The Finest Ethically Farmed And Sustained Meats (Guest)
(Today’s guest post is brought to you by Danielle. The ideas expressed may or may not be in line with my own. Enjoy! )
Ethical, schmethical. I’ve got enough on my plate with composting, sorting out the
green waste from the…other waste, treating the hemorrhoids aggravated by enviro
safe toilet paper, and spending mega bucks on biodegradable nappies. Now you
want me to look at what’s on my bloody dinner plate? Enough’s enough. Pass the
pigs in blankets.
Yes, a lot is asked of us these days. But soon enough, it all just becomes a
regular part of the daily grind. True, your bottom does go into shock when you
make the initial swap from traditional toilet paper to recycled. Yes, getting the kids to
keep their rotting lunchbox fruit out of the recycle bin is an ongoing battle. And,
sorry to say it, ensuring your meat is ethically farmed and sustainable is one of
the single most important things you can do. Cannings Free Range Butchers are
here to help.
The highly industrialized nature of current meat rearing and slaughtering is a very
far cry from what most people would consider healthy and humane. Animals
kept in appalling, cramped and filthy conditions, forced to subsist on a diet their
digestive systems are not equipped to handle, injected with all manner of growth
hormones and antibiotics to keep them free of the inevitable diseases that strike
when one lives in squalid conditions. It’s an ugly picture and it’s one that too
many of us like to put to the back of our minds. But the truth is this: unless you
are looking at where your meat came from, you are not doing your bit to make the
world a better, greener, and more sustainable place.
Happily, ethically farmed, sustainable meat tastes amazing and is infinitely
better for your health than factory farmed! If you’d like more information, visit
www.canningsfreerangebutchers.com.au
Non-Standard Meat and Poultry Options (Guest post)
While a perfectly cooked steak or tender barbecue chicken never gets old, it can be fun to bring new cuts of old favorites and alternative meat and poultry options into your kitchen. The following list comprises meat and poultry options that are often overlooked, but that offer a fantastic, flavorful alternative to my favorite meats. They are excellent with basic seasoning, in hearty stews or winter soups, or in deli sandwiches. I hope they whet your palate and inspire you.
Pork butt, which is often known as Boston Butt, is an excellent cut for making stew. Contrary to what its name might suggest, pork butt is actually derived from the hog shoulder. It often includes the upper arm, the shoulder blade, and connective tissue around the neck. Although it is slightly tough, pork butt can add a robust flavor to most dishes. It makes for excellent sausages and can be ground into patties for breakfast dishes. Pork butt is also often used to make a rich lard, which makes pork butt a rather versatile piece of meat.
Ostrich is, unfortunately, an overlooked type of poultry. Yet, ostrich is an exceptional choice if you are looking for non-standard poultry selections. It is a prime choice for individuals looking for leaner, healthier, nutrient-rich meat. Ostrich contains fewer calories than its feathered, more popular counterparts, chicken and turkey, and less than one-third the fat of the average chicken. A red meat with an unusually rich texture, ostrich can be included in any dish that calls for beef or lamb. Ostrich is tender, succulent, and rich with iron and essential omega-3 fats. If you are interested in changing up your breakfast or burger routing, ostrich can be easily crafted into a delicious patty.
If you enjoy lamb, rack of lamb is a cut that you absolutely must try. Rack of lamb begins at the lamb saddle and carries its way to the eye muscle. If you prefer a leaner cut, rack of lamb comes in three varieties. A frenched cut is one in which the fat between the bones is carefully removed while a capoffed cut removes the largest chunk of fat from the cut. A fully denuded cut, in which all fat throughout the cut is removed, might seem too lean, but lamb’s full flavor ensures that, with or without fat, the rack of lack is a mouth-watering choice. Rack of lamb may be sautéed, roasted, or braised and incorporated into a larger dish.
Finally, if you can find a good wagyu brisket for sale, this delicious meat offers an unexpected treat. Layered with a substantive cap of fat, the brisket is incredibly rich with buttery flavor and is an essential for any serious smoke-pit connoisseur. The marbled folds of this brisket lends itself to its uniquely abundant flavor. Many recipes suggest cooking wagyu brisket for at least 12 hours in a smoke pit to bring out its full flavor. Among barbecue and smoke pit meats, wagyu brisket is truly a delicacy.
In the end, there’s never an end to the amount of quirky options we have at our culinary disposal. If you think there’s another great option that I missed, please feel free to let me know in the comments.
Ralph Venkirk is a lifelong fan of the culinary arts. Nothing makes him happier than serving something that his friends have never seen before. When he’s not cooking, Ralph enjoys trying a new beer while watching his favorite sports teams.
The Benefits to Massaging an Octopus before Cooking It (Guest)
If you are one that loves to cook but aren’t really the most skillful of chefs, there are certain things you should know. Cooking is often perceived as a daunting task, mainly because the process isn’t an easy one. Fortunately, there are plenty of recipes that one will actually find quite easy to make, and are very delicious too.
When it comes to certain cuisines, people believe that the cooking process will be very difficult. This, however, is untrue. With the right method in mind, cooking can be quite fun. Making delicious and unique food happens to not be so tough at all; take cooking an octopus for example. Cooking octopus for most people is seen as a frightening challenge (who wouldn’t be frightened, it’s an octopus!) but there are ways to ensure the process is easy, and it cooks fast. One of these ways is massaging the octopus before cooking, a technique that has shown to make the seafood cuisine very delicious.
The benefits to massaging an octopus before cooking it:
– Enhances taste
The main benefit to simply massaging the octopus before cooking it is that the taste of the seafood will significantly enhance: it will have more flavor and an extra kick to it. Without massaging the entire octopus, you will be surprised at how the taste differs significantly. Octopus has so much taste potential, but not many people take advantage of that fact. When you massage the octopus quickly for 5 to 10 minutes, the entire taste will drastically improve. Try cooking two different octopuses and massage one of the two. Note the difference in taste.
– Enhances texture and consistency
An octopus is known for having quite a strange texture, especially when first eaten. However, when you thoroughly massage before cooking, the texture will be less awkward in the mouth. When massaging the octopus make sure that you wear gloves so that the funky smell does not get stuck on your hands. Aside from improving the taste and texture of the dish, massaging helps to improve its consistency as well. We can talk about the benefits of massaging an octopus before the cooking process all day, so make sure you always do it.
The following is a recipe that would need one to massage an octopus before cooking. Try it!
Octopus Carpaccio
The ingredients below can make 5 to 6 servings if you serve it as the second course, but can cater for up to 10 if you serve it as the appetizer. However, the serving will vary on how hungry your guests are.
Ingredients
1 octopus that weighs at least 1kg (deep-frozen octopus will work fine)
Lemon juice
Extra vigil olive oil
Salt chopped parsley
Black pepper
Green or black olives (optional choice is olive taggiasche)
Celery (optional)
Before cooking this recipe, make sure that you massage the octopus to achieve better taste, texture, and consistency.
Other recipes that have octopus as main ingredient include octopus dumpling balls and octopus salad.
AUTHOR:
Mark Gomez is owner and operator of Gomez Catering. Gomez Catering specializes in providing full service, off-premise catering and party planning. With an emphasis on quality, customer service, and style we can help you with any size event but we believe there are no limitations when it comes to food. What lies in your imagination is our goal to create and bring to life.
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