduce you to Sean, Katie, and their son. Sean is a software developer and Katie works for the Deschutes Land Trust.
They are passionate about slow food and home cooking. They enjoy food projects like homebrewing, making jam or their own sausages. They embody the CSA philosophies of commitment to local food and sharing about that food whether in conversation or through food with friends.
CSA Pick-Up Location
Bend
Type Of Membership
10# Share
Why Double F Ranch Meat CSA
Sean and Katie first heard about the CSA through their friends, CSA members Kyle and Katie. They had been talking about this Meat CSA that they loved and so Katie wrote it down to look up.
As she began to learn more about the CSA she realized it would be a perfect fit for their family. They have been involved with vegetable CSAs for 15 years and felt like the Meat CSA fit in with the same food goals they were working towards.
“I loved that it wasn’t just beef, because we don’t cook only one thing. Having that flexibility is really nice and the quality has been amazing.”
Living in Bend gave them more up and close agricultural exposure.
“When we moved to Bend you are closer to a lot of the ranching, so the concept of local food starts to make more sense.
You start thinking more about how to find a way of getting a local source of meat versus when you are in Portland and going to the grocery store. ”
Early Local Food Experiences
Sean grew up on a small farm and Katie’s family was immersed in the slow food movement.
Katie’s family runs a mail order seed company and as she grew up agriculture was everywhere. Her mother was a great home cook, loved to forage, and was deeply connected to the slow food movement in Corvallis. Sean also had family involved in a slow food group.
Each of their early experiences gave them experience with a variety of food and helped start a connection to local food.
Favorite CSA Qualities
Sean and Katie value knowing the story behind their food.
“There is a certain quality behind the CSA. It is different than going to the store and having the impersonality of a freezer case. You don’t know the story. ”
Knowing the story creates an opportunity to share in conversation with others about local food, which is how they learned about the CSA in the first place. They love continuing to spread the word about Double F Ranch’s meat.
Katie and Sean shared how much they enjoy the variety of meat they get from the CSA. They felt like before they were more likely to stick with cuts they were familiar with but now enjoy learning about and getting better at cooking the variety that comes each month.
Mealtime Changes Since Joining
Katie and Sean have found as they have expanded their own cooking skills and meals, it has also had a positive impact on their son. He has become a more adventurous eater and has been trying all the new foods, spices, and flavors.
With a busy family life competing for time, they have found that meal planning has become essential since joining the CSA. Knowing what meat is available in the freezer helps a lot.
Favorite Cuts And Meals
They love the skirt steak, sausages, and any other cut that helps them make quick and easy meals.
Katie shared that they have had so many great meals since joining the CSA it is hard to remember them all.
One great meal that stands out to them is the time they made a pork tenderloin. Katie shared that it was marinated in honey, red wine vinegar, orange juice, thyme, rosemary, and olive oil. It was cooked to perfection, and it was a stellar meal.
The CSA eggs have also been super helpful for feeding their son’s crepe obsession. They have explored lots of different recipes.
Key Mealtime Inspiration
Both love utilizing the Serious Eats website for meal inspiration. Sean loves that it has a lot of science-based cooking guides that he finds helpful. The detailed instructions provided help get the desired cooking results such as tenderness or rareness.
But their all-time favorite mealtime tool is cookbooks. They find that many recipes online are not always tested thoroughly. Not only do the cookbooks provide tried and tested recipes they also are great for perusing and gaining inspiration.
Cookbooks are a family affair. Katie shared that she comes from a family that always had many cookbooks to consult. Cookbooks line her shelves, and her parents’ shelves, and she has inherited many cookbooks throughout the years from family members. You can even find her checking them out at the local library.
I think the nice thing about cookbooks is seeing and reading through recipes, even if they don’t have pictures. We could take a little bit from one recipe and do something with another and it kind of becomes a little inspiring.
Currently, they have been moving through several Greek cookbooks. They also enjoy restaurant-based cooking books.
Some of their current favorite cookbooks include:
Burma Superstar: Addictive Recipes From the Crossroads of Southeast Asia
The Cuisine Of The Sun: Classical French Cooking From Nice And Provence
Tips For New Members
Some of Katie and Sean’s tips for those just starting out in the CSA include:
Take time to thaw out the meat. It takes some time to plan but planning a few days in advance helps a lot.
By planning out your meals in advance it also helps provide leftovers for a tasty meal the next day.
Final Thoughts
“Our son loves getting the little stickers and tattoos at pick-up.
It’s so nice. It’s just been a great experience.”
Thank you so much Katie and Sean for sharing your CSA experience with us.
-Rachel