Norris Hotsprings Serves Up Local, Seasonal Meals

Hundreds of what were thousands of green tomatoes are ripening on shelves in our kitchen annex at Norris Hot Springs. Our Chef Rebeca Heemstra has made sauce, roasted, pureed, frozen and prepared weekly specials featuring our homegrown heirloom tomatoes since mid-September.

Last week she made the best vegetable lasagna known to woman using the Hot Springs Garden’s delicata squash, spinach, and of course, homegrown heirloom tomatoes. This week’s soup special is homegrown heirloom tomato soup. Everyone loves the comfort of Campbell’s cream of tomato soup – but many think that this homemade version is better!

Beyond the abundance of tomatoes, the Hot Springs Gardens had a wealth of successful carrot beds, many still protected under cover, and under snow. Until the coldest temperatures, they can be left in the garden and harvested as needed.

The delicious sweetness of our three colors of carrots, (cosmic purple, Yellowstone, and various varieties of traditional orange nantes and chantenay) have kept what would have ordinarily been a summer dish, our homemade black bean hummus, on the menu – just because it is such an excellent dip vehicle for the continued crop of our crunchy carrots.

Half a freezer full of chard, kale and spinach, as well as many varieties of herbs will add the kind of flavor and freshness to the Hot Springs specials that, as you might now imagine, will often include some fresh frozen homegrown heirloom tomatoes.

Next week cattle rancher Jenny Sabo will be delivering a processed and frozen whole steer grown with care on her farm less than 12 miles from us. We chose to slaughter at the end of a good wet summer to take advantage of a truly grass-fed animal that will be higher in Omega 3 & 6.

Even though we have to consider the cost to keep the meat frozen over the winter until the grill opens next May – it is important to us to offer the very healthiest meat and produce that our local area can produce. More importantly, our sirloin chili will be offered all winter using the prime cuts of this delicious local grass-fed animal. We also had all the bones trimmed and cut so we can make our own broth. It’s winter – think soup.

The Water of the Gods is at Norris Hot Springs, a Montana geothermal wonder. Come discover a unique place to relax, refresh and enjoy in every season. Delicious and reasonably priced, our food and snacks (local and organic when possible!), fine wines and cold beer are served up to lucky soakers and can be enjoyed in the shade of an umbrella or in the No Loose Dogs Saloon