Kick Off Grilling Season With Southern Traditions Grass Fed Meat

Don’t let the name fool you. Southern Traditions Grass Fed Beef brings more to the table than just beef, and cooking it up is sure to uncover home-grown memories for just about anyone.

The grass-fed meats from Southern Traditions are a sustainable product of the family owned and operated 5G Ranch, located in Briggs, Texas. For 40 years, the family has delivered a product that contains no additives, no use of corn and offers customers higher levels of Omega 3’s, vitamins or antioxidants, and is naturally fortified. I found it most fascinating that the cattle, goats and lambs are born, raised and harvested right here in our backyard, only about 45 minutes from Austin.

Owner of Southern Traditions, Jeff Parnell, was under the white canopy at Lone Star Farmers Market this past Sunday, where he and I were speaking carnivore. “People just love our goat. So much that it’s difficult to keep up with the demand,” said Parnell.

Not surprisingly, I missed the full selection (including the goat). However, based on Parnell’s recommendations, I opted for a variety of gorgeous and savory beef selections: NY strip, skirt steak and ground beef.

I’ll offer a bit of friendly advice if you’re planning to do your shopping on market day right before heading home to cook or grill, as I did:

• Be sure to get there early enough to select the cuts of meat you want, rather than letting them choose you.
• Southern Traditions meat is sealed and frozen, then packed into coolers filled with ice in order to keep the product at a healthy temperature in the hot Texas temperatures. You will need to allow time for thawing, prior to cooking.
• Take a cruise by the Southern Traditions canopy to see what they have on hand before you hit up the veggie stand, to allow for a well-planned day of food.

My Sunday plan was simple. I gathered up a dear friend and long-time cook, along with her twin daughters. We browsed the market and I let the more experienced cook get her culinary wheels turning.

After selecting our meat and rounding up accompanying organic produce, the result was a delicious day of no-nonsense food and friends! See for yourself…

Ditching the tortillas and traditional fajita accoutrements that typically accompany a skirt steak, we chose a lighter recipe. Seasoned with simple salt and pepper, the thin and beautifully tender skirt steak cooked in no time at all. Plated alongside braised baby artichokes and a bright, housemade lemon aioli, the trio is a great option to kick off a poolside meal.

Next up, we planned a dish that would satisfy the kiddos and give the adults of a bit of “I shouldn’t have eaten so much” guilt! By combining the ground beef and a team of organic veggies, my friend Danielle cooked up an American-style shepherd’s pie.

Layering the ground beef, organic peas and corn and whipped potatoes, then topping it all with a light layer of freshly grated, tangy Manchego cheese, we quickly filled the kitchen with an aroma reminiscent of the comfort food of my past. Memories of early foodie conversations with my Daddy snuck right in. I recall the times he tried to introduce me to farm-raised, organic meats and clean eating…if I’d only known then what I know now.

The true organic and non-obtrusive flavor of the Southern Traditions ground beef took full control of the dish and stood out as the savory favorite of the day.

To round out our Sunday feast, we pulled out all the stops and put the NY strip to the test. For those of you out there who, like myself, have short-lived love affairs with your food, you will understand this next bit…the meat was a brilliant shade of fresh! It was cheery, carried no scent and was beautiful as it lay there raw with no seasoning.

After grilling, we enjoyed the NY strip served with cardamom glazed baby carrots with fronds, lightly grilled red onion and a rosemary and celery root puree. It was an absolutely indulgent treat.

When you’re ready to kick off your summer with a day beside the grill, you can find these delectable meats for purchase online, at the Southern Traditions storefront (12034 Research Blvd.) or at any one of the Austin local farmers markets listed here:

• SFC Market
• Lone Star Market
• Hope Market
• Paleface Feed & Garden

In an effort to support healthy living and clean eating, the Southern Traditions team has forged partnerships with other health conscious businesses, such as Barefoot Provisions and locally owned Health Box, while they continue to carry the message of the benefits of grass-fed meats.