Last month we talked about Nose to Tail eating, what it means, and why it is so important for sustainability, the environment, respecting the animals, and even your  health!  Read that blog post if you haven't and then come back..

Today (and appropriately during Earth Day week)  I will tell you "how to" buy, cook, and eat nose to tail the way that is appropriate for YOU and your family.

Nose To Tail "How To":

1. Go piece by piece. If you’re used to eating the same cuts of beef and are new to nose-to-tail cooking, start by experimenting with one or two new cuts. Usually, the most non traditional cuts are inexpensive but can really surprise you with how delicious and great they are! Build up your repertoire before buying in bulk.  
2. Get Inspired. Buy a grass fed beef cookbook (contact me if you want recommendations on a few of our faves) or check out my recipes on this blog, and monthly cooking demos on our Instagram profile (Highlights section).  These are short video snippets of me cooking a recipe of a less traditional cut of beef.  
3. Buy in bulk.  This is obviously the best way to eat "nose to tail". If you have the ability and are ready for it, buy in bulk! Buying a quarter, half, or even whole cow will save you money in the long run.  Check out our Bulk buying FAQ page or feel free to contact us if you have questions.
4. Enroll in the Starry Nights Beef Box- Bulk too much or nos freezer space? Try our Starry Nights Beef Box! You get 10lbs of different cuts of beef from our farm every month for 3 or 6 months (home delivery included!) Read more here...
5. ENJOY! Enjoy the variety, new flavors, and new (most times super easy) cooking methods you will experience when eating nose to tail!

And as farmers and stewards of our land and animals, we THANK YOU for helping us in our mission to a more sustainable food system and planet! 

Sustainability
These days I hear “Nose to Tail cooking” as a culinary trend and I’m happy about that! Nose-to-tail cooking is all about sustainability, and this is very important to us- and it should be for you too!  See, a farmer can’t raise a pork chop. A farmer can’t raise a rib eye steak, or a leg of lamb. You have to raise a whole pig, a whole lamb, and a whole cow.  It’s pretty simple: Tossing out valuable parts of the animal doesn’t make sense environmentally or economically.
 
But what does “nose to tail” mean? It means eating and using all parts of the animal- its less popular steaks, roasts, organ meats, bones, even the tallow has (once again) become a popular fat to use for cooking.  This is why by selling in bulk, we encourage sustainability, and a more economical way for our customers to get quality grass fed beef.

Nose to Tail Around the World
Using the whole animal is a practice that is still common in many countries around the world. We experience this firsthand in travels to Uruguay and Argentina- where they are so proud of their (grass fed) beef and will gladly talk to you for hours about where it comes from, the different cuts, how to cook it, and how to eat it. In Barcelona, we went to the famous market “La Boqueria” where they sell everything under the sun, including EVERY cut imaginable of meat.  I admit seeing the lamb’s head for sale blew me away!

However, aside from this ultra-foodie “nose- to tail eating” trend, it has largely slipped from the Western mindset. I think this is mainly due to the lack of connection we have from our food sources, embodied by the fact that meat has become industrialized and is now perfectly portioned into pink patties, shrink-wrapped in plastic and resembling in no way whatsoever any known animal.  Unfortunately for us, in our finicky attitudes about food, we’ve been overlooking fine cuts of meat, tasty delicacies and, of course, the spice of life — variety!
 
Honoring the Animal and Our Environment
To maximize the nourishment you can receive from a living creature is to honor that it was, in fact, living. By not using the whole animal, we’re not respecting other living creatures. Giving thanks to the animal for supplying your meal is a good start, but it’s really when we choose to honor the whole animal that we take a step forward in mindful consumerism and changing our food supply system. In so doing, we encourage a mindset that fights excess waste and increases appreciation for the animals that nourish us.
 
For Your Health
A direct effect of eating the whole animal is- it’s good for your body. As I learned in my nutrition studies, Americans tend to promote certain cuts more than others (i.e. chicken breast, salmon, tenderloins, etc..) but the reality is, just like humans, animals store different nutrients in different parts of their bodies, and by eating the same cuts over and over, you are getting the same nutrients and neglecting to get other important ones.
 
Our Own Experience
A few years before starting our farm, we bought our first ¼ beef steer from our farming mentor, and now friend, Krusen Grass Farm in Wisconsin for our own beef consumption.  I won’t lie, when Paul told me about trying it out, I hesitated.  At that point, I knew nothing about “bulk buying”, how it works, how much beef I was going to get, and exactly what cuts.  I was used to cooking with ground beef and the occasional steak Paul would throw on the grill, but beyond that, I knew nothing about a pot roast, a round steak, and slow cooking beef was a concept beyond my culinary repertoire.
 
The experience of buying in bulk opened a new world of cooking and flavors for us! We had to do something with the cuts of beef I knew nothing about- so I’d look for a recipe, cook it up (way easier than I ever thought) and be surprised by how delicious and easy it was to cook all these different cuts!. We were very pleased by chuck steaks, and top butt steaks, rump roast, sirloin tip, round steaks, and even tried a couple of liver pate recipes that actually delighted us!
 
This idea that by buying a ¼ of an animal, splitting the entire animal with others, gave us a good feeling that we were honoring the whole animal as well as helping the farmer go through its inventory.
 
We encourage our customers to buy in bulk, but otherwise to try different cuts of beef. We are here to help with cooking instructions and/or recipe ideas! And stay tuned for next month when I will blog about “Nose to Tail How-To”.

  Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Tamari
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
• 4 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons diced shallot, chives, leeks, or green onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons Mirin (sweet Japanese cooking wine) or sherry
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
• 2 pounds thinly cut round steak
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil

Directions:

Add the tamari, ginger, sesame oil, honey, shallot, garlic, mirin, and crushed red pepper to the small bowl of a food processor.  Puree.  Place the marinade in a glass bowl and add the beef. Turn to coat. Marinate for at least 1-2 hours or overnight (covered) in the refrigerator.

When you are ready to cook the steaks, remove them from the marinade and blot dry.  Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add just enough oil to lubricate the pan, then add the steaks, laying them flat. Take care to cook only a few at a time so that there is ample space around each piece of meat, otherwise it will not brown. Fry 30 seconds per side, or until browned. Repeat with remaining steaks, using additional fat if needed. Serve immediately. 

We like these served with brown rice and a side of sauteed veggies!

Serves 6.

Ingredients:

• 4-5 garlic cloves​
• Salt
• Pepper
• 3-4 lb Chuck roast

Mustard Cream:

• 1 cup sour cream
• 2-4 teaspoons Dijon mustard*

*you can substitute the mustard for 2-4 teaspoons grated horseradish.

Directions:
Season the chuck roast with salt and pepper and rub minced garlic all over the meat.
Allow the roast to come to room temperature on the kitchen counter while you preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
place the meat in a pan and roast, uncovered for about 24 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature is between 120 and 140 degrees.
Let rest of a few minutes, cut, and enjoy!

In the spirit of “new year, new you health resolutions”, I figured I’d talk about one of the healthiest products we have at our farm.  Beef liver.
Now hold on, don’t go… I know many of us didn’t grow up eating liver, and maybe you are disgusted by it (I was!), but I beg you to please stay with me and at least read the rest of this post.
 
Health Benefits:
While studying nutrition, I heard so much about the health benefits of beef liver- it was even sometimes called a “super food”! Interestingly, it was once a popular and treasured food source, but liver has fallen out of favor. This is unfortunate because liver is possibly one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, and inexpensive too!
It is rich in protein, low in calories, and packed with essential vitamins and minerals. People often look to fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals, but liver far surpasses them all in terms of nutrient content. A small amount of liver provides well over 100% of the RDI for many essential nutrients.
 
Here are some nutrients found in a 3.5-ounce serving of beef liver:

• Vitamin B-12: 3,460% of the RDI. Vitamin B12 helps the formation of red blood cells and DNA. It is also involved in healthy brain function.
• Vitamin A: 860: 1,100% of the RDI. Vitamin A is important for normal vision, immune function and reproduction. It also helps organs like the heart and kidneys function properly.
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2): 210–260% of the RDI. Riboflavin is important for cellular development and function. It also helps turn food into energy.
• Folate (Vitamin B-9): 65% of the RDI. Folate is an essential nutrient that plays a role in cell growth and the formation of DNA.
• Iron: 80% of the RDI, or 35% for women of menstruating age. Iron is another essential nutrient that helps carry oxygen around the body. The iron in liver is heme iron, the kind most easily absorbed by the body.
• Copper: 1,620% of the RDI. Copper acts like a key to activate a number of enzymes, which then help regulate energy production, iron metabolism and brain function. The body also cannot maintain normal magnesium levels in the blood if copper is low.
• Choline: Liver provides all of the Adequate Intake (AI) for women and nearly all of it for men. Choline is important for brain development and liver function.

 
How to Include Liver in Your Diet:
I admit it, liver has a unique taste, which some people love, and others hate.  I know it was tough for us to stomach it the first time we tried it, so I’ll give you that, BUT… here are some suggestions on how to include it in your diet and get these great nutrients:

• Pan fried. This is the most traditional way. You probably have heard of  sauteed "liver and onions". Liver does work well when pan-fried with onions and other nice, strong flavors like bacon.
• Spaghetti Bolognese, or Burgers? You can use your food processor to mince the liver into very, very tiny pieces, then freeze it in ice cube trays. Whenever a recipe asks for ground beef, add a few cubes – only 1-2 to start! Suddenly your Bolognese sauce, burgers, chili, and meatballs have a LOT more nutritional oomph to them!
• Add plenty of seasoning. Adding lots of spices and strong flavors can help disguise its taste. Think garlic, rosemary, wine, cayenne pepper, etc.
• Soak the liver in milk or lemon juice before cooking. This will reduce its strong flavor and helps with tenderness.

 
Recipes to Try:
While our recommended way to start eating liver is the "mince, freeze, and add to ground beef" method, here are a couple of good recipes if you want to try.

This might be the best Liver and Onions Recipe we've found:
http://ediblearia.com/2009/07/23/not-your-average-liver-and-onions/
 
Beef Liver Pate:
https://autoimmunewellness.com/bacon-beef-liver-pate-with-rosemary-and-thyme/
 
P.S. Beef Heart has a much, much milder flavor than liver and has some of the same nutrients. It’s a lot like ground beef, but I would classify it as “sweeter.” Whereas you’d only add 1-2 cubes of liver to any dish, it’s pretty easy to add up to a quarter pound of heart to a pound of ground beef, even in grilled hamburgers!

***Both Beef Liver and Beef heart are FOR SALE on our web store- so give it a try and REALLY get healthy this new year!***

We have a cookbook with this name and I always LOVED the title, cover picture, and what it is about- comfort food for the long, cold nights of fall and winter, to share with friends and family.  The book is now somewhere in our storage unit, and I miss it, but I'll have to wait until next summer to see it again.

Lately I've been craving these comforting, slow cooked, warming foods.  Despite what many think - that beef is a thing of summer grillin'- our bodies actually crave meat in the wintertime more than any other time of the year.  It makes sense.  We are trying to warm ourselves and need more fat and protein to do so.  The body knows what it needs. 

When it comes to our beef, there are a few favorite winter dishes we wanted to share with you:

Osso Bucco Beef Shanks
A classic of my mom.  She makes Osso Bucco on special occasions but usually with the more traditional veal shanks. However, she was SO happy to get her hands on Starry Nights beef shanks- it turned out perfect!  We think the beef shanks adds more flavor than the veal shanks do. Download this recipe, try it with Starry Nights Farm beef shanks, and enjoy!

Get beef shanks ON SALE NOW here.

Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs
Just made a batch last week (and posted step-by-step instructions on our Instagram story- follow us so you don't miss next time!) and they turned out terrific- just perfect for that first snow last week!  This recipe is delicious, easy, and using our homemade beef bone broth, made it extra great!  Download recipe.

Get short ribs ON SALE NOW here.

Grass Fed Beef Chili
Who doesn't like a Chili bowl on a football Sunday? Cheer for the Packers (sorry Bears fans!) while enjoying the best chili with our premium, dry aged, grass fed ground beef.  Download recipe here.

Get ground beef here.

P.S. Stock up on these items ON SALE NOW to make your favorite wintertime beef dish!

When practicing health coaching, one of the biggest complaints I (Marisa) would get from clients I'd recommend eating grass fed beef, pastured meats, and organic fruits and vegetables, was cost.  

I get it, conventional beef (most likely raised in a CAFO) is cheaper, but we've already talked about why that is and the environmental and health implications of that in this blog post. We've also talked about the very well documented and researched health benefits of grass fed beef vs. conventional, grain finished beef in this blog post.

So by now you are convinced you want to, but don't know how you can afford to eat organic, grass fed beef. Today I'd like to give you valuable advice on how to eat grass fed beef without breaking the bank!

Eat Less and Smaller.
We need to start by talking about how much and how often we should be eating beef so our expectations are clear.  

I personally recommend you eat beef no more than 1 or 2 times per week.  I know, and I'm a beef farmer! BUT... when you do, make it great quality- organic, grass fed and grass finished.  The rest of your week you can vary between other meats, fish, and legumes for your protein. 

As far as the portion size, the giant 1lb+ steaks you see at some restaurants are completely unnecessary, and unhealthy! A 6oz portion (maybe 8oz for men) is more adequate, the rest of the plate should be filled with greens, vegetables, and whole grains.

Try Variety.
We all know the (premium) Ribeye, T-bone, and NY strip steaks, the tenderloin, and ground beef, but aside from that, very few tend to eat the rest of the animal. 

I believe marketing and fad diets in our country has made us too limited in the way we eat. "Tenderloin is lean and tender”, “chicken breast is healthier than dark meat”, “salmon has the most omega-3s”, etc.... Mass production of meat then goes into supplying these demands and we keep eating the same stuff, over and over, and of course, demand drives supply- and price.

Variety is also important in our diet, not only so you don't get bored, but also because different parts of the animal contain different nutrients- so this way of eating is not only natural (we should be eating the entire animal!), but healthier. Try some of the more economical cuts, that when cooked properly (slow cooked, marinated, tenderized, etc) taste delicious! and are as nutritious and many leaner than your usual cuts.

​Premium Cuts are an Occasional Treat.
Of course... we all love a super tender filet mignon, Porterhouse steak or fattier Rib eye steak, but these more expensive cuts should be treated as an occasional treat and not a weekly family BBQ feast, or you WILL break the bank!

A funny story... last week a friend and loyal customer texted me saying "Wow, that Porterhouse was amazing" and Paul commented "I wouldn't know" because we rarely ever have steaks! (yes, "the shoemaker's children always go barefoot").  Last week was his birthday, so I decided to "treat him" with some of our very own steaks for dinner- we made a nice little feast of Porterhouse, flank, and sirloin steak and oh... did we enjoy it all!

The point is, on our weekly meals I incorporate other leaner, cuts of beef and of course, the super versatile ground beef, and on special occasions, we go for the premium steaks!

Buy in Bulk.
For a few years before starting our own farm, we used to buy ¼ steer annually from our farm mentor, Krusen Grass Farm for our own beef consumption.  This was such a wonderful experience, and also very educational.  Getting all kinds of different cuts opened our eyes to new flavors and new ways of cooking and we always had beef in our small garage chest freezer for our weekly meals!

Some of you already buy in bulk, and others have heard of people that buy a quarter beef cow or a half.  Some think that sounds like too much, but a quarter is actually not that much and keep in mind it lasts up to a year and is THE most discounted way to buy your beef! This is a great way of stocking up on quality, affordable, grass fed beef that will last you a long time.

Click here to learn more about buying in bulk from Starry Nights Farm.  Next ones will be ready in December 

Sign Up for SALES.
If you haven't done so already, sign up for our newsletter and stay updated on our news.  We often have SALES on products and it is a great opportunity to stock up on grass fed beef for a budget!

Hope these tips help, and thank you for supporting of our business!

One of the best things about being a farmer has been having our very own stash of quality, organic, grass fed beef available at all times, but I must say, the easiest and most versatile to use is our ground beef. 
But, what's special about our ground beef?

It is Premium
You might think all grass-fed ground beef is equal, but in addition to being certified organic, ours is dry aged for at least a week and it comes from the whole cow. So all those delicious cuts of the rib and sirloin are ground up with the rest, giving our ground beef exceptional taste and even more health benefits including vitamins, minerals, and nutrients found in the WHOLE animal, and not just the scraps in typical ground beef.

It is Local
Yes, you might find grass fed ground beef these days in your nearest big box store, but keep in mind that while it might say it comes from the US, it probably doesn't.  How? Read more on this blog post we wrote about the reversal of the "Country of Origin Labeling Law".  Most likely your beef comes from far away places like Australia, New Zealand or South America, traveling halfway around the world to get to you.  Ours will only travel from our Wisconsin family farm to your table.

It's Versatile
In addition to being one of the most affordable beef products, the best part of ground beef is its versatility.  I admit, before becoming a farmer, we rarely bought ground beef.  For burgers occasionally or a specific recipe, but I just didn't think of it in my family meal rotations.  However, having them handy in the freezer has been salvation for a quick family meal!  Easy to defrost and with endless possibilities to use, it makes dinner planning and prepping super easy!

Here are 30 ways to USE GROUND BEEF (some with links to recipes!) to give you many ideas on how to use your Starry Nights Farm grass fed, ground beef:

1. Classic (or fancy) burger
2. Spaghetti and meatballs
3. Spicy Korean Meatballs
4. Taco Tuesday!
5. Beef Chili
6. Meatloaf
7. Mongolian Meatball Ramen
8. Shepherd's pie
9. Lasagna
10. Meatball sandwich
11. Sloppy Joe's
12. Stuffed bell peppers
13. Cowboy casserole
14. Stuffed Potato skins
15. Greek Moussaka
16. Pasta with bolognese sauce
17. Greek Baked Ziti
18. Swedish Meatballs
19. Pepper relish mini meatloaves
20. Hamburger soup
21. Taco soup
22. Sloppy Joe stuffed peppers
23. Beef Taco salad pizza
24. Beefy Nachos
25. Easy skillet lasagna
26. Empanadas
27. Tamales
28. Rigatoni Meatball Bake
29. Beef-y Mac and Cheese

                 
          and saving the best for last...

​   30. Wisconsin Butter Burger : )


  Shop for your GROUND BEEF here and enjoy!

When we started the farm we didn’t think long about getting certified organic, it was a quick decision and one we don’t regret.  Many sustainable farmers decide not to get certified; yet still practice the same guidelines and produce their food naturally.  However, for us is a matter of staying 100% accountable. Many times it may not be easy to find organic feed, for example, during a drought or even a long winter like this one we struggled finding organic winter-feed for our cows, but we had to search high and low (and pay up!) until we found it.  If we weren’t certified, perhaps these are times one might say… “oh, what the heck, just this one time I won’t get it organic”.   It is also a way to support organic as a whole system for our country’s agriculture system.  If we are certified organic and need certified organic feed, we are promoting others to grow feed and convert to organic.  It is supply and demand and we are happy to be a part of and support a more sustainable way of growing our food.
 
While there was a push in DC to elevate the organic standard to include better animal welfare guidelines, the politics of food has set this higher standard back.  With growing industries, we tend to see the influence of lobbying groups in Washington DC, and organic in not immune to their reach.  Recently “Big AG/Big Organic” has lobbied to hold back some of these changes to the organic label that benefits them tremendously.  The proposed Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) rule was withdrawn.  This rule was going to upgrade animal welfare standards in the organic industry by defining outdoor access, space to move around, and proper treatment of animals.  But this didn’t happen, which means that while certified organic animals will be chemical free and non-GMO, their living conditions can be compromised.  We feel it’s the start of the industrialization of organic; turning animals into widgets.
 
For this reason, we pursued an animal welfare certification to keep us accountable and trustworthy to our customers, and we are proud to announce we got this new certification for our farm business.  We are now “Animal Welfare Approved”; showing that our animals are being treated humanely, have ample space, and are outdoors where they can do what cows do!
 
We also got our “Certified Grass Fed” certification through “A Greener World”, as proof not only that our cattle are herbivores and only eat their natural diet of grass, but also that they do it outside on lush pastures- another aspect that is being compromised by some claiming to be “100% grass fed”.  You can easily feed hay to a cow inside a barn or on a small continuously grazed pasture and still technically be called “grass-fed”!
 
For us it is important to strive for the Gold Standard in our farming practices and our quality of meat.  There are a lot misconceptions and misrepresentations out there with wording used on food labels, which is why we believe and encourage you to know your farmers and ask questions on what’s important to you. We hope through our blog posts, emails, newsletters, and just talking to us you feel comfortable with our product and our farming protocols.
 
And remember, you are always welcome to visit the farm, just let us know- we’re happy to show you around!

What motivates you to want to improve our environment?
(i.e.… to recycle, compost, and use resources responsibly?)

​For us, our children do.  

Almost daily you can find an article or news story about climate change, and the misuse of natural resources and energy.  A lot is blamed on agriculture pollution, and understandably so.  95% of agriculture in the US is conventional- using GMO seeds, herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, tillage, and heavy machinery.  Many are factory farms, forcing the small farmer to make tough decisions to make a living.  Farming income is the lowest it has been in 12 years. Small farmers have always been stewards of the land, but today, many are going from being practical to panic mode- cutting corners that make the land suffer. It’s the age-old fight between ecology and economy.  I won’t keep writing about this because it can get quite depressing and I do believe ecology and economy can go hand in hand.  There is an optimistic view! 

Regenerative agriculture is a “new type” of farming that has been gaining ground. It has soil health as the foundation for healthy land, ecosystem, and environment, while producing the healthiest and best quality food system. It consists of soils being covered with plants at all times during the year and building organic matter (adding carbon into our soils) as paramount to a healthy ecosystem.

We began learning and practicing RE when we bought our farm in 2012.  At our farm, we have a diverse amount of plant types populating our fields.  The perennial plants capture water from rain to prevent runoff.  These plants capture the sun's rays and turn this energy into food through photosynthesis.  The plant takes in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The land provides a wonderful habitat for pollinators. There is wildlife below the ground too, as millions of microbes, earthworms, and insects breakdown and recycle minerals and dead growth. Let the animals above and below the soils contribute to the interworking of our natural ecosystem!  Our cattle are integral to this ecosystem process.  They harvest these perennial plants and turn the plants into meat and milk.  By plant harvesting, carbon gets deposited into the ground through root system death and regrowth. Without the cows harvesting the plant life, this ecosystem would become out of balance, and certain species would dominate.  The cows also deposit fertilizer for the ecosystem to take in and recycle. All this is the ecology part.

However, without the economy part, the ecology suffers.  For small farmers to be able to make a living in our “big business-factory farming world”, we as consumers need to provide support to this movement.  We can encourage this type of production and environmental protection with the spending of our food dollars.  Grocery stores, restaurants, chefs, school cafeterias, and people cooking at home are what drive the food economy.  We can make a difference to our health, our environment, and our children’s future with how we spend our food money.  

I once read “don’t ask why food is expensive, ask why food is so cheap” and it is so true.  Keep in mind “cheap food” has a tremendous cost to our environment and our health.  We might not consider this when spending our money on food but you are paying for it through your health care costs and your taxes.

With economy and ecology working together you have the power to better our environment, provide stability to farmers and rural communities, and improve your health!

Earth day has come and gone… But don’t we owe it to ourselves to think about this more than one day a year?  What if every day we look at the way we use resources, the food we eat, the energy we use, the waste we produce that goes into landfills... a little bit can make a HUGE difference!