The Babies are Here!

The Babies are Here!

The lamb babies are here, and more are arriving as I type this blog! Lambing season is one of the most exciting times at BF Farms.

For months we anticipate, watching the bellies of our pregnant ewes grow in the hot summer sun, knowing that many are carrying twins. We check on them more frequently than usual, making sure they are receiving adequate water and mineral, checking their bodies as they grow. They stay close to the water trough to get some relief from the heat and their backs sway with the weight of their bundle. Lying down is their favorite past time, as should be towards the end of a pregnancy. Am I right, mamas?

Then as sure as the seasons change, new life is born! When we hear the first baby cry, we know many more are coming and ready ourselves to care for a new generation of sheep. When we first began our sheep adventures on the farm, we tried to step in and help in the birthing process. We thought, "Of course we would step in and see how things were going because we are the farmers!  We typically receive extra care as humans so why wouldn't they?" We ended up doing more damage than good, entering in to a first time mommy and baby bonding situation that really needed to happen naturally. We have learned our lesson and now watch the miracles happen from the sidelines, allowing nature to take over. These mamas give birth in less than 10 minutes...to babies half their size...can you imagine?  Our ewes are strong. They certainly don't need our help.

We believe that the best nutrition for our lambs is to nurse with their mamas for as long as possible. They form a bond, nurse until they are strong enough to eat, and then begin to graze on our grasses when they are ready. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? We as humans strive for the same beginnings with our babies. Milk from mother is the best way to build up resistance against disease and illness. There's a reason why they call it "liquid gold"!

At BF Farms, we want the most natural and organic processes for our animals. We give them access to the most nutritious substances available so that you can have the most nutritious meat around. We are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of your meals.

Do you have a lamb recipe you would like to share with us? If so, email it to nicole@bf-farms.com and your recipe could be the subject of our next blog post!  How exciting is that?

www.BF-Farms.com

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's #1 source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

Hunters and Gatherers

How many of us would consider prehistoric Hunters & Gatherers as our cousins?

Daniel Lieberman, PhD and professor of biology at Harvard University, says that if we want to reduce some of our late-life ailments, we need to pay more attention to our cousins – the Hunters & Gatherers.

Lieberman believes that humans today would be much healthier eating the Hunters & Gatherers’ diet than one based on grains and simple carbohydrates. The Hunters and Gatherers’ diet consisted mostly of wild meat (grass-fed), nuts, seeds, berries, vegetables, and tubers; whereas, the American diet today comes from 50% grain, grain products, and potatoes. And if you consider the fact that most meat comes from animals fed grain, this percent gets much higher – and even approaches 100% with some people.

We know that asking someone to never eat any grain products would be like asking newlyweds not to have sex! But if you think Dr. Lieberman is on to something, you may want to check out his book, The Story of the Human Body.*

Some of his facts and beliefs:

• The first thing a grain-fed diet does is rot our teeth.
• The diseases associated with mineral deficient grain are scurvy, pellagra, beriberi, goiter, & anemia.

These are what he calls the “mismatched diseases”:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease, osteoporosis, and colon cancer.

He describes a mismatched disease as one caused by eating a diet which we are genetically unprepared for.

Do you reckon that the genetics of our body today is similar to that of our prehistoric cousins, the Hunters & Gatherers? If so, then maybe we can understand why, when we feed our body something it is not designed for, this can cause health problems.

At BF Farms we believe grain-fed cattle can cause certain health issues – in cattle as well as in humans.

* We do not pass judgment or endorse Dr. Lieberman’s theory of human evolvement.

www.BF-Farms.com

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's #1 source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

Diana's Meatloaf

Diana's Meatloaf is the best!

If you're hungry for a great meatloaf, give Diana's Meatloaf a try. I think you'll agree, it's the best!!

Ingredients:

2 lbs grass fed ground beef (BF Farms' ground beef, of course)
2 eggs beaten
½ cup panko bread crumbs
3-4 tbsp. of olive oil
Fresh oregano, thyme, & rosemary chopped
A pinched of crushed dried fennel seeds
(You can forgo the fresh herbs and fennel seed and simply use a tablespoon of dried Herb de Provence.  I have done both.)
Salt and pepper to taste…but you want more than a pinch.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands to ensure you aren’t over mixing it.

I use a glass loaf pan.  If you are using metal, I suggest a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the loaf pan. 

Place mixed ingredients in the loaf pan….drizzle olive oil over the top of the loaf and a pinch or two of kosher salt.

Bake for 30-40 minutes.  In my oven 30 minutes just about does it.  Of course it will continue to cook for a few minutes as it rests on the counter. 

While the meatloaf is baking, I like to make a little balsamic “sauce” to go over the meatloaf when served.  Put ¾ cup of good, well-aged balsamic vinegar (I use Teaoli’s traditional) and two cloves of garlic (cut in half) in a small pan, over low to medium low heat, and heat while the meatloaf bakes.  I don’t want to say cook…because you really just are infusing the garlic with the balsamic, not making a reduction, so you don’t want it to simmer. I serve this over each slice of meatloaf once I have plated it. 

This meatloaf is a family favorite.  It’s also very good when I mix 1 lb. of BF Farms ground lamb with 1 lb. of their ground beef.

Diana, thanks for sharing your family recipe!

www.BF-Farms.com

BF-Farms, LLC, your Oklahoma source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

GMOs

Have GMOs, Genetically Modified Organisms, Overtaken our Food Supply?

In many cases, GMOs have taken over our food supply. Unless a product is identified as “GMO Free” or is labeled Organic, there is a good chance it contains GMO ingredients. Some states have tried passing laws requiring food companies to identify products with GMOs, but that has been axed by a new federal law. This new law forbids states from passing laws requiring food companies to identify products containing GMOs.

Our position at BF Farms is very simple: We do NOT recommend the consumption of any foods containing ingredients derived from GMOs; however, we recommend that you do your own research and make this call for you and your family.

To get a feeling of how GMOs have taken over our food supply, let’s concentrate on just two products – corn and alfalfa. (There are many more!)

Corn is by far the most pervasive in our food supply as this GMO food is found in most processed foods such as; corn oil, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, modified corn starch, etc. But it doesn’t stop here! GMO corn is the number one ingredient used to feed cattle in our feedlots. The use of GMO feed, along with the use of antibiotics and steroids, is the #1 reason for the demand of grass-fed meats.

Alfalfa is a relative newcomer to the GMO parade. How does alfalfa get into our food supply? It is fed to cattle, and just like corn, we get the results of GMOs when we eat the meat.

The biggest users of alfalfa are dairies. Think about it, GMOs have now found their way into our milk supply along with other dairy products such as cheese, butter, cream, sour cream, etc. Dairies also feed corn, so these cows are getting a double whammy when it comes to GMOs – and so are we!

We encourage you to do your own research regarding GMOs, and we also want you to know that BF Farms’ cattle and sheep will never get any GMO products. We are GMO free!

BF-Farms, LLC

Oklahoma's #1 source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

www.BF-Farms.com

Grass-Fed Greek Lamb Meatballs

Recipe for Grass-Fed Greek Lamb Meatballs

This delicious Grass-Fed Greek Lamb Meatball recipe is for those of you who LOVE Greek food. It has all the seasonings that make it, well…Greek. We also made a garlic sauce to drizzle on top for moisture and more flavor. You can put them in a pita wrap with tomatoes or eat them with reds and greens to the side.  If you are afraid of spice, I would tone down the garlic and the red pepper flakes.  This recipe makes 12 small meatballs. Recipe is courtesy of www.thestayathomechef.com.

Meatball Ingredients:

1 lb grass-fed ground lamb (we recommend our lamb of course)
2 tb chopped fresh parsley
2 tb chopped fresh mint
2tb chopped fresh cilantro
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground allspice
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground ginger

Garlic Sauce Ingredients:
4 cloves garlic, crushed
¼ cup greek yogurt
1 lemon, juiced
¼ tsp salt

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease 9x13 glass dish.
2. In a medium size mixing bowl, combine all meatball seasonings. Knead lamb into the mixture thoroughly.
3. Form meat into 12 balls.  Place in prepared pans. Bake until cooked through, approximately 25 minutes.
4. While the meatballs are cooking, combine garlic sauce ingredients into small bowl and place in the refrigerator until meat is ready to eat.
5. When meat is ready, drizzle sauce on top and eat with whatever sides you choose.  We recommend fresh tomatoes.

BF-Farms, LLC

Oklahoma's #1 source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

www.BF-Farms.com