Cornish Game Hens

Cornish Game HensYou’ve probably seen Cornish game hens in the meat case or even in the frozen section and wondered what they were and even more importantly, how do you eat them?

Cornish hens are the smallest of the commercial chicken family. Normally weighing between one to two pounds, they have a great chicken flavor with meat that is fall-off-the-bone tender. And, because of their small size and affordable price, they are the perfect one-person portion for dinner. They are also a great alternative at Thanksgiving for those who don’t like turkey.

Cooking a game hen is as easy as cooking a regular-sized chicken—although you do have to adjust the time down. Roasting is by far the best way to prepare these hens. However, nothing should stop you from braising or throwing a couple on your grill. Check out our recipe for Lemon-Rosemary Game Hens in our archive.

How To Roast a Cornish Game Hen
Roast game hens in a 45º0 F oven until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest breast meat registers 155º F (about 20 to 25 minutes).

After you pull the chicken from the oven, tent it with foil and let it rest undisturbed for at least 10 minutes to let the temperature come up another five to ten degrees and enjoy!

Seasoned Cornish Game Hens Recipe
Adapted from Phuong for All Recipes
Yields 4 servings
Read more…

Ground Meat

Ground MeatGround meat seems like a pretty self-explanatory thing. It’s meat that’s been put through a grinder to be used as burgers, meatballs, or in a pasta sauce. But, there is more to it than that. For example, ground beef is available in as many as five different versions, depending on how much fat you want in your meal. And, of course, almost any meat can be ground and used in your recipes from turkey to rabbit to buffalo. Depending on the grind, your options on how you use that meat can be endless, too.

Below are some of the most popular ground meats, their fat content, and popular uses:

Ground Beef
80/20: Generally comes from the chuck area of the cow which is located up by the shoulder. Contains 80% muscle and 20% fat. This grade is considered the best option for juicy burgers and accounts for the bulk of ground beef consumed.

85/15: Typically comes from the chuck area of the cow. But, can also come from the round cut towards the back of the cow. While still juicy, this grade contains less fat which may be a better option for those who want a tasty but leaner burger.

90/10: This grade has the least amount of fat and generally comes from the sirloin area of the cow. The sirloin is where cuts like filet mignon come from and for that reason, the 90/10 grade tends to be more expensive. The smaller fat content makes it the healthier option. But, you need to be careful not to overcook the meat and dry it out. However, this grade can be a great choice if you plan to mix it with ground pork for meatballs since pork tends to be fattier than beef. The flavor will still be there, but with less fat. The same would be true if you wanted to make a meat ragu for pasta.

Ground Buffalo
Leaner than ground beef at a 90/10 ratio, buffalo or bison has great flavor and is an obvious choice as a beef substitute for burgers.

Ground Pork
Usually made from pork shoulder, ground pork is often not labeled with a fat ratio. In general, ground pork contains 15% fat. Perfect for pork burgers or for mixing with other meats for meatballs, meatloaf, or pasta sauces.

Sausage Grade Ground Pork: can contain up to 20%-30% fat and is generally sold as bulk pork sausage.

Ground Turkey
Ground Turkey Breast: This is essentially fat-free, which means you have to be careful when cooking it to prevent drying. It is also ridiculously versatile so you can use it for anything from tacos to burgers—though you may have to add a little fat for the burgers.

Ground Turkey Thighs: Also called ground turkey dark meat, it is 85% lean which means it has a 15% fat content. The fat content makes it great for turkey burgers, meatloaf, or meatballs but may not be the best choice for those looking to cut back the fat.

Check out some of our favorite recipes using ground meat:  Read more…

Kebobs, A History

Kebobs, A HistoryKebobs
Since man discovered fire, we have been cooking meat on a stick. Luckily for us, the art of grilling skewered meat has been honed over the centuries. And, what we know today as kebob is a tasty and speedy way to enjoy all your favorite proteins.

The word Kebob does not refer to a single dish but instead to a whole category of dishes that span many cuisines. Though they go by a variety of names, kebobs, kebabs, keftas, koftas, satay, souvlaki, tikka, shawarma, and yakitori to name a few, all of them require a skewer and fire. And some, like koftas and keftas can also be baked or braised.

Kebobs can be chunks of meat threaded alongside vegetables or they can be ground meats like keftas and koftas that are pressed onto skewers. They can consist of thinly sliced chicken threaded like ribbons—in the case of a satay. They can be stacked, skewered, and sliced again to enjoy on some naan for shawarma—or can be placed inside warm pita bread to enjoy the mother of all kebobs and Greek favorite, gyros.

Every culture has its own version of kebobs and just like the number of spellings, the opportunities for a great tasting meal are endless. Though the word kebob tends to bring to mind the flavors of the middle east, kebobs are a great addition to your own backyard BBQ. They are a great way to get your protein and veggies together in one go.

Honey Teriyaki Chicken and Sirloin Kebobs Recipe
Adapted from All Recipes
Yields 10 servings

This kebob recipe makes grilled steak and chicken that won’t dry out on the grill. It stays moist and flavorful. These sweet kabobs are simple to make and delicious to eat. Read more…

Ground Bison

Ground BisonYou may have noticed the new freezer in our meat department. Its purpose is to house the products that are a little bit off the beaten path. In you will find things for the more adventurous palates. There is duck, rabbit, crawfish, squab, and perhaps the most versatile option of all, ground bison.

For the meat lovers out there who are looking for a healthier alternative to beef but still want all of the flavor, bison is the perfect choice. Bison meat has a similar texture and flavor to beef but has about one third the amount of total fat as well as saturated fat. It is also higher in protein, omega-3 acids, and iron.

The methods used to raise bison are also better for the environment and more sustainable than raising beef. Most bison are raised using regenerative agriculture—which basically means they are allowed to move and exist in much the same ways they have over the centuries. Because of this, bison help sustain grassland ecosystems through grazing, fertilization, trampling, and other natural behavior.

This method also allows for the regeneration of healthy, productive soils and grasslands. And because of that, it is a major source of carbon sequestration. The impact of climate change on native grasslands means that regenerative pastures are becoming more and more important as sustainable carbon sinks. Studies show that grassland carbon capture is more dependable than forests, as grasslands suffer fewer wildfires and disease, and regenerate far quicker.

Bison can be prepared in basically the same ways as with beef however, because it is leaner, you have to watch out that it is not over cooked. Ground bison can be substituted for all of your favorite ground beef recipes like burgers, tacos, meatballs, or chili and would be a great alternative for your summer BBQ.

Bison Chili Recipe
Yields 6 to 8 servings
Adapted from Ree Drummond and The Food Network

Ground bison makes a delicious chili. This recipe has all the depth of flavor of a classic chili recipe. It is delicious served with tortilla chips (as per the recipe) or cornbread and butter on the side. Be certain to serve the chili with the lime wedges to squeeze over your bowl and brighten the flavor. Read more…