Welcome to the Ranch!

I love trying new recipes.  It is nice to spice things up once in awhile.  In one month, my mom is having a couple from Hawaii stay with her.  One of her guests is originally from Thailand, and I have always heard what a wonderful cook he is.  I am looking forward to tasting some of his Thai cuisine.  Thai cooking is one way to literally add spice to your life. 

Do you ever wonder what to do with some of your cuts of grass fed beef?  How many different recipes do you have for flank steak?  I would assume not many.  Here is a recipe for Thai-style flank steak from the Podchef.

In addition to a great recipe, he explains the differences between grass fed and grain fed beef.  He also explains the best way to cook grass fed beef, including his opinions on marinades.  Hopefully, you will learn something new from the Podchef. 

Turning this recipe into a gluten-free dish is super simple.  Exchange the soy sauce with wheat-free tamari sauce.  That is it!  Believe it or not, soy sauce is made with wheat while tamari is only made from soy.  It doesn’t make sense. 

Like he said, “Keep on cooking.”  Hope you enjoy the recipe.  Maybe you can prepare this dish for your someone special on Valentine’s Day.

My family loves to eat tacos and taco salad, but we do not like the store-bought seasoning packets.  Instead we mix our own seasoning using no MSG, added starch, etc.  Our mix is also salt-free for anyone looking to lower their sodium intake.

It is very easy to whip up as needed, but you can double or triple the recipe and store in an air-tight container.  If you really like it, you could make several batches to give as hostess gifts during the Christmas holiday.

Taco Seasoning

1 Tbsp chili powder
1-1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp ground oregano
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

In a small bowl, combine all the spices well.  I use this amount on two pounds of ground grass fed beef. 

I like to saute chopped onions and bell peppers in a pan.  Then I add the grass fed ground beef.  Once the beef is browned, add the seasoning.  Then, add three tablespoons of water to the beef.  Stir.  Allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes.

This makes a great filling for tacos.  Regardless if you are filling crunchy taco shells, soft flour tortillas, or corn tortillas, the seasoned beef pairs well with guacamole, cheese, and sour cream.  Add lettuce and tomatoes to your liking.

Taco salad is an easy dinner, too.  For this dinner, the only ingredient I add to the grass fed beef mixture is a drained can of ranch style beans. 

We build our own salads so you don’t have to worry about picky eaters.  Each individual selects what he/she wants.  Set out the salad components on the counter like a buffet.  Add bowls of whatever your family likes like lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, black olives, etc.  Have each person lay a foundation of salad on his/her plate.

Then scoop a healthy helping of the seasoned beef mixture.  Add a handful of corn chips like Fritos for crunch.  Grate some cheese.  And then for dressing, add a spoonful of sour cream, guacamole, and/or salsa top off your flavorful dinner.

I hope that you try my taco seasoning recipe.  It is easy to make and very flavorful.  And, it is a much healthier alternative to the store-bought version.  Enjoy!

From time to time, I like to post a grass fed beef recipe.  One of my favorite cuts of meat is ground beef.  I know that it is not the most sought after nor the most sophisticated cut, but it is probably the most versatile.

I love to make hamburger patties, spaghetti, tacos, lasagna, meatloaf, etc. with ground beef.  Have you ever made hamburger patties with store-bought ground beef and were disappointed when the finished product was half the size of the original patty?  The fat shrinks.

Grass fed beef is naturally lean.  You will notice that your ground beef, especially in patty form, does not shrink much if at all.  Therefore, you are not spending much money on fat.  You are mainly paying for beef.

But what about flavor?  Does grass fed beef then not have much flavor without so much added fat?  It is quite the contrary.  The beef has more flavor than store-bought or traditionally raised beef.  The difference is hard to describe, but noticeable on the very first bite.  Trust me, grass fed beef is delicious and full of flavor.

Today I wanted to give you a recipe for something that is not typical.  In fact it would be considered a seasonal recipe if you eat from your family garden.  However, you can almost always find summer squash in your grocery store.

Right now in Texas, we are in the midst of summer squash season.  At Cross Creek Cattle Company, we have squash coming out of our ears.  We are always looking for different ways to use it.  Boiled, steamed, grilled, fried, roasted, in casseroles, raw, etc. are all ways that we use summer squash.

The following is a delicious recipe that incorporates seasonal ingredients and of course our grass fed beef.

Stuffed Squash

6 lg. squash
1 pound of grass fed ground beef
1/2 cup of rice
1 egg
1 med. bell pepper, chopped
1 sm. onion, chopped
salt and pepper
1 can of tomato sauce or a fresh tomato chopped finely

First you must prepare the squash.  Cut off the bottoms of the squash so that they will stand up.  Cut off the crook-neck, too.  Chop up the neck except for the very end in slices and set aside.  With a vegetable peeler core the squash and clean out all the seeds.

In a bowl, mix together the raw grass fed beef, uncooked rice, egg, bell pepper, and onion.  Add salt and pepper to your liking.  Mix it well.

Fill the bottom of a large pot with about 1″ of  water.  Stuff the squash with the ground beef mixture.  Place standing up in the pot.  If you have extra meat, then make meatballs and add to the pan.  When all the squash are filled and standing in the pot, add the extra slice of squash from the neck to the pot.

Now spoon the tomato sauce on top of each stuffed squash.  This adds moisture and flavor to your dish.

Cover the pan and cook for 1 1/2 hours.  Check periodically to ensure the water level is good.  You may have to add more water throughout the cooking process.  You are cooking the dish with steam.

The beef should be cooked, the rice cooked, and the squash tender when it is done.  Serve with a fresh salad or vegetable.

For added flavor, you can stuff a bell pepper with the same grass fed beef mixture and add it to your pot.  Not only is it delicious in its own right, but its presence flavors the squash, too.