Your source for Healthy and Affordable Beef
Chipotle Commercial vs. Feeding the World
Great truth and perspective on this commercial from fellow farmer’s wife, Kristin Reese:
While the short video from Chipotle has been out for a while now, I just watched it today. The video vilifies large farms and encourages viewers to buy from local small farms like ours. I have had mixed feelings about Chipotle for a few years. While I support and advocate for consumer choice when it comes to food, it has become my tag line that “Local is great but bigger is better.” When I say bigger is better I mean it from a global viewpoint. I am thankful for customers who support smaller local growers like my family. We have a niche market to feed a sector of people who can afford to pay a bit higher price for their food. But there are those customers who must watch their dollar more closely and maybe cannot or choose not to buy as much local food. By going to a grocery store to buy meats, dairy, fruits and vegetables, you still support a family farm somewhere. Many people do not realize that 98% of all farms in the U.S. are family farms. Whatever decision you make for your family, I feel very confident in saying either is JUST FINE and even more importantly SAFE.
This time of year, my children love strawberries, berries and fresh vegetables. Our Ohio climate does not support the growth of these year round, but a farmer somewhere is producing this product and I am grateful because my children can have a balanced diet year round.
When it comes to animal agriculture, our weather can be very difficult on livestock. Those animals raised inside have a safe and climate controlled home. Chipotle also encourages people to buy meat that is organic and antibiotic free. My son Parker is prone to ear infections. When he is under the weather I take him to a Dr. If the Dr. says we need to treat this infection, then of course I want to do what is safe and best for my child. We use the proper medication for the correct length of time prescribed by the Dr. I certainly do not want to use medication if my child is not sick. If his body becomes used to it, then when he needs it, the medication will be ineffective. I think we live in a very clean home but yet sometimes Campbell and Parker get sick. This is the same with animals. We do our best to keep the animals in a clean environment so that they can remain safe and healthy.
Antibiotics cost money and producers avoid using any medication unless absolutely necessary. If a medicine needs to be used, there are stringent guidelines for each type of medication that must be followed and documented. I know from personal experience that sometimes animals get sick or injured, and I know my standards of care are very good. It is in the best interest and safety of the animal to treat that infection or illness so that they can continue to thrive and be healthy.
From a logical farming perspective we must continue to advance our farming practices or we will never come close to supplying enough food for our expanding population. There is only so much farm land that can be used to grow our food. We cannot create more farmland so we have be the best stewards of our land and produce the safest and largest amounts of product from what land we do have. Both large and small farms need to work together to feed our ever growing population.
As far as the golden burrito, I will still enjoy a chicken burrito with no beans, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and guacamole every once in a while. I will not be thinking about it being organic or antibiotic free. What I will be thinking is that a farmer worked very hard to produce the grain that the animals ate and another farmer worked equally as hard to raise the animal. So whether large or small, organic or not, local or in another state, and even if it’s from Chipotle, if you enjoyed a good meal today thank a farmer.
Life, Love and Lasagna
My cell phone’s familiar jingle almost caused me to drop the Valentine cards and flowers I was juggling as I waited for the cashier. By the time I could reach my phone, I had missed my daughter’s phone call. Since it was nearly 10 am and knowing said daughter is usually teaching her fourth graders, I promptly returned the call. Granddaughter Abigail answered my call and questions with short replies – like she was distracted. I could hear her Mom in the background talking to a voice I didn’t recognize. Finally, Robin came to the phone,
“Jeremiah passed out this morning and we’re having trouble keeping him responsive. The ambulance is here and we’re going to the hospital. Just pray.”
Jeremiah is our first born grandchild now almost 13 years old. He cares deeply about his family. He goes to the movies with Papa, fishes with Nana, hunts with his dad and uncles, teases his sisters and aunts, entertains his toddler cousins and does all of this in between school, basketball, football and baseball! His dimple brings a smile to this Nana’s face from across the room and at this very moment…our grandson was fighting for air.
Plans and priorities change in an instant. I was 45 miles away and feeling helpless. Fortunately, Gramma Linda was there to take care of the girls. I began praying and then called Papa. He called Uncle Ryan who called Aunt Becca and then Aunt Kara in Kentucky.
I thought to call my mother who was expecting me for our weekly lunch and shopping trip. Mother called my sister in Nebraska and she called her prayer warriors. Teachers and friends at school began praying when they saw Mrs. Gebhardt hurry home. Granddaughter Hannah’s caring teacher explained that her momma had taken Miah to the doctor so Hannah could be praying.
Cell phones are wonderful. We didn’t have to wait to learn that the paramedic’s quick response had Jeremiah breathing on his own and his fever dropping as they drove the 60 miles to the medical center. Calls were relayed to us and all of us were breathing easier too as we were updated on his condition.
In the ER Jeremiah looked pale and his voice was scratchy but the gold letters emblazened across his purple T-shirt from church camp were bold: “JEREMIAH 33:3” “That is God’s phone number”, I reminded him.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
It is so humbling but true. The God of the universe hears us when we pray and answers us and tells us things we do not know. And, unlike me, HE answers on the first ring or even before we call! HE told little four-year-old Grace how to assist her Daddy in waking Bubby. (She placed a wet washcloth on his face.) HE gave knowledge to the paramedics and friends, Bill and Donald Gene, on how to treat Jeremiah. HE provided for us in sooo many ways that day (and every day)! Thanks be to God and thanks to all the family, school family and friends who prayed!
Six hours later, Jeremiah was dismissed from the hospital and eating a cheeseburger and fries at Five Guys! We all needed the “comfort food”! I don’t know who raised the great beef but Reed Farms in Idaho Falls, Idaho, provided the potatoes for the fantastic fries!
Our meal together was a celebration of life!
By the way, Jeremiah is the sixth person I have heard about who has passed-out or had to go to the hospital with this “virus”. Take care!!!
When Jeremiah’s parents were in high school and just beginning to date, Jeff made a Valentine’s supper for Robin all by himself. The menu was Lasagna, Salad and Garlic Bread, with Chocolate Cake for dessert. I told her right then that he was a keeper! I am making the same romantic supper for My Valentine—here is my simple recipe for lasagna:
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2 lbs ground beef
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3 cups (about 26 oz jar) spaghetti sauce
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1 15 oz jar Alfredo sauce
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1 ¾ cups (15 oz) ricotta cheese (or small curd cottage cheese)
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1 egg, slightly beaten
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½ teaspoon dried basil leaves
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½ teaspoon dried oregano leaves
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12 pieces oven ready lasagna, uncooked
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4 cups (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
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¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large skillet, cook meat until browned; remove from heat. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and alfredo sauce. In small bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, egg, basil and oregano.
To assemble, layer meat sauce, pasta, ricotta and mozzarella cheese in that order in greased 13X9X2 baking dish. Repeat two more times. Top with remaining pasta pieces and meat sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes; remove foil. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!!
Don’t forget the chocolate!
Happy Valentines Day from Britt Farms! xoxo
Love Your Heart this Valentines Day!
According to a recent survey of American consumers, a majority of Americans agree the best way to say “I love you” to your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day is with a steak! And since lean beef is good for your heart, you are also saying I love you by serving a heart-healthy dinner.
What’s not to love? Lean beef…
Is A Nutritional Powerhouse:
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On average, one 3-ounce serving of lean beef is only 154 calories yet a naturally rich source of 10 essential nutrients – including protein, iron, zinc and B-vitamins.
Is Part of a Heart-Healthy Diet:
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New checkoff-funded research called BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) found that adding lean beef to the most recommended heart-healthy diet can lower heart disease risk by reducing levels of total and LDL “bad” cholesterol.
Contains Healthy Fat:
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Half the fat in beef is monounsaturated, the same heart-healthy kind found in olive oil.
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One-third of the saturated fat in beef is stearic acid, which has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels and is the same fat recognized in chocolate for its benefits.
Packs a Protein Punch:
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Beef is an excellent source of protein, a powerful nutrient that helps strengthen and sustain bodies and hearts.
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A substantial body of evidence shows protein can help in maintaining a healthy weight, building muscle and fueling physical activity – all of which play an important role in a healthful lifestyle and disease prevention.
Offers More than 29 Choices:
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With more than 29 lean cuts of beef, including favorites like Flank steak, Tenderloin, 95 percent lean Ground Beef and T-Bone, it’s easy to find a variety of delicious, heart-healthy beef options for your next meal.
(Provided by Masters of Beef Advocacy)
Britt Farms cares about your heart! Enjoy this Valentines Day with a juicy steak and know that you are making a healthy choice!
Happy Valentines Day and American Heart Month!
Meatloaf with a Banana Mixed in and a Walk with The Duke Down Memory Lane
Twice now, I’ve caught my city-dwelling daughter driving thru one of those “chicken-places” where a black and white spotted cow has to do the advertising. She says it’s for the sweet tea but I know that’s not all. Hey, I like fried chicken, too!
Last night though, her Dad and I went to the steak place…ummmm…where the beef stands on its own—even brave enough to offer a chicken leg to the fainthearted. (Speaking of….have you entered the contest to win a $25 Gift Card to Texas Roadhouse? Winners will be announced on Friday!)
Each time I enter one of those Western establishments, I want to pull on a pair of cowgirl boots, don a Stetson and head West!
Randy’s Dad didn’t have to go West though. He lived it right here North Central Missouri. As young teens, Dad Britt and his brother rode the trail from Bynumville to the rails of Jacksonville with market-ready calves their father had purchased from neighboring farms. They rode herds over the steep hills and down the dusty roads—mere boys helping to make a living for a family of twelve during the 1930’s. The calves were then sent by train to the big stockyards of St Joseph, St. Louis, Kansas City or even Chicago. When Dad Britt told the story, he always added that his father traded horses often. “We’d just get a horse broke good and Dad would up and sell it. If we didn’t have a time….”
Maybe it’s the Western themed restaurant or it could be the fact that Randy’s Dad’s name was Wayne but picturing Wayne and Clifford as young boys driving cattle across the Chariton River and the Middlefork brings to mind the John Wayne movie, “The Cowboys”. Wayne’s character, Andersen is left “high and dry” when his ranchers run off to a gold strike. In order to get his cattle to market, he reluctantly hires a group of 11 boys with no experience to get the job done. Along the way, the group encounters hardship, friendship, laughter and tragedy, forcing the boys quickly to mature beyond their years (from Lee Pfeiffer’s John Wayne Scrapbook).
(Photo courtesy of freemovia.com)
I don’t know if herding cattle or breaking horses did it or not, but Wayne and Clifford were as close as two brothers could be.
(Clifford and Dad Britt are the two handsome cowboys in the middle)
Fortunately, our calves are moved by stock trailers now. Today, for us, “working cattle” involves sorting (by age, weight and gender), pneumonia and virus vaccinations, de-worming, and ear-tagging for identification. It is fun to watch father and son do this with assistance from friends. With today’s facilities, the hardship and tragedies are avoided. But I enjoy the laughter and two-steppin’ from the cowboys!
John Wayne’s Glamorous Meat Loaf from The All-American Cowboy Grill cookbook by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, Ken Beck, and Jim Clark
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1 ½ pounds ground beef
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½ cup chopped onion
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2 eggs
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1 cup tomato sauce
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1 cup bread crumbs
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1 ripe banana
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Mashed potatoes (4 servings)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Mix together the beef, onion, eggs, tomato sauce, bread crumbs, and banana. Bake for 1 hour. After your meat loaf is done, transfer onto a platter, and let all the juices run out. Discard the juices. In a pastry bag with a No. 6 star tip, swirl the potatoes evenly over the entire meat loaf. Put it under the broiler until the potato stars on the top turn golden brown. Makes about 6 servings.
Clay O’Brien Cooper’s GRANDMA’S MEATBALLS (from the same cook book)
(Cooper was one of John Wayne’s young trailhands when he was 11 years old and made “The Cowboys”)
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1 pound ground beef
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1 pound ground pork
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4 large eggs
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5 ounces freshly shredded Romano cheese
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5 ounces freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
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1 ½ cups chopped purple onion
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4 to 5 cloves garlic, chopped
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2 tablespoon chopped parsley
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1 tablespoon chopped basil
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½ tablespoon chopped oregano
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Salt and pepper
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3 or 4 slices sourdough bread
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, both cheeses, onion, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, and salt and pepper. Take the slices of sourdough bread, wet them with water, and then wring out the excess water. Add the wet bread to the other ingredients, and mix everything together with your hands until all the ingredients are combined. Roll into your desired meatball size, place the meatballs on an ungreased cookie sheet, and put them in the oven. Broil the meatballs, turning until cooked all the way through. Remove the meatballs from the oven. Place them into your favorite spaghetti sauce to soak up the juices. They will truly melt in your mouth at mealtime! Bon appetito!
Makes about 2 dozen good-size meatballs.
Win a $25 Gift Card to Texas Roadhouse! 2 Easy Steps to Enter!
Ok fellow beef lovers…Valentine’s Day is in 1 week and we have the perfect date night planned for you! Dinner on us at the Texas Roadhouse!
Ready for some “two-steppin” fun? Here’s what we need from you:
1. “Like” our page on Facebook! (If you already have, then you are one step ahead!)
2. Leave us a comment on this blog post! (Go Beef or Go Tigers would do the trick!)
That’s IT!
The winner will be randomly selected and announced through our blog and Facebook page on Friday! Your gift card will be delivered just in time for Valentines Day! *Both steps must be completed to enter.
Drooling yet? Please show us your support! We would greatly appreciate it and you just may be the winner!
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