Inside Our Grist Mill | Includes Farmview House Recipes!

Inside the Farmview Market Grist Mill

Farmview Market is preserving the extensive history of the grist mill by having one in our Market! Fashioned with the primary function of converting grain, such as corn or wheat, into fresh grits, cornmeal, or flour, the grist mill was once an integral part of the food industry. The grain is fed into the hopper, or collection receptacle, which rests above the grinding millstones. As the millstones turn, the grain is ground. 

In a traditional grist mill, millstones are positioned one on top of the other. Farmview Market has a modern mill, with stones positioned under the hopper vertically (side-by-side), which creates a more efficient mill. Grain is ground by the mill stones, then blown into a separator screen, which has four small silos. The grain is then screened through a stainless steel screen that separates the ground grain into smaller and larger particles, or in the case of corn and wheat, into fresh grits, cornmeal, and or flour. Freshly ground grits and cornmeal are then weighed and bagged. 

At Farmview Market, we mill heirloom varieties of corn, grown at Rock House Farm in Leesburg, Georgia. There, we are growing Hickory King, a yellow dent corn that is excellent for grits and makes good cornmeal. Stop by Farmview Market, grab a bag (or three) of our freshly milled grits or cornmeal, and try out some of these recipes!

Farmview Skillet Cornbread

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. lard/bacon grease or canola oil (to grease skillet)
• 2 cups Rock House Farm cornmeal
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 2/3 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 cup bacon grease (or canola oil)

Directions:

1. Place 2 tbsp. bacon grease or canola oil in a 12” cast iron skillet.
2. Place greased skillet in oven and preheat oven to 425oF. 
3. In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar.
4. Add in eggs, buttermilk, and ¼ cup bacon grease or canola oil.  Stir until just combined. 
5. When your oven is preheated, pour batter into the hot skillet and place back into oven. 
6.   Bake for 24-28 minutes until top is a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Farmview House-Ground Grits

Ingredients: 

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup Rock House Farm Stone Ground Grits
• 4 Tbsp butter, unsalted
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1/2 tsp pepper 

Directions: 

1. Combine grits and water and stir. Let grits soak for 10 minutes. Skim off kernels from the top and bring to a boil.
2. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes, leave uncovered, and stir occasionally.
3. Stir in butter, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for another 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently. Enjoy!