Growing up in the family business of meat processing in Miami Florida, as kids we were always surrounded with great conversations about agriculture, but more so, the exploration of really great food that used local Florida Raised produce and meats.
For more than 100 years our family has developed relationships with beef producers in the State of Florida, and part of sourcing quality meats for our commercial clients meant spending a lot of time visiting ranches. You see, because we are multi-generational experts in quality meat, where our meats are sourced and how it is produced matters greatly to us. We only source the quality of meat that we feel good about feeding our own family.
One of the things that we are also passionate about, is teaching children in Florida about the heritage of quality agriculture in Florida. One of the best ways to embrace this is to get in the kitchen with your children or grandchildren and teach them how to prepare nutritious meals from scratch.
If you are home and looking for something fun to do, and you have a package or two of our Florida Raised grass-fed (hormone and antibiotic free) ground beef, check out these kid-friendly fun recipes you can cook together in under one hour.
Let them roll up their sleeves, watch their hands, and create something delicious!
Basic Ground Beef Food Safety Tips (Before You Begin)
We would like to set the record straight about ground beef, because there is a lot of misinformation out there. You may have heard that ground beef is more susceptible to bacterial infection or transmission, compared to other types of meat. Does that mean that ground beef is not healthy for you?
There are special handling procedures for ground beef because of the consistency or nature of the ground meat. A solid piece of beef for instance, may have a larger surface area, but it is more difficult for bacterial to penetrate. If you can imagine the difference between open and closed pores, that would be the best way to visualize the difference between a traditional piece of meat and 1 pound of ground beef. The consistency of ground beef makes it a little easier for bacteria to flourish.
So, what does this mean for safe handling of ground beef? Buy it fresh (not frozen) when you can. Always thoroughly wash your hands before you handle ground beef, and after you are done touching or mixing the raw meat and disposing of the packaging.
When transporting ground beef from the grocery store, try to keep it in a cooler, if you are not heading directly home after shopping. Avoid allowing ground beef to reach room temperature; it should stay cool and refrigerated until you are ready to cook it.
If you are going to be cooking in the kitchen with some ‘little aspiring Chef’s’ then make sure you have explained the safe food handling and hygiene steps to avoid any health risks associated with handling raw meat. And remember to thoroughly clean counters, cutting boards and all work surfaces, the sink and cooking utensils that have come in contact with raw ground beef.
Delicious Kid-Friendly Recipes Featuring Grass-Fed Ground Beef
What we’ve learned about kids is that any recipe that starts with ground beef is probably going to be something they enjoy. Of course, children love the flavor of a scratch hamburger (or home burger) but there are many other kinds of exciting recipes you can cook together, that require just a few ingredients and a 1 lb. package of Florida Raised grass-fed ground beef.
1. Cheeseburger Buddy Cups
When you have a crowd of family or friends over, these Cheeseburger Buddy Cups go the distance. They can be served as a hot appetizer with the regular condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish, pickle and mayonnaise) or they can be served as an entrée with a side of French fries or fresh vegetable sticks like carrots and celery.
We have enjoyed this recipe version from Taste of Home. If you don’t have refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough at home, you can substitute for any kind of prepared puff pastry. Just adjust the cooking time and make sure the center of the cheeseburger cups is at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.
2. Monster Italian Meatballs
When you serve your family a traditional spaghetti or pasta and meatball dinner, be honest; do they get excited about the pasta, or is it really all about the meatballs? Interestingly in Europe, meatballs are not always paired with pasta. In fact, frequently they are served on their own as a healthy protein, with a delicious salad on the side (and maybe a small piece of rustic crusty bread).
Let their imaginations go wild and allow your kids to create their own monster meatballs. Add just a little bit extra egg and breadcrumbs to compensate for the larger size of the meatballs (and help keep them from falling apart in the sauce). A little bit of parmesan cheese in the mixture also helps ramp up the flavor, while adding some extra consistency to the meatballs.
Fresh parsley is an essential ingredient for meatballs, but it is a strong flavor and may be a ‘hard sell’ for some kids, so you may want to omit it when cooking monster Italian meatballs for fussy eaters.
Try this authentic Italian meatball recipe from Food.com.
3. Beef Picadillo Puffy Tacos
Your family may have had just about every single type of taco out there. From the traditional ground beef to the soft street taco, with a side of Elote (Mexican street corn with crema). But these puffy tacos are a totally different dining experience and a texture that kids really find entertaining.
We’ve tried a few different recipes with our Florida Raised grass-fed ground beef, but one of our favorites is the one shared by the recipe website Bon Appetite! If you want to save some preparation time in the kitchen when the kids are helping, you can actually make the Picadillo one day ahead of time and then reheat it, after you have prepared your puffy tacos.
Also, before you garnish them all with cilantro, don’t forget to let your little Chefs taste the raw cilantro. Some people love it innately, and others really do not. And for many kids it is a taste they acquire a little later in love, so let them taste test it first.
Do you have a favorite ground beef recipe that you love to cook with your family? Share a comment with us below or provide a link to your recipe. We are always looking for fresh new meal ideas that highlight premium Florida Raised grass-fed ground beef.