One Cow
So, its no secret I like to buy a share of a cow in spring, for pickup in November.
Last year it was an even smaller share, even though I made up for it by asking for all the "variety" meats.
Well, its june, and i'm down to a few packages of ground beef, a lot of beef soup bones, and a few steaks. Oh, and 1 package of kidney, 1 of oxtail, & a LOT of liver. (Which is getting sausaged with some pork.)
This is not quite what I want - not sure if I've been eating more beef than last year, although I suspect its mostly that it was a smaller share than last year.
But this "running out before november" thing has me a bit miffed - it means I'll either have to give up on beef completely until november, or i'll have to watch for sales & buy CFAO beef. I'm not pleased with either option, and I really can't afford to pay the $12/lb (or more) for even the most basic cuts of pastured beef.
This fall with my little buyer's group we'll be getting 1 whole cow, 1/8th of which is unclaimed... it'll be getting split between those who want to kick in a little extra for the little extra.
Myself, i'm considering 2011... I have this freezer, I have the storage space... I really should give in & get a full quarter for myself, so I don't run out. If it starts looking like I'm not going through it all in time, I can always give stuff away... I know enough "real foodies" that i'm not worried about some of the weirder things going to waste. (And I'm no longer afraid of a full share of liver... now that I know I can make it into sausage.)
Of course now, i've decided I want to cook one of the packages of ground beef, but I have no idea what to make it into...
Last year it was an even smaller share, even though I made up for it by asking for all the "variety" meats.
Well, its june, and i'm down to a few packages of ground beef, a lot of beef soup bones, and a few steaks. Oh, and 1 package of kidney, 1 of oxtail, & a LOT of liver. (Which is getting sausaged with some pork.)
This is not quite what I want - not sure if I've been eating more beef than last year, although I suspect its mostly that it was a smaller share than last year.
But this "running out before november" thing has me a bit miffed - it means I'll either have to give up on beef completely until november, or i'll have to watch for sales & buy CFAO beef. I'm not pleased with either option, and I really can't afford to pay the $12/lb (or more) for even the most basic cuts of pastured beef.
This fall with my little buyer's group we'll be getting 1 whole cow, 1/8th of which is unclaimed... it'll be getting split between those who want to kick in a little extra for the little extra.
Myself, i'm considering 2011... I have this freezer, I have the storage space... I really should give in & get a full quarter for myself, so I don't run out. If it starts looking like I'm not going through it all in time, I can always give stuff away... I know enough "real foodies" that i'm not worried about some of the weirder things going to waste. (And I'm no longer afraid of a full share of liver... now that I know I can make it into sausage.)
Of course now, i've decided I want to cook one of the packages of ground beef, but I have no idea what to make it into...