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!***

The long, cold days of wintertime are here, and our natural cravings are for warm stews, soups, teas, etc... This time of year I stock up on broth because I know I will be using it at least once weekly.

Sooo easy to make, broth is pretty much an "add stuff to the pot and leave it there for hours"... kind of cooking (my favorite!).  The great thing is, when it is done, you have stock for weeks! as one batch can make a LOT of broth.

Health benefits
Have you heard the newest hype about bone broth being so good for you? There are even "pop up shops" in NYC where you can get a bone broth cup to go (a la Starbucks)! But this is not just a  "fad", bone broth has been known to have health benefits for years and generations (chicken soup for the common cold?).

We were wise once... everybody ate broth, soups, and stews in the winter, and that's not only because they are warming, but because of its impact on how our body digests the other parts of our meals. Modern American diets tend to have an imbalanced amino acid intake. The reliance on "muscle meats" almost exclusively, instead of engaging in “nose-to-tail” eating of the animals like we should, results in an overabundance of some amino acids and very little of others.  This imbalance appears to have significant consequences for our health. 

The amino acid structure and high gelatin content of bone broth makes it soothing and healing for the gut and enhances the absorption of nutrients from other foods as well.The amino acids present in bone broth, namely collagen, glycine, and proline, are said to be good for heart health,  joints, skin, hair and nails, as well as gut and immune health.

Here is my favorite recipe for bone broth that I've used over and over again... and yes, this recipe works for either chicken or beef broth.

Starry Nights Bone Broth Elixir

Ingredients

• 3-4 pounds (or more) of bones 
• 2 onions, peeled and quartered
• 2 carrots, cut in very large chunks
• 3 stalks of celery, cut in very large chunks
• 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6-7 quarts of filtered water
• Optional: Thyme, oregano, fresh parsley and additional herbs or spices to taste. I also add 3 cloves of garlic (unpeeled and crushed) for the last 30 minutes of cooking.

You'll also need a large stock pot to cook the broth in and a strainer to remove the pieces when it is done.

Instructions
If you are using raw bones, especially beef bones, it improves flavor to roast them in the oven first. I place them in a roasting pan and roast for 40 minutes at 400 (this is certainly not necessary).
Then, place the bones in a large stock pot. Pour (filtered) water over the bones and add the vinegar. Let sit for 20-30 minutes in the cool water. The acid helps make the nutrients in the bones more available.
Rough chop and add the vegetables (except the garlic, if using) to the pot. Add any salt, pepper, spices, or herbs, if using.
Now, bring the broth to a boil. Once it has reached a vigorous boil, skim off any scum, a frothy/foamy layer that rises to the surface, and throw it away. Reduce to a simmer, and simmer until done. For beef broth/stock: 48 hours; Chicken or poultry broth/stock: 24 hours. 
During the last 30 minutes, add garlic and fresh parsley, if using.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain using a fine metal strainer to remove all the bits of bone and vegetable. When cool enough, store in a gallon size glass jar in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for later use.

Tips:
* Collect ends of onions, celery, carrots, leeks, even broccoli stems when cooking your other meals.  Freeze these in a ziploc bag and keep adding these veggie spares.  In a couple of weeks you may have enough vegetables for your next bone broth recipe!
** Also keep the carcass from a roasted chicken and freeze it in a large ziploc for when you are ready to make broth. I usually use about  2 pounds of bones per gallon of water I’m using to make broth. This usually works out to 2-3 full chicken carcasses.
*** You don't have to have exactly these ingredients or herbs.  Get creative and add what you like in flavor.  ANY spices or herbs are acceptable, as well as any vegetables.