So now you've got some delicious meat to go with your meals... what to do with it?! First of all, this stuff has far more flavor than anything you'll get in the store. Do Not Go Crazy With The Seasonings! A little bit goes a long way with our grass-fed meats. Our personal kitchen is stocked with a dry rub straight from Texas that goes well on everything. But we also have a ton of other spice and herb essentials.
Being grass-fed, our beef in particular is leaner than most meat you get in the store. It might help to add some fat while cooking and/or cook low and slow to keep things juicy and tender. We go through a lot of olive oil and butter in our house. The following are some recipes that have become staples in our home, some Sam created and a few adopted. These are not professionally developed, so take them as suggestions please.
One more note, 3/5 of our house is lactose intolerant - including the cook - so these recipes are generally adapted to accommodate. Feel free to add cheese, etc. if you like that sort of thing.
Coconut Curry Lamb
stove-top, about an hour cook time
2 lb lamb stew meat, 4+ tsp curry powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp chili powder - mix spices and coat meat, let sit for a couple hours or even overnight
a few sliced peppers (of varying spicyness), a chopped onion, 4-6 cloves minced garlic - chop and sautee in olive oil/butter in a large cast iron skillet, remove to a large bowl
brown but don't totally cook half the meat in the same skillet with more olive oil/butter, remove to same large bowl and repeat for the second half of the meat, remove
in same skillet, pour two cans coconut milk and mix in 2 Tbsp cornstarch to thicken, let get to a light boil stirring frequently
add 2 cups sweet corn and/or sugar snap peas, peppers/onion mix and meat; stir in 3 Tbsp basil and 1+ tsp ginger powder
let simmer on med-low heat for a while... it'll thicken so keep stirring it every once in a while; serve over rice
Shredded Beef
oven 200 degrees, 10 hr cook time
4-8 lb beef roast or brisket, liberally coat with dry rub, 3-4 pats butter set on top, cover and refrigerate several hours (up to 24 hrs) - cook 200* overnight 9 hrs, uncover cook 30 min, let sit 30 min before shredding with forks
Ham & Sweet Potato Chowder
stove-top, about 45 min cook time
olive oil, mirepoix mix, salt & pepper - sautee
2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tsp thyme, 1/4 cup flour - add to mirepoix to make a roux
2 cup chicken broth - add to roux, scraping pot
1 cup water, 2 cup milk, 1.5 lb diced sweet potatoes, ham bone (if available) - add to pot, boil then reduce to simmer 10-15 min until tender
8 oz (one small ham steak) diced ham, 1 cup corn - add to soup, cook until heated through
Goat & Artichokes Pasta
stove-top, about 30-45 min cook time
1 pkg egg noodles - cook, drain
1 lb ground goat, 2 cloves minced garlic, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes, 2 tsp olive oil - saute until browned
1 small can cut mushrooms - add to meat, cook 2 min
1 can artichoke hearts, drained - add to meat, cook 2-5 min until warmed through
combine noodles and meat mix, add oregano and more olive oil - simmer 5-10 min until heated through
Candied Beans & Bacon
oven 350 degrees, 30 min cook time
1 lb bacon - lightly cook, drain
1 lb green beans (we prefer canned), 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 c maple syrup - combine in large casserole dish, sprinkle with broken up bacon, mix, cook 350* 20-30 min until crisp
Sausage with Cabbage & Apples
stove-top, 30-45 min cook time
1.5 lbs sweet or hot Italian sausages - lightly brown in olive oil, remove from pan
2 halved apples (cut face on pan), 1/2 red onion, 1/2 head red cabbage (cut into 1/2" slices), salt & pepper - saute in same pan 3-4 min until apples brown, stirring cabbage and onion
1 cup apple cider, 2 Tbsp cider vinegar - add to pan, flip apples, add sausages, simmer until heated through
Taco Hash
stove-top, 45 min cook time
1 lb loose chorizo - lightly brown in olive oil
1 cup diced red and yellow bell peppers, 1/2 cup diced red onion - saute in same pan
1 can black beans drained, 1 cup corn, 1/2 cup peas - add to pan 3-5 min
1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp chili powder, couple jalapenos with juice, cilantro - cook 10-15 min until heated through
3 stale tortillas torn into 1" chunks - add to mix, simmer 10-15 min until softened, stirring occasionally
Corn Maze Chili
stove-top, 45 min cook time, doubled recipe fills a large crock-pot
2 lb ground beef, 2-3 cloves minced garlic, 1 yellow onion, chili powder, salt & pepper - lightly brown
2 chopped jalapenos, 1 chopped skinny red pepper - add to beef, cook 3-5 min
1 small can pinto beans drained, 1 small can tomato paste, 1 can kidney beans drained, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can water, 1 bay leaf, 1 cube beef bouillon - add to beef mix, bring to boil then simmer 30-45 min
G-Ma's Carnitas
crock-pot 10 hr cook time
4 lb pork shoulder
1 tsp salt, 2 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp paprika, dash of cayenne, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cinnamon - mix, coat pork shoulder
1 cup water, 1 cube chicken boullion, 2 bay leaves - add to pork in crock-pot, cook on Low 10 hrs
shred (will probably fall apart), serve as tacos or salad topping, etc., salsa verde is yummy with it
stove-top, about an hour cook time
2 lb lamb stew meat, 4+ tsp curry powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp chili powder - mix spices and coat meat, let sit for a couple hours or even overnight
a few sliced peppers (of varying spicyness), a chopped onion, 4-6 cloves minced garlic - chop and sautee in olive oil/butter in a large cast iron skillet, remove to a large bowl
brown but don't totally cook half the meat in the same skillet with more olive oil/butter, remove to same large bowl and repeat for the second half of the meat, remove
in same skillet, pour two cans coconut milk and mix in 2 Tbsp cornstarch to thicken, let get to a light boil stirring frequently
add 2 cups sweet corn and/or sugar snap peas, peppers/onion mix and meat; stir in 3 Tbsp basil and 1+ tsp ginger powder
let simmer on med-low heat for a while... it'll thicken so keep stirring it every once in a while; serve over rice
Shredded Beef
oven 200 degrees, 10 hr cook time
4-8 lb beef roast or brisket, liberally coat with dry rub, 3-4 pats butter set on top, cover and refrigerate several hours (up to 24 hrs) - cook 200* overnight 9 hrs, uncover cook 30 min, let sit 30 min before shredding with forks
Ham & Sweet Potato Chowder
stove-top, about 45 min cook time
olive oil, mirepoix mix, salt & pepper - sautee
2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tsp thyme, 1/4 cup flour - add to mirepoix to make a roux
2 cup chicken broth - add to roux, scraping pot
1 cup water, 2 cup milk, 1.5 lb diced sweet potatoes, ham bone (if available) - add to pot, boil then reduce to simmer 10-15 min until tender
8 oz (one small ham steak) diced ham, 1 cup corn - add to soup, cook until heated through
Goat & Artichokes Pasta
stove-top, about 30-45 min cook time
1 pkg egg noodles - cook, drain
1 lb ground goat, 2 cloves minced garlic, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes, 2 tsp olive oil - saute until browned
1 small can cut mushrooms - add to meat, cook 2 min
1 can artichoke hearts, drained - add to meat, cook 2-5 min until warmed through
combine noodles and meat mix, add oregano and more olive oil - simmer 5-10 min until heated through
Candied Beans & Bacon
oven 350 degrees, 30 min cook time
1 lb bacon - lightly cook, drain
1 lb green beans (we prefer canned), 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 c maple syrup - combine in large casserole dish, sprinkle with broken up bacon, mix, cook 350* 20-30 min until crisp
Sausage with Cabbage & Apples
stove-top, 30-45 min cook time
1.5 lbs sweet or hot Italian sausages - lightly brown in olive oil, remove from pan
2 halved apples (cut face on pan), 1/2 red onion, 1/2 head red cabbage (cut into 1/2" slices), salt & pepper - saute in same pan 3-4 min until apples brown, stirring cabbage and onion
1 cup apple cider, 2 Tbsp cider vinegar - add to pan, flip apples, add sausages, simmer until heated through
Taco Hash
stove-top, 45 min cook time
1 lb loose chorizo - lightly brown in olive oil
1 cup diced red and yellow bell peppers, 1/2 cup diced red onion - saute in same pan
1 can black beans drained, 1 cup corn, 1/2 cup peas - add to pan 3-5 min
1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp chili powder, couple jalapenos with juice, cilantro - cook 10-15 min until heated through
3 stale tortillas torn into 1" chunks - add to mix, simmer 10-15 min until softened, stirring occasionally
Corn Maze Chili
stove-top, 45 min cook time, doubled recipe fills a large crock-pot
2 lb ground beef, 2-3 cloves minced garlic, 1 yellow onion, chili powder, salt & pepper - lightly brown
2 chopped jalapenos, 1 chopped skinny red pepper - add to beef, cook 3-5 min
1 small can pinto beans drained, 1 small can tomato paste, 1 can kidney beans drained, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can water, 1 bay leaf, 1 cube beef bouillon - add to beef mix, bring to boil then simmer 30-45 min
G-Ma's Carnitas
crock-pot 10 hr cook time
4 lb pork shoulder
1 tsp salt, 2 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp paprika, dash of cayenne, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cinnamon - mix, coat pork shoulder
1 cup water, 1 cube chicken boullion, 2 bay leaves - add to pork in crock-pot, cook on Low 10 hrs
shred (will probably fall apart), serve as tacos or salad topping, etc., salsa verde is yummy with it
Chicken Foot Broth
stove-top, 18-24hrs cook time
2 lbs chicken feet, peeled - boil 5 min, rinse, cool, cut claw tips off at last joint, peel off any extra skin and callouses
feet, 2 lbs carrots cut 4" pieces, 1 lb celery cut 4" pieces, 1 sweet onion quartered, 3 bay leaves, thyme, pepper, cover with water - bring to soft boil, reduce to low and simmer up to 24 hrs uncovered, skim surface periodically
set up a cheesecloth in a colander sitting in another big pot in the sink - slowly pour mix to strain, removing feet/veggies
clean first pot and repeat straining 1-2x
fill mason jars (up to 1.5" short of top), cover loosely, refrigerate a couple days to gel, freeze
after a few hours simmering, you're just reducing the broth - the longer it simmers the more concentrated it will become
can add chicken necks, pork neckbones, beef bones, etc.
can use cooked veggies in other dishes or eat straight. the sheep and pigs really love them too.
stove-top, 18-24hrs cook time
2 lbs chicken feet, peeled - boil 5 min, rinse, cool, cut claw tips off at last joint, peel off any extra skin and callouses
feet, 2 lbs carrots cut 4" pieces, 1 lb celery cut 4" pieces, 1 sweet onion quartered, 3 bay leaves, thyme, pepper, cover with water - bring to soft boil, reduce to low and simmer up to 24 hrs uncovered, skim surface periodically
set up a cheesecloth in a colander sitting in another big pot in the sink - slowly pour mix to strain, removing feet/veggies
clean first pot and repeat straining 1-2x
fill mason jars (up to 1.5" short of top), cover loosely, refrigerate a couple days to gel, freeze
after a few hours simmering, you're just reducing the broth - the longer it simmers the more concentrated it will become
can add chicken necks, pork neckbones, beef bones, etc.
can use cooked veggies in other dishes or eat straight. the sheep and pigs really love them too.
Ham and Veggie Bake
oven 350 degrees, 30 min cook time
2 lb smoked ham steak (1-2 steaks), diced, sear in skillet
1 cup chicken broth, 1 lb broccoli and cauliflower, 1 cup sweet corn, 1/2 diced sweet onion, pepper - combine in large cassarole dish, bake 350 degrees 30 min stirring occasionally
serve with crackers
Smoked Ham and Root Beer Raisin Sauce
crockpot High, 4hrs cook time
2-3 lb cubed smoked ham, 1 cup sliced peppers and onions, 1/4 cup raisins, 1/3 of a 2 liter bottle root beer, cook covered 4 hrs, add 2 Tbsp cornstarch stir and let simmer 20 min
serve over french fries or bread as a pot roast alternative
can substitute beef and coke instead of ham and root beer
oven 350 degrees, 30 min cook time
2 lb smoked ham steak (1-2 steaks), diced, sear in skillet
1 cup chicken broth, 1 lb broccoli and cauliflower, 1 cup sweet corn, 1/2 diced sweet onion, pepper - combine in large cassarole dish, bake 350 degrees 30 min stirring occasionally
serve with crackers
Smoked Ham and Root Beer Raisin Sauce
crockpot High, 4hrs cook time
2-3 lb cubed smoked ham, 1 cup sliced peppers and onions, 1/4 cup raisins, 1/3 of a 2 liter bottle root beer, cook covered 4 hrs, add 2 Tbsp cornstarch stir and let simmer 20 min
serve over french fries or bread as a pot roast alternative
can substitute beef and coke instead of ham and root beer
The Vanstrom Homestead 404 Mud Creek Rd, Kennedy, NY 14747 716.338.6151
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