Primal Pastures

Even a favorite recipe can start to feel routine after the tenth time on the table. The good news is that a more interesting meal rarely requires a total overhaul of what you and your family enjoy. Small changes, like using nutrient rich chicken free of corn and soy instead of generic store-bought chicken, can turn a familiar dinner into something worth looking forward to again. TL; DR A different cut of meat can make a familiar dinner feel new again. Swapping the usual cooking oil changes the flavor of an entire dish. Getting family involved turns dinner prep into part of the meal itself. 1. Change the Recipe Before adding anything new to your list, look at the recipe itself. The same chicken that usually gets grilled can become something entirely new with a different marinade. Changing the flavor changes the meal, even when the protein stays the same. 2. Reach for a Different Cut of Meat Sometimes the easiest way to make dinner more interesting is to swap what goes in the pan befor...

Cooking grass-fed meats requires a little extra know-how, whether you’re searing a steak or roasting a whole chicken. These proteins deserve more attention than your typical grocery-store cuts, and you likely have a few questions. Here are straightforward answers to help you get the most out of every meal. TL; DR Meat keeps for three to four days in the fridge, up to three months in the freezer, and even longer in a deep freezer. Letting meat come closer to room temperature before cooking helps it cook more evenly. Finishing temperature depends on the cut, ranging from 130 degrees for a medium-rare steak to 165 degrees for poultry. Where Do I Buy High-Quality Grass-Fed Meats? Look for ethical, regenerative farms that raise their animals on open pasture and support the diets of chickens and pigs with organic, corn- and soy-free feed. This kind of care shows up in the final product, whether it's pastured chicken , grass-fed beef, pork, or lamb. How Should I Store the Meat Once It Is ...

Good inputs make good outputs, and nowhere is that more obvious than in a chicken's diet. Pasture raised doesn't always mean what shoppers assume, since outdoor access is only half the story.  The real difference between a bird raised on a clean, corn- and soy-free diet and a conventional one comes down to what goes into their feed and what makes it to your kitchen table. TL; DR Corn and soy dominate conventional chicken feed because they're cheap and fast-growing. Switching to a proprietary, corn- and soy-free feed blend changes the fat and nutrient profile of the meat. Independent lab testing found that corn- and soy-free chicken was more nutritious than typical store-bought options. Life on Open Pasture Looks Nothing Like a Conventional Coop A pasture raised bird spends its days outdoors, foraging across open ground for bugs, worms, and greens, a sharp contrast to a conventional operation, where birds are typically packed into a barn with limited outdoor access. No Short...

Beef shanks rarely make it onto a weeknight menu, but this cut deserves just as much attention as its grass fed steak counterparts. It's not a cut for a quick sear, but with a little TLC and time, it becomes one of the richest meals to bring to your kitchen table.  Here's a bit about grass fed and finished beef shanks and a few ways to put this cut to work. What Are Beef Shanks, and Why It’s Worth the Wait Beef shanks come from the cow's leg. It’s a hardworking muscle that's naturally lean yet packed with connective tissue, with a marrow-filled bone running through the center, making this cut a slow-cooking treasure.  This cut may be harder to track down at a conventional grocery store, but sourcing grass fed and finished beef online means the deeper, richer flavor is only a few clicks away. Plus, a cast-iron pot, a splash of wine or broth, and a low oven for a few hours are all it takes to bring mouthwatering flavor to the table.  Osso Buco Turns Beef Shanks Into a C...

September means one thing in many households: football season is back, and wings are on the menu.  Whether you’re hosting or arriving with a potluck-ready dish, starting with nutritious chicken raised free from soy and corn brings the nutrition, so all you have to bring is the flavor with these four recipe ideas.  A Simple Dry Rub Brings Bold Flavor Without Any Sauce A dry rub is the easiest way to add deep flavor to a wing with minimal extra prep. Mix smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a touch of brown sugar, coat the wings, then roast them until the skin turns crisp. A Sticky Sauce or Marinade Turns Wings Into a Game Day Favorite A sticky sauce is the classic game-day move, whether it's a simple Buffalo toss or a honey-mustard glaze brushed on near the end of cooking. Marinating the wings beforehand gives the flavor time to soak in, and it's an easy way to feed a crowd with minimal hands-on time. Low and Slow in the Smoker Makes the Best Case for Patience Need an excuse to ...

Steak gets most of the attention, but it isn't the only way to eat well on a budget. Whether it's about stretching a grocery budget or making sure less of the animal goes to waste, nose-to-tail eating solves for both.  Some of the most nutrient-dense parts of the cow are also among the least expensive, and ordering grass fed beef online makes it easy to access all of them, not just the cuts that show up on a restaurant menu. Marrow Bones Bring Nutrition and Flavor for a Fraction of the Cost Marrow bones from grass-fed and finished cattle are one of the best products to stock your freezer with, a nose-to-tail staple that costs a fraction of a steak yet delivers just as much richness. Roast them until the marrow softens, then scoop it straight onto sourdough with a little flaky sea salt, stir it into a pot of broth for extra richness, or braise it alongside vegetables for a Sunday dinner.  Beef Tallow Turns a Kitchen Staple Into a Nutrient-Dense Pantry Item What cooking fat pul...