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Johnson Family Pastures

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Isn't Coulotte a style of pants? No silly, it's a steak worth trying.

12/29/2022

 
This boneless, tender beef steak boasts bold flavor. Cut from the sirloin cap, this unique cut can be baked or barbecued whole, or cut into portion sized steaks.

The coulotte, aka Picanha steak, is a staple in Brazilian steakhouses where it is served with chimichurri sauce. Coulotte can be prepared many ways, while traditional picanha is always skewered and grilled.

This cut is nearly impossible to find in the grocery store and when you do it is often cut too thin to grill or bake. We request that our meat cutters leave the coulotte whole so that you have a variety of options for preparation.

We've included a couple recipes below to use as a guide. During the winter season I like to top this steak with an herb butter, serving it with sides of potatoes and brussels sprouts.

You may want to pull out the meat thermometer for this cut - the key to making a juicy and tender Coulotte is a dry-rub and not overcooking it.

COULOTTE STEAK
November 20, 2021 | Updated December 28, 2022 By Milena Perrine

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Happy Holidays from your Farmers

12/13/2022

 
Blessed is the season that engages the whole world in the conspiracy of love
 - Hamilton Wright Mabel
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Our family has settled into our winter routine. Daily chores change with the season. Chris is moving bales of hay to our livestock instead moving the animals across the pasture. Tamara is spending more time analyzing the sales than making them. The work hours are gratefully shorter, often matching the day-length.

We take the opportunity during this winter season to play and spend quality time with family. To cook, share, and eat elegant dishes with locally-raised ingredients. To share in the joy of the season. We wish the same for you and yours.

Happy Holidays,
Tamara & Chris Johnson

P.S. Yes, that is the only family photo we have from 2022.
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Grassfed Holiday Gifts & Prime Rib Roast w/ Fresh Herbs Recipe

12/5/2022

 
Whether you are an elf or a Grinch, having a kitchen well stocked with quality ingredients is exactly what we all want this holiday season.

We only have a couple farmers markets before the holidays. Now is the time to order -
  • Grassfed Holiday Roasts
  • Local Food Gift Bags
  • New Year's Eve Steaks
  • Handmade Soaps & Gift Certificates
While I'm notoriously a Grinch, I've learned to enjoy the holidays more by simplifying our holiday obligations. We'll be enjoying simple celebrations at home with family and really good food.Wishing you a peaceful holiday,
Tamara & Chris
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Grassfed Prime Rib Roast with Fresh Herbs
by Puget Consumers Co-op

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St Croix Valley Food Alliance Winter Farmers Market

11/30/2022

 
Find the best food produced in the St. Croix River Valley this Sunday at the Winter Farmers Market.

Get your picture taken with the Yule Goat while you shop for local veggies, meat, fruit, cheese, honey, jams, gifts and more. Pre-orders are recommended!

A lovely day-trip adventure for our urban neighbors, and a great opportunity for residents of the St. Croix Valley to shop locally.

Looking forward to see you at the market,
- Tamara
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When You Support our Family Farm We Actually Do a Happy Dance

11/26/2022

 
MEAT LOVER'S 🎁 GIFT BAGS - For the food lover on your list. At 5 or 10 lbs our Meat Lover's Gift Bags contain a variety of our customer favorites plus a sturdy insulated cooler bag. This gift needs to stay frozen.
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SAUSAGE 🎁 GIFT BAG - A spectacular start to a snack platter. Contains our Summer Sausage, Snack Sticks, and Beez Kneez Handmade Mustard.
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HOLIDAY ROASTS - Order your local-food centerpiece today - Ham Roasts, Prime Rib Roasts, Brisket Roasts and more.
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BODYCARE GIFT BAG - Nourishing your body inside and out. Gift set includes 2 different bars of Handmade Soap, 1 Soap Saver Bag (made of natural fibers), and a 2 oz tin of Body Balm. Shipping available - contact us to arrange.
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FARM GREETING CARDS - The perfect host gift. Contains 5 blank greetings cards and envelopes with professional pictures from our farm.
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GIFT CERTIFICATES - Available in custom amounts and able to ship. Up the presentation by purchasing one of our logo cooler bags to wrap the gift certificate in.
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Beef Osso Buco

11/6/2022

 
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Savory Italian Comfort Food - Beef Osso Buco

This meaty bone-in cut is perfect for making rich, savory stews like Italian Osso Buco. Traditionally made with veal shanks, this recipe is excellent with our Grassfed Beef shanks as well.

Osso Buco in Italian means "hole in the bone" referring to the marrow bone at the center of this cut. I like to plate the bone so that eaters can enjoy the marrow smeared on crusty bread, or mixed into their polenta.

This recipe is an excellent choice for the upcoming citrus season. The Gremolata that tops this dish includes the bright flavor of orange zest, combined with garlic and parsley.

The recipe below uses a stock pot on the stove. I make Osso Buco in a enameled cast-iron pot in the oven. You can also make an excellent Osso Buco in a slow-cooker or pressure-cooker..

The most important parts to successful Osso Buco are starting with quality ingredients and cooking the shank until it is fork-tender. 

Recipe for Beef Osso Buco

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Alternatives to Turkey & Winter Markets

11/2/2022

 
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Did you take advantage of all the beautiful days October provided? While unusual and climatically concerning, the dry warm days allowed us to accomplish some big farm projects.

Farmer Chris and crew installed geothermally heated automatic winter waters for all of our livestock. This is a BIG deal!!! Thanks to the financial support of NRCS and the landowners we will better protect water resources, and reduce stress for the animals and ourselves.

Winter Farmers Markets are revamped this year with the Northeast Minneapolis Winter Farmers Market taking place at Earl Giles Distillery and the Neighborhood Roots Winter Farmers Market returning to Bachman's Garden Center.

Unfortunately these markets are occurring on the same day! We'll have to split freezer equipment between the two markets. Pre-orders are recommended

New this year -- St Croix Valley Food Alliance Winter Farmers Market at Abrahamson's Nursery. A wonderful shopping option for those in the St Croix River Valley, and a fun day-trip destination for our urban neighbors.

Shoppers who buy local, seasonal foods at farmers markets make a great impact on sustaining family farms as well as reducing their own carbon footprint.

Plan ahead for holiday meals by placing an order for your centerpiece roast and side-dish ingredients. Inspiration below -
  • 24 Main Course Alternatives to Turkey for Thanksgiving
  • Turkey Alternatives For Your Thanksgiving Table
With thanks,
Tamara and Chris
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Filling The Larder, Fall Bundle, Spicy Lamb Skewers

9/6/2022

 
"Supper's ready, everybody come on in. Taste a little of the summer. Taste a little of the summer. You can taste a little of the summer. My grandma's put it all in jars."

This Greg Brown tune runs through my head as I ferment, can, and freeze veggies from the market. People who fill the larder each year, often do so to have local, quality ingredients on hand year-round.

We suggest you include our Grassfed & Pasture-Raised Meat when stocking up for winter. We have a great variety of Meat Bundles & Shares including our new Fall Bundle.

I'm thinking roasts, ground meat, summer sausages, and snack sticks for easy back to school lunches & dinners.

Speaking of back to school, Tamara accepted a full-time teaching position at our local Middle & High School. Congratulate her - okay me - and be patient with us as I transition into this new position. 

Check out our logos. Thanks to the talents of Emily Sweeney, our logo has taken on an evolution. Send us suggestions for types of merchandise you'd like us to put our new logo on.

"...grandma put it all in jars."
Tamara Johnson
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Spicy Lamb Skewers 
www.glebekitchen.com

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What to do with Lamb Ribs

8/17/2022

 
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Tender w/ Excellent Flavor - Lamb Ribs are worth a try!
Equivalent to Pork Spare Ribs, Lamb Ribs come from the breast. They are also referred to as Riblets, Denver Style Ribs, or Lamb Spare Ribs. 

These are different from Rack of Lamb and Lamb Rib Chops. While they come from a tougher primal, when prepared correctly they are tender, moist, and release from the bone easily.

The best way to prepare lamb ribs is to - slow roast, grill, sous-vide, smoke or braise them.

I like to boil ribs, then grill them with a mop-sauce. However watch the fat drippings on the grill. I seriously charred my first rack of lamb ribs.

Grilled or Broiled Lamb Ribs
​by wizardrecipes 2012

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Savor Summer w/ Grilled Lamb Shoulder Chops

8/17/2022

 
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The days are long, but the growing season is short. Anyone recognize that phrase? I just co-opted a common phrase about parenting and applied it to farming. Because while the growing season is a lot of hard work, it's also a lot of fun!

So we are savoring these final days of summer. Grilling, camping, and visiting Lake Superior are on the agenda in addition to grazing cattle & sheep, feeding and watering hogs, hauling hay, and seeing all your lovely faces at the market.

Are you a menu-planner or bulk shopper? If so, you might find our online order form a great tool to use when planning your weekly meals. You can pull out your shopping list and order what you need, for pickup on the farm or market. Check out our Meat Bundles & Shares.
Lamb Shoulder Steaks are on my menu for the week and I'm sharing a great recipe for Grilled Lamb Shoulder Chops with Herb Aioli. Herb sauces are what our meat should be wearing this summer.

Savor summer,
Tamara Johnson

Grilled Lamb Shoulder Chops with Herb Aioli
​Martha Stewart 2013

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Our Customers  Say

 I'm so grateful to have access this high quality, sustainable, and ethical meat! Fantastic steaks, bacon, and sausage. Delicious ground beef. I swear it tastes better than even the fanciest stuff from the local co ops. The nutritional value and quality is there and I'm happy to support a local family-owned operation.

Contact Us

872 320th Ave
Frederic, WI 54837

Farm & Livestock - Chris
(920) 960-4475

meat sales - Tamara
​(262) 354-5737
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