9/23/08

The Ultimate Fast Food

Eating well can sometimes be a challenge for busy families. When your calendar is filled with school, sports, social, or work obligations, taking time to prepare nutritious meals doesn't always receive the priority it should. To help solve this problem, US Wellness Meats has created heat-and-serve grass-fed beef products, such as slow roasted shredded beef (available with and without BBQ sauce). Shredded beef is a true favorite with the US Wellness Meats staff and our families. Shredded beef can be used in several different dishes, and we all feel good about freedom from preservatives, chemicals, and artificial ingredients (not to mention the nutritional benefits of grass-fed beef). The sauce used in the BBQ variety is our signature Natural BBQ Sauce, made without MSG, high fructose corn syrup, and preservatives.






Slow-Roasted Shredded Beef








A few of our favorite uses for our slow roasted shredded beef include:
BBQ sandwiches
Mexican favorites - burritos, tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, quesadillas, etc.
Pizza topping
Nacho topping
Salad topping
Meat salad
Baked potato topping
Casserole
Soup, stew, or chili






Slow-Roasted Shredded Beef with All-Natural BBQ Sauce







How would you use the slow-roasted shredded beef? Leave us a comment and share your favorite suggestions for the ultimate fast food!

9/22/08

Back to the Basics: Grass-Fed Advantages

With all the buzz and activity going on at the US Wellness Meats headquarters, we sometimes need to pause for a few minutes and get "back to the basics." We're busy processing orders, responding to customer inquiries, moving cattle to fresh pastures, traveling to trade shows, and of course, taste-testing products and recipes.

We started this blog to help share useful information, favorite recipes, and more with our customers. However, in this post we'd like to get "back to the basics" and share with you some of the advantages of eating grass-fed beef from US Wellness Meats. Our grass-fed beef:
  • Contains 4 times more CLA* than grain-fed beef
  • Has an ideal Omega 6:3 ratio of 2:1
  • Is high in branch chain amino acids
  • Has a decreased risk of e.Coli bacteria, due to low pH of first stomach
  • Provides 2-4 times more CLA* than grain-fed beef
  • Has 1/3 LESS calories than grain-fed beef
  • Has no solutions or chemicals added
  • Is not irradiated
  • Comes from 100% grass-fed and grass-finished cattle, with no antibiotics fed and no hormones added















Our grass-fed beef comes from cattle raised on the family farms of US Wellness Meats; from birth to processing, the cattle consume a grain (starch) free diet - and are raised with care, the way cattle were intended to be raised. As we like to say, "Our cattle eat right so you can too!"

*CLA Benefits Include:
Anti-Carcinogenic
Increased Lean Body Mass
Prevents Arteriosclerosis
Slows or Halts Diabetes

9/16/08

Deidre Currie Festival

What a great event! The Deidre Currie Festival (held Sept. 13 in Ann Arbor, MI) was a full day of education, inspiration, and great food. US Wellness Meats was represented in the "Gourmet Farmer's Market," along with all kinds of high quality produce, nuts, seafood, oils, and more.

The event, which celebrated the life of Deidre Currie (read her story here), was focused on good health, good food, and shared knowledge. Four nationally known holistic nutrition experts headlined the event: Sally Fallon, Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, Jerry Brunetti, and Karen Lubbers.

For in-depth summaries of the event, check out these blogs:
Kelly the Kitchen Kop
Cheeseslave

9/11/08

Grass-Fed Meatloaf Sensation

It's beginning to feel more like fall here in the Midwest, and that means many of us will start using the grill a little less and cook our meals inside the kitchen a little more often. One of the best ways to begin the transition back to indoor cooking - and to save time - is to use a slow cooker.

The following recipe, adapted from Fix-It and Forget-It, makes a perfect weekend meal for a family.

Grass-Fed Meatloaf Sensation

2 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 cup salsa
1.25-oz. pkg. taco seasoning*
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup dry breadcrumbs
3 cups shredded cheese (we like Cheddar and Monterey Jack, but use your favorites!)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
4 to 6 oz. beef bone broth

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients (through salt and pepper) and mix well. Shape into a loaf and place in a lightly greased slow cooker (the oval-shaped slow cookers are ideal for this). Top with beef bone broth.

2. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, then on low for 3 hours.

*If you are looking for a more pure taco seasoning than can be purchased commercially, try this recipe:

Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.