FREE RANGERS

Speaking of comfort food, in my book there’s very little that can trump a good roast chicken for cool-weather dining. Whether smoked or slow-roasted on a bed of vegetables, the richness of this dish belies the simplicity of its preparation. But it was a huge epiphany when I slow-roasted a free-range, pasture-raised organic chicken from Kookoolan Farms in Yamhill.

This bird was “chicken-ier” than market chickens, with more flavor and texture in the meat and a much leaner profile. Available year round, Kookoolan offers Cornish Cross chickens and Delawares, an heirloom breed of chicken, as well as turkeys, pheasants and rabbits at Hillsdale Farmers’ Market and People’s Year-Round Farmer’s Market.

Available at: Hillsdale Farmers’ Market
SW Sunset Blvd & Capitol Hwy
First & third Sundays of the month, 10am-2pm

Available at: People’s Year-Round Farmer’s Market
3029 SE 21st
Wednesdays, 2pm-7pm

-Kathleen Bauer