Primal Pastures

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 ...

A hearty bowl of beef stew transforms a handful of simple ingredients into a comforting, satisfying dinner. When the beef is higher quality, this no-frills dish becomes something more: a meal that supports your health goals rather than working against them. Here are three reasons to add a grass-fed beef stew to this week's menu. A Great-Tasting Meal Grass-fed and grass-finished beef brings a deeper, more complex flavor to the pot than conventional cuts. Because the cattle graze on a natural diet, the meat develops a richer taste and texture that intensifies during a long simmer. The same qualities that make a grass fed steak taste better off the grill translate directly to stew, yielding tender chunks of beef that enhance the broth's flavor rather than getting lost in it. A Nutrient-Rich Option Beyond flavor, the nutritional profile sets grass-fed beef apart. Compared to conventional beef, it tends to be leaner, with a better omega-3-to-omega-6 fatty acid ratio, a...

Grilling season isn't over yet, and there's still time to switch up the rotation before the weather cools. These three takes on a backyard classic bring pasture raised chicken, wild-caught salmon, and grass fed meats to the grill, so you can enjoy elevated, nutrient-dense burgers during these final weeks of summer.  The Classic Gets a Grass Fed and Finished Upgrade Grass fed and finished ground beef with an 85/15 ratio of lean to fat holds its shape on the grill without drying out before everyone's seated. Cattle raised on open pasture from birth to harvest, with no grain finishing, deliver more omega-3s and CLA than conventional beef.  Keep the seasoning simple with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then let the smell of the char pull the family toward the grill before anyone's even said it's ready. A Salmon Burger That Leans Mediterranean For something lighter, flake a fillet of wild-caught salmon and fold in lemon zest, chopped dill, and a spoonful of cap...

A day at the pool uses a lot of energy. There’s sunshine, lots of activity, and if you’re hanging out with the family, there are probably high-energy kids, too. If you want to rally for another round of swimming or refuel your body for recovery, you need to add some protein to your meals. Chips and dip are not enough. Make sure you have protein-rich options for a meal that will satisfy everyone in the family. Whether you enjoy the flavor of skillfully prepared grass fed meats or go for an easy, marinated protein you put on the grill, protein will help your body continue to feel its best. Marinated Chicken Breast Chicken breasts are surprisingly easy if you have a meat thermometer and a healthy marinade. Pasture raised chicken breast marinated in a homemade BBQ sauce (or a store-bought one without added sugars and hydrogenated oils) will be a hit with everyone in the family. Throw this on the grill at home if you have your own pool, or pack the marinated chicken breasts i...

If you’re on a holistic journey or trying to add more nutrition to your daily diet, a great place to start is in your kitchen. However, that doesn’t mean clearing out your pantry or refrigerator all at once. A few simple swaps for everyday items already in your environment, from what you cook with to what you cook up , can help boost your nutrition while still keeping you satisfied with flavorful meals. Swap Seed Oils for Pure Beef Tallow If you check your counter, do you see industrial seed oils? These are vegetable oils like sunflower, canola, and corn extracted from plant seeds. Seed oils aren’t inherently bad (although they often come from unsustainable farming practices like monocrops). Still, their highly processed nature removes beneficial antioxidants and nutrients, which doesn’t balance out their high omega-6 fatty acid content. On the other hand, pure beef tallow from grass-fed and finished cattle acts as a natural oil. This animal fat features a nutritionally ...

Snacks are essential for summer outings, whether you’re preparing for a hike or just trying to keep little hands happy at the park. So, when the snack attack hits, opt for these more nutritious, protein-packed small bites. The secret? These recipes use pasture-raised, grass fed meats and wild-caught fish. This distinction gives them a higher nutritional profile, full of good-for-you vitamins and minerals that nourish and energize your family wherever adventure takes you next. Chicken Gizzards Small but mighty, pasture raised chicken gizzards are packed with flavor and essential nutrients like protein, zinc, iron, and vitamin B12 to boost energy and support your immune system. Boiled, braised, or fried, there are plenty of ways to enjoy these versatile organ meats. For a chicken nugget alternative kids will love, swap traditional frying oil with organic grass fed beef tallow for a healthier option, or try air-frying them and serving with a side of BBQ sauce. Beef Liver...

It’s time to powerwash the patio, don your favorite “Kiss the Cook” apron, and give those trusty metal tongs a few test clicks. That’s right: Grilling season is finally here. If you look forward to that first bite of juicy, flavorful burger all year long, you know that the delicious patty is all about perfecting your technique. Here are four tips to help you take your grill game to the next level so you and your loved ones can enjoy mouthwatering burgers all summer long. Choose Your Meat Wisely The most important step in grilling the perfect burger takes place before you even fire up the grill. If you’re a seasoned griller, you know that choosing beef with an 85/15 lean-to-fat ratio can keep your patties juicy and flavorful. However, selecting the perfect ground beef is about more than checking its fat content; it’s also about how the beef was raised. Grass fed meats tend to have a higher nutritional value, richer flavor, and more delectable texture. Grilling with past...

Do you still love starting your mornings with sugary cereal and fresh-squeezed orange juice? Or, are you a fan of eating savory avocado toast for breakfast? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but sometimes our go-to breakfasts are lacking one essential nutrient: protein. Eating protein in the morning can regulate blood sugar, keep you full for longer, and support muscle health and energy levels, making it an essential part of a balanced breakfast. Whether you’re a fan of sweet or savory meals, these three breakfast ideas can help you start your day off on the right foot.  Breakfast Burritos If you’re looking for an easy grab-and-go breakfast that makes meal prepping a dream, try breakfast burritos. This savory breakfast staple is easy to tailor to your taste buds and pack full of protein, making it a fantastic way to start your day. To make a batch of breakfast burritos that are delicious and nutritious, start by scrambling eggs, bell peppers, and othe...

The ideal chicken wing is crispy, juicy, and golden brown. A flawlessly seared steak has a lightly caramelized crust and a tender interior. When your veggies are sauteed to perfection, they have a vibrant color and a glossy coating. A great cooking oil is the key to perfectly frying, roasting, or sauteeing your favorite dishes, but with so many types of oil to choose from, it can be tough to know which is best. When it comes to enhancing the flavor, texture, and nutritional value of your food, there are plenty of benefits to using beef tallow, a natural cooking oil, over heavily processed alternatives. Here’s what to know about how organic grass fed beef tallow stacks up against seed oils. Taste Whether you’re whipping up a side of sauteed asparagus and mushrooms or deep-frying chicken thighs, the oil you use plays a major role in the taste of your dish. To infuse your next meal with a delicious flavor, use natural beef tallow. Not only is this oil rich in fat-soluble ...

Did you grow up watching your parents effortlessly create mouthwatering family recipes? Or was your family a fan of TV dinners and takeout? Whether you’ve known your way around the kitchen since you could reach the cupboards or are learning to cook as an adult, brushing up on the basics is always worthwhile. Knowing essential cooking techniques and understanding why they work is the key to sharpening your culinary skills, especially when it comes to creating juicy, tender meat. If you’re ready to graduate from a cautious cook to a confident chef, here are three essential cooking skills that can help you build delicious instincts. Basting To baste or not to baste is the question almost every family debates on Thanksgiving, so you’ve probably heard plenty about this cooking technique during the holidays even if you’ve never used it. Basting involves ladling butter, stock, or drippings onto food while it cooks with a spoon, basting bulb, or brush. The purpose is to infuse food with fl...

We make health-related decisions every day. Some feel clearly related to our health, like going for a walk instead of scrolling on social media. Others are a little more complicated, like deciding between spending time with friends or getting an extra hour of sleep. Plenty of things impact our overall well-being, from our eating habits to our social lives, so great health requires a holistic approach! April 7 is World Health Day, making it the perfect time to reflect on and celebrate every aspect of health. Here are three ways to holistically celebrate World Health Day. Share a Meal with Friends A healthy, balanced lifestyle is about more than using that gym membership and eating those vegetables; it’s also about spending quality time with the people you love! Since meaningful relationships play huge roles in our mental health, invite a few friends over for dinner on World Health Day. A simple meal and great conversation will leave everyone feeling refreshed and joyful. Plus, with...

  When you think of slow living, you might envision connecting with nature, practicing patience, and finding joy in everyday rituals. While slow living is all about building mindful habits and fostering connection, this movement’s roots are actually centered around food. The slow food movement began in Italy during the 1980s as an effort to preserve the local culture and culinary traditions; this movement expanded into the slow living lifestyle. Since food is at the heart of slow living, one of the best ways to embrace this lifestyle is to turn to your daily food habits. Here’s what to know about three pillars of slow living and how to practice them through food. Choose Quality Over Quantity Mindful consumption plays a huge role in a slower lifestyle, which is why choosing quality over quantity is important. When it comes to food, this can look like making a thoughtful grocery list before heading to the store. Choose high-quality ingredients by opting for locally grown produce ...

With sweets, rich holiday dishes, and sugary drinks, many people indulge during the holiday season and wait to start healthy habits in the new year. However, why not enjoy the holiday season with a few healthy habits so they’re already in place when the new year begins? If you’d like to end this year a little healthier than you started it, here are three ways to end the year with a healthy mindset as you enjoy regeneratively farmed grass fed meats . Buy Healthy Grass Fed Meats One simple swap you can make to end the year a little healthier is to cook your meals with regeneratively farmed grass-fed meat. Compared to mass-produced meats, grass fed meats raised on a regenerative farm contain more omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants and are leaner. Grass fed meats are healthier for you because of the quality of soil and grasses that the animals graze on. Even if there’s not a regenerative farm near you, you can order corn-and-soy-free chicken, pork, lamb, and grass fed beef online to g...

While pork is historically considered an unclean meat, it doesn’t have to be with today’s clean farming practices, readily available grass fed meats , and healthier preparation techniques. If you’re celebrating National Pork Month and wish to enjoy healthier forms of your favorite pork dishes this October, here are three healthy takes on a few classic pork dishes you know and love. Healthier Crispy Oven-Cooked Bacon Bacon of any variety offers a different nutritional profile than an alternative like grass fed beef liver . But that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in one of breakfast’s favorite meats in a cleaner, healthier way. Here’s how to make crispy oven-cooked bacon with grass-fed pork and a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet: Step one : Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Step two : Place strips of grass-fed bacon on your parchment-lined baking sheet. Since your bacon will shrink as it’s cooked, you can place them very close together to cook more bacon strips. Step three ...

A zero-waste lifestyle is one of the best ways to practice sustainability, take care of the earth, and enjoy a clutter-free home. Since food waste is one of the largest contributors to overall waste in the United States, re-examining our food habits is a great place to start. If you’re curious about how to reduce your food waste while eating a nutritious, well-rounded diet, here’s what you need to know about building sustainable food habits. Think Big When learning about food waste, it’s important to remember that each person’s actions are a part of a larger, overarching system. While individual households contribute their fair share of food waste, waste occurs at every stage of the supply chain, from farms to supermarkets to restaurants. Because of this, sourcing your food from ethical, environmentally conscious farms is one of the best ways to help your individual actions make a big impact. Support local farms when possible or purchase meat and poultry from suppliers that raise t...