Here’s a quick and easy dinner that takes no time at all to put together, and it pairs perfectly with the cauliflower rice I wrote about in my last post. For this recipe, make sure you’re using really thin cuts of beef, and that your beef, if possible, is pasture-raised and mostly grass-fed. (Trust me, it will give you the best tasting meat!) If you’re not sure what all of that means, click the title of this post or the read more link to find out, and to see how this dish comes together. |
Is there really a difference you ask? Yes. Yes, there is, though it’s hard to put into words but I will try.
For one thing, factory-farmed, or feedlot beef (which is most of the beef you find in supermarkets, although this is slowly changing) tastes a lot….heavier, greasier, and “duller” if you will. I don’t know if dull is the appropriate word to use when describing the taste of meat, but it’s the only word I can think of. While cooking this type of beef, I also find that there is a bit of an off-putting smell. Finally, After eating this type of beef I usually feel “clogged” and with a rather uneasy feeling. Not so with my parents’ beef.
Does this mean my parents’ cows only eat grass? Well…pretty much. They are definitely pasture-raised and they graze on the grass in the fields pretty much all day, everyday. They come into the barn at night to sleep in stalls with hay.
But we live in Southwestern Ontario, which means that for much of the year our pastures are covered in snow. So, sometimes, to supplement their diet and help fatten them up, my father will add some corn. Not too much, but a little bit is helpful to help the cows grow and to keep the beef tender. (We've found that the meat from cows who feed on ONLY grass is a lot tougher and "gamier.")
Anyways, I say all this only because I know there are a lot of people out there who turn their nose up to beef. Some do so for purely ethical reasons, which I completely understand, and others because they simply don’t like the taste of beef. Then there are others still who are really confused about what beef to buy (Pasture-raised? Grass-fed? Organic? Hormone-free? It can all be so confusing!) To the people who don’t like the taste of beef, and to those of you who would like to eat beef but are unsure of which kind to buy, I suggest giving pasture-raised, mostly grass-fed, hormone-free beef a try if you are able to find it. You might actually find that you like it.
If you happen to be a person who eats beef, you might want to try this quick and easy dish. You need really thin cuts of beef for this to work, but if you have thicker cuts, just keep in mind that it will take a lot longer to cook.
Easy Beef and Mushrooms Makes 1-2 servings Ingredients
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