Healthy Dessert

When craving a sweet treat, a healthy one can be so much more satisfying. So lets satisfy and nourish our bodies and souls! We hope you enjoy this healthy treat!

Honey Berry Sorbet

• 2 cups chopped fresh berries (like strawberries, raspberries, or a mix)
• 2 cups apple juice
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh or 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, heat berries, juice, mint and honey over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours (but no longer than 24 hours).

In a food processor, place berry mixture. Cover and blend until smooth; strain.

Stir in lemon peel. Pour into 1-quart ice-cream freezer. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions.

Enjoy!

Beef Marrow Bone Stock

Healthy, delicious, nutrient-packed, vital, traditional....what are these words describing? Marrow bone stock, of course! Stock adds wonderful nutrients and delightful flavor to many recipes. Always use stock or broth which is homemade or purchased from a reliable source, never use bouillon cubes which are packed full of MSG and salt instead of nutrients.

Beef Pie

Filling:
2 lbs beef stew meat
1/2 cup seasoned flour -1/4 cup each: spelt and whole wheat flours (seasoned with sea salt and black pepper)
2 Tbl olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup beef marrow bone stock
1 Tbl parsley
1 tsp mixed Italian herbs
Sea salt, to taste

Crust:
1/2 cup spelt flour*
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup beef tallow
1/2 tsp sea salt
cold water
1 egg, beaten

Dredge beef in seasoned flour. Heat oil in a skillet and cook meat until just browned. Add onion, carrots, stock, parsley, Italian herbs, and sea salt. Turn heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare crust: Add flour in a medium-sized bowl, add salt and stir. Add tallow and cut in with a pastry cutter or fork until it resembles coarse meal. Add a small amount of cold water, about a tablespoon at a time, lightly knead until dough forms, don't over-knead. Roll out crust so that it will fit the top of the pie pan.

Put meat mixture into a 9 inch pie pan, cover with pie crust. Cut of any excess crust. Press edges onto the rim of the pan to seal. Cut several vents in the crust to let out the steam. Brush with egg.

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until crust is done. Let cool for a few minutes, enjoy and nourish!

(Admittedly not the best picture, but wow, it tastes awesome!)

*Low-gluten flour, such as spelt flour, alone does not make a good pie crust.

This recipe can easily be made with more and/or different vegetables, if you prefer.

Along with beef stock, chicken stock is also great. The feet of chickens are thought to be the "secret ingredient" in making good broth, however, finding chicken feet can be a task in itself! If you're in the market for chicken feet, take a look at this package. They're expected to be available again in the next couple of weeks and they go fast!

Check out all the blogs participating in the Bone Broth Recipe and Tips carnival. Real Food blog carnivals occur every Wednesday - Kelly the Kitchen Kop and Cheeseslave rotate hosting duties.

Real Food on a Budget

If you're wondering how to eat well on a tight budget, we have good news for you - traditional food blogger extraordinaire Cheeseslave is hosting a "Real Food on a Budget" blog carnival today. Check it out for tons of great ideas! Here is our contribution:

In the midst of uncertain economic times, it can be tempting to cut your grocery budget by turning to cheap, processed food instead of high quality, nutrient dense "real food." However, reducing the quality of the food your family consumes can have real consequences, both now and in the future. So how can you eat real food on a tight budget?

A quick internet search for “eating well on a budget” will reveal dozens of useful tips for keeping your food budget in check. For your convenience, the US Wellness Meats staff has compiled a short list of our favorite tips for eating nutritious real food on a budget:

• Grow your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs in a garden or in containers; shop at a farmer’s market or join a CSA (community supported agriculture) program if growing your own isn’t an option.
• Choose locally raised, in season fruits and vegetables; frozen versions are a cost effective and nutritious substitute during winter months.
• Plan ahead – plan meals in advance and shop only once per week; prior to meal planning, inventory your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry to determine what you need to use before it expires or goes to waste.

To maximize your budget when ordering from US Wellness Meats:

• Shop for weekly sale items, which are announced each Sunday and run through Saturday night.
• Order primal cuts of steak and roast – you can save money by cutting a primal into portions at home.
• Order bulk packages of your favorite products, from ground beef to steak to shredded beef. Our frozen meats are packaged to withstand long term storage in your freezer, which allows you to order in bulk without products going to waste. Splitting bulk packages with friends or family can also boost your savings on high quality grass fed beef.
• New steak choices, developed as “value cuts,” including the flat iron and teres major, are equally tender and delicious alternatives to traditional cuts such as New York strip and tenderloin filet steaks.
• Sandwich steaks, minute steaks, flank steak, and petite top sirloin are all outstanding values.

Finally, think of good nutrition as an investment which will pay big dividends in the future. Eating well today, even in this unsteady economy, will eventually lead to a savings in health care costs and will improve your quality of life along the way.

Curious about the Real Food on a Budget carnival? Visit Cheeseslave to get more information. Real Food blog carnivals occur every Wednesday - Kelly the Kitchen Kop rotates hosting duties with Cheeseslave.

Beef and Bean Burritos: A Great Family Meal

If one of your New Year's Resolutions was to feed your family a more nourishing diet, we found an easy, delicious recipe to help you keep that resolution:

Beef and Bean Burritos

1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
4 large garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 cups prepared black beans (or 3 15-ounce cans black or pinto beans, rinsed, drained)
1 14-ounce container beef bone stock
1 4-ounce can diced green chilies
4 green onions
Warm tortillas of your choice (flour, whole wheat, sprouted)
Grated Monterey Jack cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro
Salsa (try Zukay)

Directions:

1. Heat heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until brown, breaking up beef with fork, about 6 minutes. Add chopped onion and garlic and cook until onion is transparent, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Stir in cumin and cook 1 minute. Add beans, beef stock and chilies and cook until beans are creamy and thickened, crushing beans with back of spoon, about 15 minutes. Mix in green onions.
2. Transfer beans to baking dish. Serve with tortillas, cheese, cilantro and salsa, allowing diners to assemble their own burritos at the table. Serves 8. - Recipe adapted from epicurious.com
   

What are your favorite nourishing recipes?
Do you need some nourishing recipes and ideas? Check out some of our favorite blogs:
Kelly the Kitchen Kop
Cheeseslave
The Nourishing Gourmet

New Year's Traditions

The coming of the New Year is celebrated all over the world. Although the celebrations are not always held on the same day, they often include traditions of religious celebrations, costume parties, parades and with customs said to bring good luck and fortune in the New Year. One New Year tradition is the making of New Year's resolutions. That tradition dates back to the early Babylonians, whose most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. Popular modern resolutions include promises to lose weight or quit smoking. Consider these tips to help in your resolution making:
• Keep it simple.
• Be realistic.
• Have a game plan.

Traditional New Year foods are thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle", completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the New Year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by ham hocks. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.

Below is an easy and tasty crockpot black-eyed pea dish for New Year's Day or any everyday family dinner.

Black-Eyed Peas with Ham

• 1 pound frozen black eyed peas
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bunch (6 to 8) green onions, thinly sliced
• 6 ounces diced ham
• 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Creole seasoning

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
Serves 6.

Last Minute Shopping

Santa isn't the only one who delivers for the holidays...we do too!

The holidays are a wonderful time to create new traditions, and whether you're planning a large family gathering or a cozy candlelight dinner for just a few, we have some delicious selections to choose from. A very popular option is prime rib. Choose from either the standing 3 rib roast (6.5 lbs.) or the standing 4 rib roast (8.5 lbs.) for prime rib. If you or your guests prefer poultry, take a look at our turkey, duck, and goose selections. Maybe you'd rather spend your time with family and friends instead of cooking...try our 2 lb. pre-cooked beef roast with gravy, delicious!

If you're still looking for the perfect gift, we have it! Try our new Holiday Gift Box, available just for the holidays! Need the perfect last-minute gift? Send the gift of health in the form of a gift certificate! Click on the desired amount: $25, $50, $75, $100, $250. Gift certificates can be personalized and can either be mailed or emailed. Personalize it even more by sending it along with a hand-made tallow candle (available 12/16). We truly have something for everyone!

Give us a call if you'd like more ideas! (877) 383-0051

Note: We will be shipping on Monday, December 22nd. Tuesday shipping (for delivery on Christmas Eve) is by request only. Call if you have any questions.

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

Cyber Meat for Cyber Monday

Get ready to kick-off the holiday online shopping season with Cyber Monday! This year would be a great year to send gifts that your friends and family not only want, but need. Everyone needs food, right? Instead of spending your hard-earned money on gifts that won’t get used consider the US Wellness Meats Steak Gift Box or a gift certificate. For more ideas, give us a call at (877) 383-0051, we’re always here to help. Let us help even a bit more…use promo code CYBER8 and receive 15% off your order, today only! If you prefer your order to be delivered closer to the holidays, just let us know. Call or email us with the order number and the day you'd like the gift delivered and we'll take care of it! Order today to take advantage of Cyber Monday savings!
Note: this discount is not valid on orders over 40 lbs., sale items, or the purchase of a Flavorwave oven.