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Nancy Bruns Nancy, and her brother, Lewis Payne are partners at J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works. Nancy spent 25 years in the food industry before becoming a salt maker. She enjoys being part of the WV sustainable food system community.
Posts by Nancy

Nothing Comforts Like Pasta!

Everyone loves pasta! It just makes you feel good. We have recently discovered the beautiful and delicious pastas made by Stephanie Fees in Lynchburg, VA. Her company, Scratch Pasta, uses Virginia grown wheat in the campanelle. It is toothsome and tasty! This recipe for Italian sausage and peppers over campanelle uses peppers in sauce from […]

New and Interesting Cocktails

Like many of you I have been participating in virtual happy hours with my friends from near and far. It is a great way to connect and boost our spirits. We all have our go-to drinks. At a time when we’re all suffering from cabin fever why not try something new? Here are a few […]

What’s For Dinner? Something New!

Changing a sauce or marinade in a menu can make your old stand bys taste fresh and new.

Feel Good Recipes from Mom

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Because of the COVID quarantine many of us will not be able to share the special day with our mothers. What we can celebrate are the dishes that we grew up with that make us feel good. My mother is an excellent cook, and I learned a lot […]

Cooking with Appalachian Ingredients

We are living in a surreal world right now. It is comforting to gather around the table to enjoy meals as a family. I find cooking to be very therapeutic, especially now. I have been making an extra effort to support my local fishmonger and use as many Appalachian ingredients as I can . With […]

Roasted Chicken with Polenta and Mushrooms

Cooking with local ingredients is healthy and fun.

Holiday Cookies

Shake up your holiday baking this year! Do a little of the unexpected.

Friend or Foe? Natural Salt and Weight Lost

Friend Or Foe? The Truth Behind Naturally Sourced Salt And Weight Loss article by guest blogger:  Jackie Younger   Unbeknownst to many, naturally sourced salts can help you lose weight. Yes, you heard that right. Forget about counting calories, naturally sourced salt, otherwise known as unrefined salt, is composed of up 16% trace minerals compared […]

Salt in My Cocktail?

This is not a new idea. My grandfather used to add a pinch of salt to his beer. I thought this was disgusting as a kid. He was smart. Salt smooths out the hoppy bitterness of beer. People love dirty martinis for a reason. The saltiness of the olive brine cuts the sharpness of the […]

Buttermilk Cottage Cheese

Easy to make and delicious, cottage cheese is a great staple to keep in your refrigerator.

Kale: From Tough to Tender

Kale is tough! That’s how it survives the cold weather. We have to help it find its tender side.

Heritage Is Our Guide

Harvesting the salt from this same family land that our ancestors did reminds us that we are part of something larger; that we fit into the fabric of our family.

Sweet and Salty

The silky smooth caramel and the crunchy salt crystals allow us to “feel” the flavor.

Nigari

Nigari, a mineral rich by-product of the salt making process, is a versatile pantry staple.

Homemade Tofu

Tofu made from scratch may take a little time but you only need two ingredients. You’ll be amazed at the difference!