In Florida, we’re gifted with some of the most delicious fresh produce and fruits and vegetables. Eating to reduce your carbon footprint and supporting sustainability in our state, also means being selective about the produce you buy. Support all of our Florida farming community by choosing Florida produce and locally raised beef.
When you have 1 pound of Florida Raised grass-fed beef, you have unlimited meal potential. With a bit of creativity, and a few common and fresh ingredients, you can make a healthy protein rich (antibiotic and hormone free) meal for your family.
Preparing Ground Beef with Food Safety in Mind
When you are handling a raw steak, or other cut of beef, there is a little bit less to worry about as it is a solid piece. It is more difficult for bacteria to penetrate a thick piece of meat and the grains of fat, than it is for ground beef, and that requires a little extra care when you are preparing your meals.
Never allow any ground beef to sit at room temperature. If you have frozen your Florida Raised beef and wish to thaw it out, take it out of the freezer about two days before you would like to use it for meal preparation. Set it on a plate, do not open the packaging, and allow it to defrost slowly in your refrigerator to prevent bacteria from propagating on your meat.
When it comes time to open your ground beef, slice open the package at the top on a plate or a non-porous cutting board (stone, or glass). Wooden cutting boards should not be used to handle raw beef, chicken or pork.
Place the ground beef in a skillet, and separate the meat using a spoon or fork, to allow the meat to cook thoroughly. Drain the fat from the skillet, and you are ready to start creating your protein rich meal, using Florida Raised grass-fed ground beef.
Nutritional Information About Our Grass-Fed Ground Beef
What is the difference between economy grade and premium grass-fed Florida Raised ground beef? The laws regarding food labeling are confusing and at times, misleading to consumers. If you think that price is the only variable you should be considering when you purchase beef at your grocery store, we’d like to provide a little more information to help you make a healthier choice.
Every grocery store offers a variety of grades of meat, which vary in price according to the cut and the leanness of the beef. But if you think about it on your next trip to buy groceries, all the healthiest and most natural products are priced slightly higher than economy food sources. Why? It all comes down to the nutritional composition of the food (and in this case the beef) you are buying.
Cook Something Healthy! Recipe Suggestions You Can Try at Home
Eating healthy food that you prepare yourself at home, is a habit that more families are adopting. Cooking a wholesome satisfying meal can take less time that you think, and it can really help you stretch your monthly budget, when you start with quality Florida Raised ground beef.
There are some common recipes that everyone enjoys using fresh ground beef for, including homemade scratch hamburgers, chilli, meaty pasta sauces and more. What we want to do was research some innovative and uncommon recipes that are delicious and healthy. Meals that you have probably enjoyed at a restaurant but didn’t realize how easy they were to make at home.
1. Ground Beef Empanadas
Mexican empanadas are a delicious high-protein and easy meal all packed in a flakey crust. You could buy them frozen and already pre-prepared and pop in them in the oven, but when you have tried a fresh empanada made at home, you’ll never want to go back to the frozen version.
What You Will Need
· 1 lb. of Florida Raised grass-fed ground beef
· 2 tablespoons of olive oil
· 1 medium sized onion (diced)
· 2 tablespoons of unseasoned tomato paste
· 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
· 1 teaspoon of cumin
· 1 teaspoon of paprika
· 1 cup chopped tomatoes (drained)
· 1 cup pickled jalapeños
· 2 packages of refrigerated pie crust dough
· 2 cups of shredded cheddar (try old cheddar!)
· 2 cups of grated Monterey Jack cheese
· 2 egg whites (beaten) for egg wash
· Flour for rolling the dough
· 1 cup of freshly chopped cilantro
· Sour cream to garnish
How to Make It
1. In a large skillet or cast-iron pan, add the olive oil and set to medium heat. Add the onion and Sautee until it is a golden brown (about four minutes). Then add the garlic and ground beef and cook well. Drain the fat.
2. Stir in the tomato paste, and add the oregano, cumin and paprika seasonings, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the chopped tomatoes and pickled jalapeños and stir gently until all the ingredients are mixed well. Set the skillet aside to cool.
3. Set your oven to 400°F and preheat.
4. Lightly flour a clean surface (cutting board) and roll out the prepared pie crust. You can use a 3” biscuit cutter or a small bowl to cut out consistently sized circles of the pastry dough.
5. On one side of the pastry dough, spoon your empanada stuffing ingredients, then fold the pastry over to create a half-moon shape. Use a fork to press down the open edges of the pastry to seal the ingredients inside.
6. Brush the stuffed empanadas with your egg white.
7. Bake approximately 24 minutes before removing from the oven, when the empanadas are golden brown. Garnish with cilantro and serve with sour cream dipping sauce.
If you find yourself craving the fresh and healthy flavors of a Korean Beef Bowl, this recipe will show you how easy it is to create this meal at home. Not only does this recipe taste delicious the day it is prepared, but it’s also great the next day as leftovers for a healthy lunch you can take to work.
We found this great recipe from DamnDelicious.com and chose it because unlike other recipes, this one can be prepared in under 15 minutes, making it the perfect mid-week meal for busy people.
What You Will Need
· ¼ cup of brown sugar (packed down)
· 2 teaspoons of sesame oil
· ¼ cup of soy sauce
· ½ teaspoon of crushed dried red pepper flakes (or more if you like it spicy!)
· ¼ teaspoon of ground fresh ginger
· 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
· 3 minced cloves of fresh garlic
· 1 lb. of Florida Raised ground beef
· 2 julienne sliced fresh green onions
· ¼ tablespoon of dried sesame seeds
· 3 cups of cooked white rice
How to Make It
1. Take a small bowl and whisk the brown sugar, soy sauce, the sesame oil, red pepper flakes and the fresh ginger together.
2. Place the vegetable oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Sautee the garlic (for about one minute), then add the ground beef and cook thoroughly until browned (about 4 minutes). Crumble the beef with your spoon to break up larger pieces of the ground beef.
3. Stir in the seasoning mixture from your bowl into the skillet and combine thoroughly. Turn the skillet down to simmering temperature for about two minutes.
4. Serve hot over white rice, and garnish with green onion and sesame seeds.
If you have enjoyed our recipe suggestions, or if you have purchased our Florida Raised grass-fed (hormone and antibiotic free) ground beef, tell us what you think. We would love to hear your feedback about our product, and our mission to support local, sustainable food and our cattle ranchers in Florida.
Watch for more helpful and delicious recipes on our Florida Raised blog.