Hello my friends,
We’re taking a slow turn-about in the autumn kitchen today, giving thanks for warmth and safety of our home in Washington State while so many of our friends and members are our family are displaced and grieving in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
I wish I could invite each one of you into our cottage kitchen, fill you up a mug of hot broth and slice you off some pork belly.
My long-time love affair with Porter Road is showcased today, primarily their wonderful pork products, which are serendipitously raised in Tennessee. Though this recipe specifically is not featured in today’s video, it was my mother-in-law (who lives in North Carolina) who first taught me to use pork hocks in pots of beans, simmered for length on the stovetop, with bay and garlic and chilis, topped off with a mess of greens in the last few minutes of cooking. It captures the essence of autumn, comfort, and the cottage kitchen perfectly.
We often play a game in our house called “how much comfort would this meal give you if you were in distress?”. Roasted pork belly, rich in fat and flavor or a pot of beans simmered with pork hocks are about as comforting of foods as I can imagine. I pray that the homes left intact after this horrific storm are able to fill their pots with comforting foods and open their tables to friends, neighbors, and strangers alike as people rise up to love on and help people.
May our time together today bring you a smile and touch of comfort.
Print the recipe right here:
All the way across the country, know we are praying for our kinfolk in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. May the Lord raise up those close to offer their hands in assistance.
Have a nourished weekend, my friends.
Love,
Shaye