It’s officially soup season!
Yesterday I had to umpire two field hockey games (my other passion in life) in the cold and rain, so by the time I got in my car to leave I was soaked and could barely move my fingers.
Lucky for me, I threw together this slow cooker soup earlier in the day so I would have something nice and warm to come home to. If you’ve been following me on Instagram for a while, you know that I’m not a huge recipe maker or user, so everything I make is simple, easy, and nutritious. And this slow cooker soup recipe is just that!
I used grass-fed beef + organ meat blend from the Green Ridge Acres stand in Broad Street Market but you can also use regular ground beef if that’s what you have on hand!
Why GRASS-FED BEEF?
Grass-fed means that the cows can roam freely and forage, as nature intended. Choosing grass-fed, or even organic meats, is better for the environment, our health, as well as the nutrient quality of the beef.
Traditionally raised cattle often receive antibiotics, hormones, and are fed unnatural diets that contribute to lower meat quality and poor conditions for the cows. You eat what the cow eats, even if it is in extremely small amounts per serving. If you eat meat on a regular basis, it’s best to avoid repeated exposure to hormones and antibiotics, especially if you are working on your gut health and hormone imbalances. If you can’t find grass-fed beef, the next best option is organic. This means the cows did not receive any feed that contains animal by-products, antibiotics or GMO / pesticide grown grains.
You can find grass-fed beef at most grocery store chains including Aldi, Giant, Wegmans, and Target. Check your local farmer’s market as you’ll likely find a local farmer who has high quality, grass-fed products. You can use EatWild find your local supplier of grass-fed, pasture-raised meats or if you prefer online shopping, Corner Post Meats is a great high-quality meat delivery service.
As always, it’s not about being perfect when it comes to food quality. If you have conventional beef in your freezer or you can’t find grass-fed, it’s no biggie. Do what you can with what you have!
Grass-fed ground beef with 20% organ meat (heart + liver)
the underrated superfood
I used a grass-fed ground beef + organ meat blend. Organ meats are one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet because they contain highly bio-available nutrients — a.k.a. they’re more easily absorbed by the body.
Beef liver is the best source of retinol, the active form of Vitamin A. Liver also contains high amounts of nutrients like B12, B2, B9 (folate), choline, iron, and copper. Heart contains high amounts of B vitamins, selenium, iron, and CoQ10 — an important antioxidant.
You may be able to notice the addition of the organ meat when cooked on its own, but I’ve found you can’t tell the difference when it’s added with other ingredients! This is also a great way to sneak in extra nutrients for the picky eaters and non-veggie lovers.
