Cook the Marsh Hen Way

Heirloom recipes made easy. Explore by grain, prep time, or flavor and find your next favorite dish with our step-by-step guides.

MHM Recipes

Buttermilk Blue Cornbread

MHM Recipes

Buttermilk Blue Cornbread

While we might have lost most of our crop variety since the commercial adoption of monoculture, there are still some people out there trying to preserve America’s great heirloom varieties. Marsh Hen Mill, a family-owned farm on Edisto Island, SC is one of them, growing and milling their own heirloom grains like Sea Island red peas, Carolina gold rice, black eyed peas, and Blue Corn. Sea Island Blue Corn was brought to South Carolina by Native Americans, most likely the Chicora Tribe, and thought to be considered a ceremonial crop. As you pull your cast-iron cornbread out of the oven, take a moment to consider the rich history of this sacred ingredient as it passed through the hands of Native Americans, Spanish explorers, English colonists, and American settlers. This cornbread is soft, moist, gorgeous to look at, and so easy to make! Ingredients List ½ Cup Butter, Melted ½ Cup White Sugar 2 Large Eggs 1 Cup Buttermilk 1.5 Cups Sea Island Blue Cornmeal 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour 1 Tbsp Salt 1 tsp Baking Soda Heron Farms Sea Beans, for garnish Directions Preheat oven to 375°F Spray your cast iron skillet with non-stick coating Melt butter In a bowl, combine buttermilk, sugar, salt, and whisked eggs In a separate bowl, combine baking soda, AP flour, and cornmeal Combine all your ingredients until it's smooth & thick Pour into your cast iron and garnish with sea beans Bake for 25-30 minutes Recipe courtesy of Charleston Chef Service.
Easy Skillet Cornbread

MHM Recipes

Easy Skillet Cornbread

*For an 8 inch skillet Ingredients: 1 cup Marsh Hen Mill Cornmeal 1 egg 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup bacon grease Directions: Preheat oven to 425°F. Put well-seasoned 10-inch cast iron skillet with bacon grease in oven while it heats. Put first 5 ingredients in mixing bowl. (mix the dry ingredients, whisk the eggs into the buttermilk, then combine dry/wet ingredients). Pour bacon grease into the other ingredients, stirring as you pour (if you can manage it). Leave enough in the skillet to coat the bottom and sides. Pour entire mixture into the skillet. Place skillet on middle rack of oven; bake until cornbread is springy in the middle, browned and pulling away from the skillet on the sides (about 15-20 minutes). Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.   Double recipe for a 10 inch skillet  
Easy Polenta

MHM Recipes

Easy Polenta

Ingredients: 1 cup Marsh Hen Mill Polenta 4 cups chicken broth, vegetable broth, or water 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 3.5 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated (about 1 packed cups) 1/2 cup softened butter (4 ounces)   Directions: Bring liquid to a boil in a medium saucepan over high. Stir in salt and pepper; remove from heat. Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly. Cover and let stand 45 minutes. Add cheese and butter, whisking vigorously to break up any lumps. And serve immediately. *Cooking time may vary depending on the stove top and the conditions in the kitchen. Elevation and humidity effect cooking times.
Johnny Cake Bake

MHM Recipes

Johnny Cake Bake

Ingredients: 1 cup Marsh Hen Mill Johnny Cakes Mix 2/3 cup of flour 1/4 tsp of salt 1 tsp of baking soda 1 cup of milk 3 tbsp of sugar 1 tbsp of melted butter 1 cup diced apples (peeled and cored) or 1 cup pureed pumpkin Directions: In a mixing bowl, stir together Marsh Hen Mill Johnny Cake Mix, flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside. In a separate mixing bowl mix together milk, sugar, and melted butter. Blend flour mixture into wet ingredients. Add diced apples or pureed pumpkin. Stir well. Pour batter into pan, and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over the batter just before baking. For a thicker cake, pour batter into a lightly greased 9x9 baking pan. Cook for about 1 hour at 350. For a thinner cake, use a 9x13 baking pan & put into a 350 oven for about 35-40 minutes.
Easy Farro

MHM Recipes

Easy Farro

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups Marsh Hen Mill Farro 4 cups water. Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons butter 2 bay leaves   Directions: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil with the bay leaves. Add the farro to the boiling water and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the grains are cooked through but still somewhat chewy, 30 to 40 minutes. Drain well and discard the bay leaves. Transfer to a serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil or butter and toss to combine. If you are making the farro ahead, spread while hot on a baking sheet lined with parchment to stop the cooking as it cools. Once cool, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To Serve Hot Sauté cooked farro piccolo in olive oil with red onions and thyme. Add a splash of white wine and finish with cheese. Top with any roasted root vegetables. To Serve Cold Chill the cooked farro piccolo. Combine with chopped spinach or kale, roasted shallots, bell peppers, carrots and broccoli. sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss. Pour a vinaigrette onto salad. Taste for seasoning, adjusting as you like. *Cooking time may vary depending on the stove top and the conditions in the kitchen. Elevation and humidity effect cooking times.
Easy Sea Island Red Peas or Black-eyed Peas

MHM Recipes

Easy Sea Island Red Peas or Black-eyed Peas

Ingredients: 1 Cup Marsh Hen Mill Sea Island Red Peas or Black-eyed Peas Salt (to taste) Water Directions: Give the peas a good rinse. Transfer the peas to a jar or pot and cover with water and stir in the salt. Let soak overnight, up to 24 hours. When ready to cook, drain the peas and transfer to a pot. Add enough water to go about 3″ above the peas. Add salt. Bring to a boil and let cook for 15 minutes. At the 15-minute mark, reduce the heat to low so that the peas are just below a simmer.  Cook the peas until soft, about 40-45 minutes, occasionally tasting to reach the desired texture. If serving immediately, drain the peas through a fine mesh sieve and place them in a bowl. If storing, allow the peas to cool completely in their liquid, and then store in their broth in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to three months. *Cooking time may vary depending on the stove top and the conditions in the kitchen. Elevation and humidity effect cooking times.  
Easy Johnny Cakes

MHM Recipes

Easy Johnny Cakes

Ingredients: 1 cup Marsh Hen Mill Johnny Cakes Mix 1 cup of water 1/4 cup of milk Bacon drippings (butter or other oil/fat can be used) Directions: In a medium saucepan bring water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and pour Johnny Cake mix into a mixing bowl. Stirring constantly, drizzle the hot water over the mix. After the batter is thoroughly mixed, stir in the milk. Heat the bacon drippings in a large cast iron frying pan on medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, drop your batter by the spoonful. Cook until both sides are golden brown, just like a pancake. *Cooking time may vary depending on the stove top and the conditions in the kitchen. Elevation and humidity effect cooking times.
Low Country Shrimp and Grits

MHM Recipes

Low Country Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients: 3 cups water 1 cup Marsh Hen Mill Stone Ground Grits 1 1/2 cups half and half Salt to taste Dollop of butter handful finely chopped tomatoes and onions 1 lb. peeled shrimp 1/2 cup white wine Directions: Bring water to boil and add grits slowly. Cover. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally. As grits thicken add half and half. Continue to cook for 1 hour, stir occasionally. Shrimp Gravy Put dollop of butter in frying pan. Sauté tomatoes and onions over medium-high heat until they begin to caramelize. Toss in shrimp. Using a wood spoon, continue to stir shrimp, tomatoes, and onions until shrimp turn pink. Splash in 1/2 cup of white wine and continue to stir until shrimp are done and wine has reduced Plate grits. Pour entire shrimp and gravy over grits. Enjoy. TID BIT — Shrimp and grits started out as a seasonal fisherman’s dish of shrimp cooked in bacon grease served over creamy grits in the Low Country where they were also known as “breakfast shrimp.” The simple seafood breakfast became an iconic Southern dish.
Easy Grits

MHM Recipes

Easy Grits

Ingredients: 1 Cup Marsh Hen Mill Stone Ground Grits (any type) 4 Cups Water Salt and Butter to taste Directions: Bring water to a rapid boil in a heavy saucepan. (see note) Add salt and butter. Add grits and stir well until water boils again. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and continue cooking for 25-30 minutes, stirring often and adding water as needed. Add additional salt and butter to taste. yields about 4 cups of cooked grits Note: You may start with 3 cups of water and add the 4th as needed while cooking if you would like as this may reduce cook time but will require a closer eye and more stirring. *Cooking time may vary depending on the stove top and the conditions in the kitchen. Elevation and humidity effect cooking times.

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