Many of us love to prepare and enjoy a lot of delicious food during the holiday season and beef is no exception. Roast beef, beef wellington and oven-baked brisket are some traditional family favourites. Christmas dinner is a meal we look forward to all year; however in 2022 we’re mindful of rising prices and that a prime rib roll may simply be too costly for most Americans this Christmas season.
If you’re trying to make some savings this holiday season, don’t worry, this doesn’t mean is can’t be enjoyed in other ways. Grass fed beef can still be a major part of your family gatherings and celebrations with friends.
Here is a list of affordable ways to incorporate beef into your holiday menus.
Look out for affordable cuts
Even though prime rib may be one of your family traditions, it just may not be feasible this year. So, why not consider more affordable cuts to satisfy your family’s hankering for beef this Christmas.
Beef brisket, smoked and thinly sliced is a great option, for example.
A grass fed chuck roast, seared, slow-roasted, and served on a fresh baked bun with swiss cheese and au jus dip is a rich and savory alternative.
Sirloin tip steaks, cubed and fried, make an excellent chislic. Make sure to add homemade ranch or cheese sauce for dipping!
Grass fed ground beef would be another affordable option. Festive meatballs are a great option and the kids will have lots of fun trying new ingredients to add in or top their meatballs with.
Buy in bulk
If you’re looking to get ahead of the Christmas craziness and get yourself organised, why not begin stockpiling beef for your deep freezer. Not only will you save money, you’ll also be thanking yourself later when everyone is scrambling at the grocery stores to get their hands on some nice beef for Christmas. Get in touch with a local rancher, and consider purchasing a quarter or a half. The up-front cost may be a little intimidating, but once you break down the cost per pound for everything from ribeyes to ground beef to soup bones, you quickly realize that it’s a very economical way to have beef on the menu year-round.
Cook once, dine twice
The old saying, “cook once, dine twice” is a great way to make a great beef meal and then use the leftovers in another way to have a second meal.
To give an example, take a rump roast that has been slowly cooked in a crockpot and served with all of the trimmings— mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn. The following day, with the leftovers, shred the beef to make quesadillas. Use corn tortillas, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce.
Another example would be to prepare a thinly sliced grass fed tenderloin and serve it with wild grain rice and bacon-wrapped asparagus. The leftovers could then be served over a salad with spinach, red onions, cherry tomatoes and balsamic dressing.
The possibilities are endless and you can add your own touch to any beef dish. Planning your meals and ways to use leftovers from those meals is a great way to save some money and time. It is especially useful over the holiday season when you might find yourself preparing multiple meals while hosting family or friends.
I hope these tips help you to think about ways you can afford grass fed beef and enjoy this wonderful protein during your holiday gatherings this season. Get in touch if you would are interested in the best quality of grass-fed beef that North California has to offer and want to put these tips into practice.
