Recipes, Ranch Facts, and a Treat for the Birds

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, fall is the season we naturally gather closer around the table, the fire, and our traditions. At Carson Valley Meats, we wanted to capture that feeling of comfort and community in one place: Fall Farmhouse Flavor, our collection of hearty recipes, local ranch stories, and even a treat for our feathered friends.

This recipe book celebrates the flavors of autumn with rich braises, smoky stews, roasted vegetables, and sweet fall apples. But it also shares something more: the heart of Nevada agriculture. Recipes are paired with a Nevada Farm Fact, tying the meal back to the land, families, and traditions that sustain us.

Download your free copy of our Fall Farmhouse Flavor Recipe Book

A Taste of Nevada Agriculture

We’re proud of where we come from, and we know that the food we put on the table starts with the land that feeds it. Did you know Nevada has more cattle than people in many of its rural counties? Ranching has been a way of life here for generations, and beef continues to be one of the state’s top agricultural products.

Nearly 85% of Nevada’s land is federally owned, and much of it is leased for grazing, which allows cattle to roam wide-open deserts and mountain ranges. Here in the valleys, apples thrive in our crisp fall air, pumpkins are grown on family farms across the region, and in Fallon, known as the “Oasis of Nevada”, farmers grow everything from alfalfa hay to the famous Hearts of Gold melons.

We wanted this recipe book to honor those roots. Each recipe comes with a little piece of Nevada’s story, so when you’re cooking, you’re also connecting with the land and the people who care for it.

 

Recipes That Warm the Table

Inside Fall Farmhouse Flavor, you’ll find some of our favorite fall dishes:

 

• • Hearty Harvest Beef & Barley Stew – a cozy, cider-sweetened dish perfect with sourdough bread.
  • Red Wine Braised Beef Chuck with Root Vegetables – fork-tender beef with carrots and parsnips in a rich sauce.
  • Osso Buco-Style Braised Beef Shanks – slow-braised beef shanks in a rich tomato-wine sauce, brightened with lemony gremolata.
  • Autumn Apple & Sage Chicken Bake – sheet-pan simplicity with orchard-fresh flavor.
  • Rustic Pork Bone & White Bean Soup –  a farmhouse soup simmered long and slow.
  • Butternut Squash & Sausage Pasta Bake – creamy, cheesy, and worth every bite.
  • Smoky Ham Hock & Lentil Stew – earthy lentils and smoky ham – the ultimate fall comfort.
  • Cider-Braised Rabbit with Apples & Onions – a rustic dish that’s both refined and comforting.

Each one was chosen because it makes the most of seasonal flavors and reminds us of what fall feels like here at the ranch — hearty meals, full tables, and the warmth of home.

 

A Treat for the Birds

On the ranch, nothing goes to waste, and we know that every creature, big or small, has a place in our farmyard rhythm. We included a recipe for homemade suet cakes in the recipe book to help birds get adequate nutrition through the cold months of fall and winter.

Suet provides fat and calories, essential for birds to generate body heat and survive cold winters. Making your own is simple, and it’s a wonderful way to bring life and song to your backyard during the quieter months.

Fall Farmhouse Suet Cakes

Ingredients:

 

• • 2 cups beef suet, finely chopped
  • 2 cups birdseed mix (sunflower, millet, cracked corn, etc.)
  • ½ cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
  • ½ cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, or apples)
  • Optional: ½ cup rolled oats or cornmeal

Instructions:

 

1. 1. Render the Suet: Melt chopped suet over low heat until liquid, then strain.
   2. Mix: Combine birdseed, nuts, fruit, and oats in a bowl. Stir in warm suet.
   3. Shape: Pack into muffin tins or small containers. Insert twine if you’d like to hang them.
   4. Chill: Refrigerate or freeze until solid. Store in freezer until ready to use.

Hang the suet cakes in mesh bags or suet feeders during cool weather, and you’ll soon have chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches stopping by for a farmhouse feast of their own.

 

Bringing It All Together

Fall Farmhouse Flavor isn’t just a recipe collection — it’s a celebration of Nevada’s harvest, our ranching heritage, and the little ways we bring comfort to our families (and even wildlife) as the seasons change.

From soups simmered low and slow to casseroles bubbling in the oven, we hope these recipes fill your home with warmth, your table with joy, and your fall with flavor.