Alabama Cattlemen's Association

Beef on a Budget— Steak Swaps & Ground Beef

If you’re trying to keep your family fed this summer without running up a tab at the supermarket, beef can be your go-to for budget-friendly, easy meals.

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

Just when you think it can’t get any hotter and sweatier, a trip to the grocery store has you sweating even more. If you’re trying to keep your family fed this summer without running up a tab at the supermarket, beef can be your go-to for budget-friendly, easy meals. With 25 grams of protein per 3 ounce serving, beef is a versatile, nutrition power-house that can fit any tastes or budgets.

Do you have any favorite beefy go-tos for your family? In our house we keep ground beef on-hand for quick, easy, nutritious meals. Ground beef’s versatility makes it the easy way to keep your family going. Buying ground beef in larger quantities is a great way to stock up and save money. Portion out your bulk beef in freezer bags or container in 1-2 pound packages, and keep frozen for up to 6 months. When you are in need of some for a recipe and it’s still frozen, there are a number of thaw/cook instructions to help you get it done; Electric Pressure Cookers (Instant Pot), stove top, or even grilling. Some of our family’s favorite ground beef recipes include: Beefy Sweet and Sloppy Joes, Cheeseburger Sliders, tacos, and spaghetti.

Steaks are one of the most coveted of beef cuts, and those of us who love beef probably have a favorite that is our go-to for grilling. When steaks are mentioned, your mind probably goes to a delicious ribeye, filet, or T-bone, but there are plenty of other cuts of beef that pair perfectly with grilling flames. Flat iron steaks, tri-tip roasts, skirt & flank steaks can all be grilled for delicious beef-filled meals. If a steak is what you’re craving but store prices have you making other decisions, Beef It’s What’s For Dinner has a guide to some perfect, money-saving steak swaps that will keep your steak dreams alive.

*Beef’s great versatility means there are plenty of options for every taste and budget. www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com*

Some stores may be stocking some of the more lesser known cuts of beef at lower prices. If you come across a sale on some of these trendy cuts, and are not sure how to prepare them, give Google a go to find some great recipes that may become some of your favorites.

Beef’s versatility can keep you fed this summer while maintaining your family’s budget! Beef It’s What’s for Dinner has you covered with more beef cut information, recipes, grilling tips and techniques, food safety, and information on beef from pasture to plate.

Be safe, stay cool, and eat more beef! Happy Summer to everyone!

Bama Beef Blog Weekly Update | July 6, 2022

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

CONGRATS, over the top counties!

Big CONGRATULATIONS are due to the 27 counties who went Over the Top in 2022! This is the grassroots activity of our association that makes it one of the largest and most effective in the country, and we thank you for all your hard work and recruitment efforts! Without further adieu, the 27 Over the Top counties in 2022 are:

Baldwin
Barbour
Butler
Calhoun
Chambers
Clay
Coosa
Cullman
Dale
Dallas
Elmore
Fayette
Franklin
Geneva
Greene
Hale
Henry
Lauderdale
Lowndes
Madison
Monroe
Morgan
Randolph
St Clair
Sumter
Washington
Winston

2022 REGIONAL CATTLEMEN’S COOKOUTS

We have enjoyed delicious food, fun giveaways and some very welcomed fellowship at the first three of our Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts in Grove Hill, Troy and Moundville. Up next is our East Central Alabama Cookout on July 12 in Wetumpka— we’d love to see you there! Click here for a map to check out when we’ll be headed to your neck of the woods! This event is FREE for ACA members to attend— all you have to do is click here to RSVP to attend your local meeting or call us at 334-265-1867. Guests who are not members will cost $25 per plate.

July 12, 2022: East Central Alabama; Wetumpka Civic Center, Wetumpka
July 19, 2022: Northwest Alabama, Moulton Rec Center, Moulton
August 2, 2022: Northeast Alabama, Guntersville Rec Center, Guntersville

STOCKMANSHIP & STEWARDSHIP- COMING TO AUBURN!

Mark your calendars for August 12-13, 2022, to partake in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) premiere Stockmanship & Stewardship educational experience at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.

Register Now » https://www.stockmanshipandstewardship.org/events/auburn-al

The program will feature low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Educational certification, facility design sessions, industry updates and your choice of additional specialized education. The program sponsored by the NCBA, Merck Animal Health, and the Beef Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance program will allow attendees the opportunity to participate in educational sessions, a local beef cattle tour and a valuable networking reception.

Attendees will learn cutting-edge operation techniques through demonstrations by stockmanship experts Curt Pate and Dr. Ron Gill. Cattle enthusiasts will have the option to participate in Auburn’s Beef 201 program offering education in feeder grading, value-added marketing concepts, evaluation of harvest ready cattle, fabrication of carcasses combined with economic analysis, and off the farm locally produced niche market opportunities. Additionally, participants will be offered sessions on various topics including best-practices in nutrition and Southeast U.S. forage management, tools for improved sustainability, current herd health management concepts, beef advocacy training, and a unique program designed for teen junior cattlemen members.

Full Registration ($100) – Access to all events & meals.
One Day Registrations (Friday $30, Saturday $80) – Access to events on specified day only.
Student Registration ($50) – Access to all events & meals with student ID

AJCA ROUND-UP SPONSORSHIPS

The 16^th Annual Round-Up is coming to town NEXT WEEK! We are proud to report that 120 youth participants are registered for this summer event featuring calf shows, cattle judging, career-centered contests, a volleyball tournament, and more! Events like this are not possible without sponsorships. We are asking counties to consider a donation of $250.00. The counties that show their support of our youth by sponsoring at the amount of $250.00 or more will receive a star on the county sponsorship map that will be on display ringside. However, anyway you can support our juniors would be appreciated. Please consider supporting the AJCA Round-Up. It is requested that all donations be mailed to 201 South Bainbridge Street, Montgomery, AL 36104. Thank you in advance for your continued support of Alabama’s youth in livestock.

For the full sponsor details, please check out our event website » https://cvent.me/KRGM5z

Alabama LMA Meets on the Coast

The Alabama Livestock Marketing Association (ALMA) met this week in Orange Beach, Alabama as all auction yards across the state were closed for the week of Fourth of July. ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley attended the meeting to network with market owners, provide an association update and hear market news on the state and national level.

The MOOseum, Staying Busy!

The MOOseum, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association premiere children’s educational center, has stayed busy this summer hosting thousands of walk-up guests and scheduled tour groups. This week alone will host three summer children’s groups, and that’s not to mention all the walk-in visitors! Sydney Dougherty on our staff does an excellent job promoting and organizing tours.

The MOOseum — which highlights the beef cattle life cycle, history of the beef industry in Alabama, cattle handling, cattle nutrition, rodeo and beef cookery stations— is a great, air conditioned stop for Downtown sojourners looking to explore Alabama history, while catching a break from the Alabama heat! It continues to be an excellent avenue to educate young minds to the big picture behind the food on their plate.

Bama Beef Events Calendar

The Bama Beef Events Calendar (www.BamaBeef.org/Events) is beginning to fill up with activities as we look toward the fall months. The Producer Education tab has been updated recently, as well as the Cattlemen’s Activities. As we get closer to fall, all of the tabs (especially the sales!) will start to fill up, so check it daily to make sure you don’t miss an event near you!

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Busy Schedule? Beef’s Got Quick and Easy Nutrition in the Bag

Beef is your springtime ticket to keeping everyone going during these busy days. With so many affordable cuts and recipe options, there’s always something that can fit your family’s needs.

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

It is hard to believe that April is already here, bringing with it warmer temperatures and busy schedules. If you’re struggling with how to keep your family fed during these busy days, beef is here to help! Packed with 25 grams of protein per 3 ounce serving, it’s the perfect versatile food to fit any schedule or budget.

Plan your week’s meals in advance and relieve the stress of trying to figure out meals on-the-fly or stopping at the drive-thru. Add some frozen or canned veggies to your shopping lists to keep on-hand for quick meals and all you have to add is beef. Preprepared beef such as meatballs, meatloaf, or smoked sausage can quickly be added to your weeknight routine; or make up a double (or triple) batch of Baked Italian Meatballs and freeze some for later use. For a one-pot full meal, try Barbeque Beef Casserole, using ground beef.

An electric pressure cooker can be a busy family’s best friend! Keep frozen ground beef on hand for quick weeknight meals like sloppy joes, spaghetti, tacos, or stroganoff. Use your pressure cooker to cook ground beef from frozen in less than 30 minutes. Give a go to a full Instant Pot meal that your whole family will love with this Beef and Broccoli recipe-ready in 30 minutes or less!

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner has an entire collection of recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less to keep you out of the kitchen and at all the events on your calendar this spring! For long afternoons or weekends at the ballpark, keep beef jerky/sticks on-hand for a quick snack, or make up a batch of Beef Jerky Trail Mix for everyone’s travel bags.

Beef is your springtime ticket to keeping everyone going during these busy days. With so many affordable cuts and recipe options, there’s always something that can fit your family’s needs. For more recipes, nutrition information, and information on beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner. Happy Spring!

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Brought to you by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers. Photo courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Easy, Delicious and Nutritious- Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.

No matter what your goals or resolutions are for this year, be sure to put lean beef at the center of your plate.

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

With 2021 gone, a lot of people are looking for ways to get healthier and stronger this new year. If those are the things on your 2022 wishlist, beef is here to help! Lean beef is touted for its high protein content, but did you know it’s also a great source of iron and zinc? Both of these minerals are essential components of a healthy body and immune system! So make this new year a new you by incorporating more beef into your meal plan.

Cold Days and Quick Meals

Short, cold days and a busy schedule means that you need something quick for you and your family. Beef It’s What’s for Dinner has a whole collection of recipes that are 30 minutes or less, helping your family get a healthy meal in a short time span. Try Beef and Asparagus Pasta Toss, and if you’re looking to cut the carbs, sub out with a low carb pasta made from vegetables like hearts of palm. Make a batch of Mongolian Beef using brown rice, to increase fiber content, or riced cauliflower. Both of these delicious meals are a great way to keep your family fed a healthy meal without overworking yourself or your pocketbook.

Meal Prep

One of the most difficult tasks of eating from home or taking your meals to work is planning. Making out a menu for a few days a week and spending a little extra time prepping can be a daunting task. Search for easy recipes and only make plans to cook on the days that your schedule allows, and make larger batches for take-to-work meals or weeknight leftovers. If you have your grill or smoker fired up over the weekend, cook an extra pound or two of lean ground beef to use throughout the week for various recipes like Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce, Sloppy Joes Five Ways, Chili, or On-the-Go Beef Tacos. Just throw your ground beef in a cast iron skillet and cook until 155 degrees and half your cooking for the week will be complete!

No matter what your goals or resolutions are for this year, be sure to put lean beef at the center of your plate. A serving of lean beef is about the size of a regular smartphone and has 25 grams of protein for only 175 calories!

For more recipes, nutrition information, or information on beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner. Happy New Year from all of us at Alabama Cattlemen’s Association!

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Brought to you by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers. Photo courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Fire Up the Grill…It’s Summertime!

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

The summer sun is starting to make its debut, so let the summer fun begin! Grilling is a staple for summertime activities and is a great way to stay involved with your outdoor guests while preparing a delicious meal. If you have no idea where to begin with grilling, get started with some grill basics. Choose what works best for you and your surroundings. Whether gas or charcoal, you can find the option that is best suited for your grilling needs. For detailed information on different types of grills and their uses, check out this video from Home Depot. No matter the type of grill you decide on, beef can bring you versatile recipes to please any tastes. Beef It’s What’s For Dinner has grilling basics as well as a ton of recipes.

Burgers Galore

If perfecting an excellent burger is your goal, Food Network has a great informational video with beef buying, seasoning, and handling information, as well as grilling tips. If you are comfortable with your grilling skills, these Maple Bacon Beer Burgers are sure to be a favorite. Smash burgers are a diner favorite and make a great addition to your summertime grilling scene. Get your grill and griddle ready for these BBQ Smash Burgers, they will be a hit at your next gathering.

Steak Out

Grilling the perfect steak is something that most steak lovers desire, but remember- practice makes perfect. First choose the cut that best suits you. Some people only want a ribeye, where others may prefer a filet. Choose your cut and spend your time perfecting the one that you enjoy most. Sous vide has become a common-place household item and makes steak grilling even easier, especially for leaner cuts of beef such as sirloin or strip steaks. Grill master Bobby Flay has some great resources for grilling the perfect steaks such as this Perfectly Grilled Strip Steak.

Gas or charcoal, burgers or steaks, no matter what your taste buds crave, give into grilling and enjoy the wonderful taste of beef outdoors! Beef is an excellent source of protein, zinc, and iron with recipes for any meal, any occasion. For more recipes and more information on beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

Happy Grilling!

Our Favorite Summer Grilling Links

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Progam. Paid for by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.

What’s Going On Wednesday: December 4, 2019

Welcome back! We hope you and your family enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving feast together and that beef found its way onto your table. Now, as we string the Christmas lights and put up the tree, we’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas! December is usually a slower time around the office as we prepare to close the books on 2019 and are looking ahead to 2020. Our biggest agenda items include traveling to county annual meetings and sales and continuing to make preparations for our upcoming convention. With that said, keep reading to see what we’ve been up to this week!

2020 ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

Registration is now open for the 77th annual ACA Convention & Trade show to be held February 14-15 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Convention Center. What better way to say “I love you” on Valentine’s Day than to bring your darlin’ to our Friday night event, the Sweetheart Shindig? Not to mention all the fun and excitement around our General Sessions, featuring Donnell Brown of R.A. Brown Ranch and a CattleFax update, informative Cattlemen’s Colleges and Alabama’s biggest cattle industry trade show. We’ve also confirmed our Cattlemen’s Luncheon speaker, NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. Don’t miss this exciting event!

You can register online today and take advantage of those awesome Early Bird deals by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/Convention or you can call us at the office and we’ll take your registration by phone! Be sure to have your credit card handy and have an idea of what you and your’s would like to attend by checking out our mail-in form in the November issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Alabama Forage Conference & Other Stops Along the Way

This week staffer Morgan Pounds hit the road to visit north Alabama. On Monday, Morgan stopped by North West Alabama Livestock Auction for the weekly sale. She enjoyed visiting with the producers and buyers of northwest Alabama. Morgan County President Ray Ward and Vice President Walton Ashwander then joined her at Such-N-Such Burger in Decatur on Tuesday. While there, cattlemen and staff presented the restaurant with their finalist plaque for Bama’s Best Burger contest and enjoyed a tasty lunch, the Heart Attack Burger. Today, Morgan is at the Alabama Forage conference at Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville. If you are at the conference, be sure to stop by our trade show booth and see her.

Celebrating Alabama’s 200th Birthday

Join us as we celebrate Alabama’s 200th year of statehood on Saturday, December 14 in downtown Montgomery! It will be a day packed with events all across the downtown area. Here at ACA, The MOOseum will be hosting its grand re-opening with tours, rodeo games in our parking lot, beef samples and plenty of photo opps with tractors and none other than Cowboy Santa! Events begin at 10 a.m. and they day will host tours at all of downtown’s historical sites, a parade, Gov. Ivey’s presentation of the new Bicentennial Park, food trucks, games, live music and all kinds of fun. Don’t miss out and join us here at The MOOseum!

Montgomery Area Food Bank Drop Off

Speaking of The MOOseum, we are also proud to be a Montgomery Area Food Bank Drop Off location this year! Our venue will host a barrel where you can drop off all kinds of non-perishable food items to help address food insecurity in the River Region. We appreciate any and all donations!

Membership Update

We closed out the 2019 membership year with 9,522 members and are excited to move into 2020 with the goal of 10,000! Let’s get there together. We’ve sent our first round of 2020 membership statements, and if they haven’t already, they’ll be hitting mailboxes soon! County secretaries should be on the lookout for those remittances and start inputting them into the i4a system! For questions or a refresher, don’t forget you can contact Jessica Kennedy here at our office or can visit www.BamaBeef.org/i4a for instructional videos.

As county annual meetings fire up and you need reports, shoot Jessica an email as she will generate what you need!

County Annual Meeting Calendar Full!

Speaking of county annual meetings, our state officers and staff are burning up the roads as we attend these funs nights of fellowship. This week alone, Ali Cantrell attended the Covington County Annual Meeting and will head north on Thursday to the Talladega County meeting. While she heads north on Thursday, staffer Kayla Greer will head south to attend the Lowndes County Annual Meeting, while Morgan Pounds heads up I-65 to Bibb County. The Dekalb County Cattlemen’s group will also be meeting this week on Thursday…and that’s just this week!! We enjoy getting out and about to visit with you guys, so if you haven’t already let us know about your upcoming meeting, email Jessica at our office!

ACA Hosts AISA All Stars

Each year in December, we look forward to the opportunity to host the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) All-Star Football players as they are in town for the big game! It’s no secret that a bunch of high school football players love beef, so it is always an excellent opportunity for us to power them up with a complete and nutritious protein before they hit the gridiron. While here, they will learn a little about the ACA and about the many benefits of beef. Special thanks to ACA Past President Jimmy Holliman for helping us facilitate this opportunity each year. Let us know if we should be on the lookout for your son or grandson!

Rodeo Ticket Sales Go Live Soon!

Boy, do we have a stocking stuffer for you! That’s right, just in time for Santa Claus to make his grand appearance in homes across Alabama, we’ll have 2020 SLE Rodeo tickets on sale just in case you need one last item! Gift the gift of rodeo to your loved ones this year and be on the lookout for tickets to go on sale to the public on December 15! Learn more about the show and stay updated with new announcements by visiting www.SLERodeo.com.

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Beef Up the Holiday Season

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

The holidays are here! It is hard to believe that we are already in preparation for our Thanksgiving feasts. Thanksgiving may lovingly be known as “Turkey Day,” but every holiday spread deserves some beef! Beef is a versatile choice for the holidays providing high quality protein in a low-calorie package. Reach for some of these awesome ideas over the coming days and weeks.

Beefing Up Breakfasts

Many of us have overnight guests during the holidays, and we want to feed them more than a toaster pastry or bowl of cereal for breakfast. This easy Breakfast Scramble can be made ahead of time and cooked when your guests are ready to eat. If you have a house full of people with a variety of tastes, grab some mugs and a variety of ingredients for Beef and Egg Breakfast Mugs. Your guests can make their own creation to their liking and cook individually in the microwave.

Hors d’oeuvres

In many families the holiday meal isn’t at a regular “meal time,” and appetizers might be the key to keeping everyone from becoming hangry until the main course is served. Try some Corned Beef and Pickle Dip that’s a cinch to make and serve. Simple, easy, and loaded with flavor, these Flaky Beef Stuffed Pinwheels are a wonderful addition to your holiday appetizer tray. If you’re looking for something tasty and different for a football gathering or a “Friendsgiving” party, try these Cheeseburger Egg Rolls.

Beef Up Turkey Day

Yes, maybe it’s turkey day…but you can have your turkey and beef too! Bring some beef to the table with some amazing side dishes. Change up your stuffing with Beef Stuffing with Apples and Cranberries. Add new tradition to your table with this Beefed Up Mac and Cheese that will have the kids asking for more. If you really want to change it up this year, make beef the star of your Thanksgiving with this Classic Beef Tenderloin Roast with Cranberry Drizzle. This healthy recipe is certified by the American Heart Association and will bring flavor and nutrition to your table any time of the year.

The holidays are a great time to try new recipes and eat more beef with the company of friends and family! While it can be a time of over indulging and putting on added weight, lean beef can play a part in keeping your holidays fit. A 3-ounce serving of lean beef provides 25 grams of protein and only 173 calories! For more information on beef’s nutrition and health benefits, and to find out more about beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Alabama Cattlemen’s Association!

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Progam. Paid for by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.

Food Safety For the Win!

Be the MVP of Your Tailgate with Unbeatable Food Safety Skills

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

College football season is here, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Whether your favorite tailgating memories are from childhood, college, or just last weekend, a few of your memories are sure to include some of your favorite foods. Beef is always a staple in our family football gatherings or for tailgating near campus, and food safety is always a top priority for my team. Safe food handling before, during and after cooking can be the difference between a win or loss at your next gathering. Be the MVP of your party and know proper preparation, cooking and holding techniques for beef to prevent food-borne illnesses.

Pre-game Instructions

When purchasing beef, pay attention to the ‘use-by’ or ‘best before’ dates stamped on the packages, and keep beef refrigerated at 40 degrees (or below) until ready to use. Store raw beef on the bottom shelf of refrigerator or place in a shallow pan to prevent package from leaking on to other items. If purchasing frozen beef, avoid packages with ice crystals, which is an indication of thawing and re-freezing. Always wash your hands before and after handling raw beef, and keep raw foods separate from cooked foods. For more information, Beef It’s What’s For Dinner has an entire page to assist you in safely handling beef from start to finish.

Kick-Off

You have safely handled your pre-game warm up, now it’s time to cook some delicious beef recipes for your football party! No tailgate is complete without some sort of nachos or cheese dip. Beef up your regular old queso with this Crock Pot Queso Dip, using the slow cooker to safely hold your dip for up to four hours, so you can graze over it the whole game. Call an audible on your nacho game with some Cowboy Nachos by Ree Drummond, which uses brisket instead of ground beef; or give your fans something to cheer about when they make their own nacho creations with these easy Big Game Fritos Pies.

The After Party

Using proper heat sources such as chaffing dishes or slow cookers, beef can be safely held at 135 degrees or higher for up to four hours; foods should then be discarded and not kept for reuse, even if they are to be reheated. Use this USDA guide for safe food handling to help you keep all your foods safe at home and away games.

No matter what team you are cheering for, football season is a great time to grab some beef and get your party going! For more recipes, food safety information, and to learn more about beef from pasture to plate, visit Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Progam. Paid for by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers.