Don't even put your chicken bones in the freezer. Sure, it's safe to. No problem there. The problem is the freezer is where food goes to die slowly.

I know chicken bones aren't the most popular item. However, to offer the breast, thighs, sausage, and other chicken cuts we have, we have to do something with the bones. Learning to use the chicken bones is how you maximize value in the kitchen and a depth of flavor in your meals.

I once took for granted the importance of good chicken stock. Then every Christmas, my friend Parker Bosley would give me a variety of homemade stocks. And every time I dined at his house, I realized that nearly every course (except the salad) incorporated stock. It's how he added flavor to a pan sauce for the pork chop, the base of a good asparagus soup, and the foundation for braised meat. Today, I can't cook without some stock in my fridge. Other than salt, it is the most essential ingredient in the kitchen.

So this week, please celebrate the whole animal and follow this very simple recipe to make a rich chicken stock to use throughout the year.

This week's feature ingredient is asparagus. This is the earliest we have ever had it. Eshleman Fruit Farm is in Clyde, OH, which is very close to the lake near Sandusky. They have some more temperate days than the growers further south, and this has allowed the asparagus to start sprouting.

Last year, we had a freeze about 3 days before they were going to harvest it and it took until late May to regrow. We weren't expecting much for this week with the cold and the rain, but they just called and said they got some harvested. So to be sure, we got our first harvest for the week. The hope is that the sun comes out tomorrow and the second harvest is possible.

This is one of the most difficult parts of our business. We tell you what you are getting before it is even harvested. In the summer, it's much easier to predict once we get rolling.

So we are doing our best and our farmer is doing what he can to get you asparagus for this last week of winter. There is a chance we won't get enough and there is nothing we can do about it.

We paired up with our friends over at Cleveland Chocolate for a limited offering of their chocolate bars. If you haven't tried any of their chocolate, you are in for a treat! Rebecca & her husband Cory make all their bars in house, starting with the actual cocoa bean! Yes, there are only a few "bean to bar" chocolatiers in the US. We have one of them here in town.

DARK CHOCOLATE AND NOIRET BUNDLE : Whiskey Barrel Aged Dark Chocolate Bar + 81% Single Origin Dark Chocolate Bar + Bent Ladder Noiret (dry red wine that pairs well with rich foods like chocolate!)

MILK CHOCOLATE AND BORDEAUX-ISH BUNDLE : 60% Single Origin Dark Chocolate bar + 79% Single Origin Dark Chocolate bar + South River Karma (Bordeaux blend wine)

ROSES AND ROSE WINE AND CARD BUNDLE : Raspberry White chocolate bar + Handmade Card ("Happy Mother's Day") + 1 paper rose + M Cellars Dry Rose

ROSES AND ROSE WINE AND CARD BUNDLE #2 : Raspberry White Chocolate bar + Handmade Card ("To a Beautiful Woman Inside & Out") + 1 paper rose from Love, Anji + M Cellars Dry Rose

MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH BUNDLE :

a dry, pinot noir based rose wine from Bent Ladder in Doylestown

a customer favorite, this dry estate grown chardonnay is crisp and clean

estate grown heirloom apple cider aged in a used

noiret wine barrel for a blush color and bold flavor

CHORIZO : $1 off per lb

CHIPS & SALSA : $0.50 off each item (sold separately)

SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE : $0.75 off per pack

*sale prices listed on the website

Stock up on some of our favorite meat staples + save up to 15% on the bundle.

BREAKFAST BUNDLE: 1# nitrate free bacon, 1# country breakfast patties, 1# maple links, 1# bacon breakfast patties, and 1 package of English Muffins

EATING HIGH ON THE HOG: 1 pork tenderloin (1#), 4 pork chops (3#), 2 Boston Butt roasts (5#), 2# Bacon, 1 Smoked Ham Hock (2#), 1# Maple Breakfast Links, 1.25# Green Onion Brats, and 1.25# Italian Sausage Links

3 package sizes to choose from -- Small, Large, Mini

3 food preferences -- Omnivore, Vegetarian, Vegan

20+ pick-up points -- Wednesday through Saturday

More details HERE.

-- Delivery Driver (farm runs + pick-up location routes) --

-- Packer (year round + seasonal positions) --

-- Greeter (work just 1 location, or multiple) --

Email us at jobs@freshforkmarket.com