Grass fed beef from a little corner of heaven
I just saw Julie/Julia this weekend and last night I dreamt about making boeuf bourguignon for Christmas dinner.
I've made the Julia Child recipe a few times. It's wonderful. It takes me half a day to make it.
But the recipe I really love is the Barefoot Contessa's Filet of Beef Bourguignon.
And if you're going to make a decadent dish like this, you must use the best possible beef you can get, and that means grass-fed beef.
Cows are made to digest grass. Corn is not a natural part of a cow's diet, and yet it's what most of the cattle in this country are fed, because it fattens them up much quicker than grass. It also makes them sick, requiring more antibiotics, which then makes its way into the food you feed your family.
Grass-fed is also different from grass-finished -- and grass-finished beef means they aren't fattened up on corn, grains, sugar, molasses or other carbs right before slaughter. They are fed grass the whole time. Grass finished beef is also much higher in good things like beta carotene, vitamin E and omega 3 acids, and lower in bad things like total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories.
If you're concerned about the beef you feed your family, check out the Blue Horseshoe Cattle Company.
This company is owned by one of our fellow Stapleton residents, and the cattle are raised very humanely, eating grass their entire lives, under the blue sky in a little corner of heaven in Grand County, between Winter Park and Steamboat Springs.
Lots of packages to choose from here. They're delivering right now, so give them a call.
I'll let you all know how our Christmas filet of beef bourguignon turns out!
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I am one who has thought corn fed cattle must be good. Everyone likes corn!! But when I spoke to a farmer from Northern Colorado, who happens to be family, he set me straight on the difference between grass fed versus corn fed. There a a number of boutique slaughterhouses and butchers who deal only with grass fed cattle. Which are frequented by the farmers who live near by.
The corn fed cattle is the process that the big corporate meat packing companies use. Such as the Brazilian company that now owns JBS Swift.
Great post Liz! Cattle, like humans, simply aren't designed to eat corn. In fact, corn was originally very limited where it grew, and very tough to cultivate. I honestly believe that was for a reason for that. Nutritional anthropology has opened my eyes to what we are supposed to eat. I'm sure corn (or maize) had it's place in Central America for some reason, but not to eat in mass quantities!
Julie & Julie made me so excited to try Beef Bourguignon, that I called every French restaurant that in Denver. Turns out it's a pretty pricey dish to go out for.
Anyone know of a good place to get it? As a new bachelor - I'm not really out to impress anyone with my cooking skills at the moment! LOL
Drives me nuts that restuarants charge you for the porsche with the pinto in the back. If it isnt grass fed or they way farming used to be, try not to support it (ever) Its easier than you think. I have an amazing old school farmer Good Night Loving, hope you supported them at the farmers market. He delivers to my house. Best ever. Please dont put a price on life. Livestock or our own. great flics: Kind Corn and Food Inc
We certainly can eat corn but not Yellow Dent variety of which is all thats offered to livestock and soda, or breads, or 90% of king soopers products. We can digest starches in small unprocessed quantities just fine. Esp real corn, the other varieties almost extinct from out America.