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The Ruminating Rambler

Flavor Explosion- Smoked Osso Bucco

5/19/2020

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smoked osso bucco, osso bucco, osso bucco recipes, summer stew, traeger recipes, smoker recipes
Smoked Osso Bucco with Clear Creek Beef's osso bucco

​When you have the opportunity to grill great beef it’s easy to be excited, and it’s easy to be satisfied.  Clear Creek Beef fulfills this promise with amazing texture, depth, and richness that delivers enjoyment every time.

However, you’re no ordinary weekend grill warrior; you challenge yourself while you pursue fulfillment, always pushing boundaries.  Your taste buds yearn for savory perfection, for
​beefy nirvana.


Here is the melt-in-your-mouth flavor explosion you’ve been searching for...a dish so rich, full, and hearty that it even comes with a beautifully decadent sounding name—Osso Bucco.  

Italian for "bone with a hole" (osso "bone", buco "hole"), a reference to the marrow hole at the center of the cross-cut veal shank, this dish sings when the beef is smoked to perfection and braised in tomatoes, veggies, and red wine.

I know, I know...springtime grilling or barbecue don’t often go hand-in-hand with cooking up a comfort food like a stew but trust me on this one--you won’t be disappointed.  The depths of flavor in every bite of this amazingly decadent dish will make this a new family favorite.  Winter, spring, or summer.  
​

Enjoy!
SMOKED OSSO BUCCO

Perfectly smoked veal shanks are braised in a rich stew of tomatoes, veggies, olives and red wine to create a flavor explosion worthy of any table—picnic or holiday! 
 

PREP TIME 30 MINUTES
COOK TIME 4 ½ HOURS 
SERVINGS 4

[ Ingredients ]


  • 2-3 Clear Creek Beef shanks
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • BBQ Bros Rubs “California Style Rub” seasoning  
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • ¾ cup yellow onion 
  • 12 baby carrots, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic
  • ½ cup kalamata olives, chopped
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 1 ½ cup beef broth
  • 4 Roma tomatoes, peeled, then halved
  • 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 16 oz. corkscrew pasta
[ INSTRUCTIONS ]

1.   Fire up your Traeger (or whatever device you’re cooking on/in) to 275 and preheat, lid closed for 10-12 minutes.

2.    Remove thawed beef shanks from packaging and drizzle ½ tablespoon of the olive oil on each shank, rubbing on all sides.
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Clear Creek Beef Osso Bucco rests, thawed and ready for @an_oregon_family Alan's capable hands
3.    Season each shank liberally with BBQ Bros Rubs “California Style Rub” seasoning on all sides. 

4.     When the grill is hot, place shanks directly on the grill grate. Close the lid and smoke for 2½ hours.
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Properly thawed, drizzled in olive oil and coated with dry rub, this osso bucco is ready for the grill
5.     While the shanks are smoking place a large stock pot on the stove over medium heat. Heat the oil.  Add the onions, celery, carrots and garlic and sauté, until tender. 

6.      Add the liquid ingredients (red wine, beef broth, tomato paste), then the remaining solid ingredients (tomatoes, olives, bay leaf, thyme), stirring to combine.  Allow stew to simmer. 

7.        Turn on oven and preheat to 300.

​8.       After shanks have smoked for 2½ hours, remove them from your grill and place them into the pot of stewing veggies.
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Osso Bucco smoked for 2 1/2 hours simmers happily in a tomato vegetable stew

9.        Cover the pot with a lid or foil and place in the oven.  Continue cooking for 2 hours.

10.      Remove pot from oven and shred the beef (it should fall right off after this braising bath!), removing the bay leaf, thyme sprigs, and any non-rendered fat and bones.  

11.    Scoop the marrow from the bone center and blend in with the rest of the stew (the richness this adds will be well worth it!).

12.       Prepare pasta per instructions.

13.      Add bleu cheese crumbles, then mix the meet and sauce well, serve over pasta, and top with a generous heap of fresh parmesan. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes & Tips
  • This cook can be done in a grill, on stove top, or in an oven...just follow temperature and time guidance to ensure results are similar. 
  • You can substitute your favorite beef rub or seasoning for the BBQ Bros “California Style Rub”, just look for a combination of spices that will stand up to a lengthy cook, and marry well with beef and tomatoes (think pepper).
  • Prior to smoking the shanks you might want to consider wrapping them with butcher’s string; this cook is a long, slow process and you don't want the meat to fall off the bones and get lost in the braising sauce.
  • While any type of pasta will probably serve you well, I selected a corkscrew veggie pasta that did a great job holding the sauce for deliciousness in every bite.
  • Parmesan grits or polenta can be substituted for the pasta.
  • Enjoy with a robust red wine to truly savor a fabulous meal!
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Serve your Smoked Osso Bucco with a decadent red wine
#LOVELAUGHGRILL
​
You can probably tell by his IG name and logo that Oregon holds a special place for Alan.  As a native Oregonian currently living in the Portland area, Alan appreciates the beauty and splendor found in all four corners of the state and finds the Pacific Northwest essence uplifting and enriching.  

This inspiration has led Alan to grill and cook in a way that he hopes fills his growing family’s tummies and spirit.  Alan strives to use local ingredients whenever possible, believing that they are fresher, healthier, and make his meals better, and more enjoyable. 

Inspired by authenticity and passion, Alan believes that quality product made by passionate folks doesn’t just connect you to great stuff, it connects you to great people.

Alan blogs about his cooks on Instagram, and can be found @an_oregon_family.  He longs for days of wide-open skies, snow-capped mountain ranges, and endless opportunities.
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BLACK & BLEU AND STEAK ALL OVER – A MAIN COURSE SALAD

7/14/2019

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flat iron steak, steak salad, steak preparation tips, traeger grilling, summer meals, main course salad, eating local beef, beef preparation tips, grilling for a crowd, family meals
Black & Bleu & Steak All Over with Clear Creek Beef's flat iron steak

​Peanut butter + jelly. 
 
Macaroni + Tillamook cheddar cheese. 
 
Summer nights + s’mores. 
 
A soft kiss + a tight hug.
 
Combinations.  Partnerships.
Things that go better together, or things that become better when they’re matched up.  You know what I’m talking about...you can probably add a half dozen more combinations without any effort at all.
 
I’m going to suggest a combo that becomes better when put together, one that should definitely go to the top of your list: 

Steak + salad.
 
Let me tell you how I got there...
 
Recently, I giddily unpacked a delivery of various cuts of prime Clear Creek Natural Beef—tri-tip, rib eye, ground beef, ribs, flat iron.   The preparation options seemed endless, and although my mouth was watering with the possibilities, I knew I wanted to create something worthy of the meat and pleasing for my family.
 
First, a little background... I cook for my growing family of four, and they’re definitely the toughest customers I’ve ever found.  I care about providing them healthy meals—not just once in a while, but every time they sit down at our dinner table.  Where their food comes from, and how it’s prepared, is quite important to me.  In a nutshell: I love to grill great quality beef because it allows me to show my family how important each of them is to me.  
 
Clear Creek Beef fits this description to a ‘T,’ giving our family a tasty, healthy, enjoyable meal every time out...including leftovers (leftovers are a rarity at our house, however)!
 
So, as I looked over our freezer full of Clear Creek Beef trying to decide my course of action all of these thoughts went through my head:
 
...with great beef comes great responsibility.
 
...grill something healthy, that everyone will enjoy.
 
...remember, time is precious today—you have two lawns, three shrub hedges, and tree trimming to get after today.
 
The freezer chill narrowed my focus.   Great beef...healthy meal...limited time.   I grabbed a package of beef and closed the freezer; I had my answer—flat iron steak salad!  
 
In my opinion, warmer weather doesn’t naturally lend itself to heavy meals, so we like to add cooled or cold veggies to our dinner menu, pairing protein and fresh vegetables with a leaf salad.  Combining all of that into an ultimate steak salad is a no-brainer!
 
Perfectly seasoned with ‘The Rocks’ All Red Meat Dry Rub by @whiskeybentbbq, the Clear Creek Beef flat iron was grilled quickly over high heat on my Traeger Grill.  Combined with a platter full of three types of lettuce, roasted peppers, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes, radishes, and a generous helping of blue cheese crumbles, this salad is definitely a marriage of flavors that made the whole experience greater than the sum of its parts.  In fact, I’d go so far as to say it created a FLAVOR EXPLOSION (we enjoyed this on Independence Day, after all)!
 
For a family that enjoys dining al fresco (fancy for “out on the patio”) as much as possible when the Oregon weather allows, this was the ideal summer meal. 
 
A combo worthy of inclusion in the “great partnerships in history” discussion, for sure.
 
Enjoy!

summer meals, steak salad, summer recipes, grilling tips, flat iron recipe
Black & Bleu & Steak All Over


​Black & Bleu and Steak All Over Salad


​
Perfectly seasoned wood-fired steak rests on a cushion of leafy greens, paired with generous chunks of blue cheese and a whole mess of veggies, pushing the flavor of this steak salad off the charts.

 
PREP TIME 20 MINUTES
COOK TIME 13-15 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES
SERVINGS 4-5

[ Ingredients ]
​

·       1.5-pound Clear Creek Beef Flat Iron steak

·       1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
·       Whiskey Bent BBQ “The Rocks” All Red Meat dry rub seasoning 
·       2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
·       2 cups fresh spinach
·       2 cups chopped red/green leaf lettuce
·       1 yellow pepper, roasted, sliced in strips
·       1 orange pepper, roasted sliced in strips
·       3-4 radishes, thinly sliced
·       3-4 Roma tomatoes, sliced, then halved
·       1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
·       1 cup sautéed mushrooms
·       1 tablespoon crushed/chopped garlic
·       1 tablespoon butter
·       ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
·       Salt and fresh ground pepper
·       2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced to ¼” thickness
·       ½ cup ‘craisins’
·       ¼ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
·       2 tablespoons herb & garlic compound butter


[ INSTRUCTIONS ]

1.     The day before you intend to dine on this delicious salad, sauté 1 ½ cups of button mushrooms (they will reduce to roughly 1 cup once fully cooked) and 1 tablespoon of crushed/chopped garlic in 1 tablespoon of butter and ½ tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.  Season with pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper.  Refrigerate.


2.     Remove thawed steak from packaging, place on a cookie tray or small rack and return—uncovered--to the refrigerator; allow steak to ‘dry’ in fridge for 12-24 hours.

​3.     Remove steak from fridge and trim any membrane or silver skin.

4.     Drizzle ½ tablespoon of the olive oil on one side of the steak, then season liberally with The Rocks dry rub seasoning; flip the steak, repeat on the other side, then refrigerate for at least :30, and up to 4 hours.

Picture
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​5.     When ready to cook, set temperature to High and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes.

6.     When the grill is hot, place steak directly on the grill grate. Cook for 7-8 minutes then flip and cook 6-7 minutes more. Remove from the grill when the internal temperature reaches 130℉ when an instant read thermometer is inserted into the thickest part.
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A CCB Flat Iron Steak rests after a proper Traeger cook

7.     Place two pads of herb & garlic compound butter on top steak and let steak rest 10 minutes before slicing. (See Recipe Notes & Tips*)

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Slice thin and against the grain to maximize tenderness in each bite

8.     While the steak is resting, build the salad. In a large bowl or serving plate, layer greens, radishes, peppers, eggs before spreading craisins and pumpkin seeds. Distribute ¾ of the bleu cheese crumbles over the entire spread.

9.     Top your creation with the sliced flat iron steak. Finish with the remaining bleu cheese crumbles, drizzle of any remaining steak juices, and add a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh black pepper. Enjoy!
​
At our house, the steak went fast- first words heard at the patio dinner table:
​"This steak is AMAZING!"
Picture

*[ RECIPE NOTES & TIPS ]*

·      Refrigerator air drying your steak for 12-24 hours will help create a better crust when grilling; it is much more difficult to achieve a satisfying crust when grilling wet steaks

·      Be sure to watch the temperature of your steak while grilling; a well-done steak will not give you the tender, buttery deliciousness you are seeking
·      Slice thin and against the grain to get nice, tender steak in every bite
 
 
#LOVELAUGHGRILL
                                                                                                                                                           
 
 
You can probably tell by his IG name and logo that Oregon holds a special place for Alan.  As a native Oregonian currently living in the Portland area, Alan appreciates the beauty and splendor found in all four corners of the state and finds the Pacific Northwest essence uplifting and enriching. 
 
This inspiration has led Alan to grill and cook in a way that he hopes fills his growing family’s tummies and spirit.  Alan strives to use local ingredients whenever possible, believing that they are fresher, healthier, and make his meals better, and more enjoyable.
 
Inspired by authenticity and passion, Alan believes that quality product made by passionate folks doesn’t just connect you to great stuff, it connects you to great people.
 
Alan blogs about his cooks on Instagram, and can be found @an_oregon_family.  He longs for days of wide-open skies, snow-capped mountain ranges, and endless opportunities.
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Time To Spring

5/26/2019

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sunrise, pastured beef, grass feed, clear creek, clear creek beef, clear creek natural beefSunrise over one of our farmed pastures.
Spring, verb. 
1. move or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward.
        synonyms: leap, jump, bound, vault, hop






And so it begins. 

Spring brings with its new life and youthful vigor a mad dash for all those in the ag industry- this is the time to capitalize on cool temperatures, spring rains, and new melting snow pack. With our own snow pack at 150% of our normal, we've been eager (as we are every year) to get all of our irrigation systems up and running to take full advantage of every bit of water we can!

If only it were so simple.

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One day's worth of herd moved, worked and released into their fresh spring graze.
​​
[  BRINGING THE HERD IN  ]

Spring also means moving the herd onto their summer graze- which for us means two weeks of hauling cows and calves from winter fields, working them in the corral, and then trailering them to their fields. Most people are familiar with the concept of the cattle drive, but since we keep our herds on pastured ground year round in two different valleys, a cattle drive would be quite impractical for our locale and model. (The romantic side of me gets a bit wistful at the loss, but my practical side gets excited every time we improve on our efficiency in this seemingly monumental undertaking.) This job is pretty much an "all hands on deck" kinda job, so everything else more or less gets put on hold for these two weeks!

sustainable agriculture, sustainable water, sprinkle irrigation
Irrigation pipe waiting to be assembled in the field.

[  IRRIGATION PREP  ]

We use both flood irrigation and sprinkle irrigation to keep our fields healthy and growing. Our goal is to get all of our fields to the much more efficient sprinkle irrigation systems to be more conservative and balanced with our water use. Flood irrigating is also much more labor intensive and requires a constant assessment of the needs of each individual field which shifts as spring warms into summer- temperatures rise and as summer wears on, water supply slows.
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This handline is making its way across its set for the first time this spring.

​SPRINKLE IRRIGATION
Through the winter, our herds graze and calve on our grass fields. We protect our wheel lines and hand lines from the cows by pushing them up against the fenceline, securing them in place and then erecting a temporary hotwire fence for the winter.

That's one thing I had never given any thought to before I started ranching- exactly how hard cows are on everything. They are really just big blundering eating machines. There are, essentially, three questions a cow asks when evaluating objects present in her environment:

    1}  Is it food?
    
    2}  Is it good for scratching?

    3}  Is it going to chase me or move?

Fences and wheel lines, if you'd like to know, are GREAT scratchers. 

But I digress. 

Those temporary fences need to be removed completely from the field​, which means all hot wire is rolled up and stored and all posts pulled and stored or moved to another use. Once the fence and all accoutrements are removed from the field, the line can be moved into position. This requires a rudimentary check of all sprinklers and other parts to see if we can catch anything that got broken before turning the line on, as well as straightening the entire line. Not all fences/fields are perfectly straight of course, so some require we dissemble parts of the line to fit more closely to the fence- which then need to be reassembled in the spring! Once the line is prepped, it needs to be flushed of any mud or critters that may have holed up for winter inside. 

It's not a terribly difficult job to be sure, but it does take considerable time- especially when you have several wheel lines to attend to!

Picture
Tarp dam set for flood irrigation- an often finicky method of irrigating that requires intimate knowledge of the field for effective placement and efficient water distribution.

FLOOD IRRIGATION
Sprinkle irrigation prep is a very mechanical job. 

Flood irrigation prep is much more intimate to the land. The land itself shifts and changes in minor ways every year, but some of those changes can add up to significant impacts on water distribution. The patterns of the herd movements through the winter, particularly in the early spring when the ground is soft impacts not only the ditches, which get corroded by cattle walking them in and need to be corrected every few years, but also areas within the fields themselves- which you often won't notice until you begin irrigating and find new dry spots. The same problem arises with heavy equipment on soft ground- suddenly you may have new "ditches" in the middle of your field diverting your water. 

The mechanical side of prepping a field for flood irrigating is relatively simple. You make your tarp dams- maybe you've seen those blue or orange canvas tarps in ditches- cutting the roll to the size of each post you will use, delivering all those tarps to your field and distributing them as needed. Some fields have ditches that need more heavy correction, so that's where the heavy equipment comes into play to build up those banks. Or maybe your field uses gated pipe to irrigate- so those need to be flushed as well, and turned back into position or put together entirely, depending on the field. Ours range in size from 6in to 10in diameters and you can certainly feel the difference in the weight! All the gaskets need to be checked, as well as the gates to ensure you've got the maximum possible control of your water and pressure. 
Picture
Usually we are able to correct ditches with equipment, but the timing of all of the spring rush this year meant a trusty No. 1 shovel was the tool of choice to correct the flow in this ditch. The difference between the corrected and unfinished section is striking.

As mentioned, though, the land has changed over the winter and you don't know what changes will affect what areas of your field and how significantly. So even though you may get all the pieces in place to put water onto the field, prepping for irrigating has only just begun. Now the real work begins- and it's mainly a LOT of digging. Shovel work to correct the path of water, redistributing heavy flow areas across dry. Finding and fixing old weaknesses and new. Figuring out what tarp placement will optimize your water flow for each particular set. If the ground is weak in a particular place- meaning a lack of grass root holding the topsoil in place- the goal is to slow the flow so as to not lose topsoil. That calculation also has to take into account how far the water has to travel over the next 24 hours- which obviously also changes if you're on a hill or on flat ground. Suffice it to say, you'll likely still be "prepping" some of your fields for irrigation long into summer - and you'll have ample opportunity to fine-tune after the first and second cuttings. 
[ WEED CONTROL ] 

Along with those lovely temperatures and spring rains come the weeds- fortunately, if you've done the work of irrigating, you'll hold them at bay on the fringes of your fields, no other work required. This is one of many reasons we work so hard to get water on every inch of ground. The places that don't see water are inevitably plagued with thistles and the dreaded white top. This requires more digging within the field to target those dry sections- whether with a shovel or a V-ditcher more or less depends on when you can get to it. A V-ditcher on a tractor is simply not practical on recently irrigated ground or on taller grass, so for irrigating purposes before the grass is harvested or grazed down enough to use that big equipment, that trusty shovel is an irrigator's best friend.
 
In the middle of your fields though, the better solution in to just hack those thistles down with your shovel. Again, still another reason we so highly value the equitable use of water on our fields!


Needless to say, we have been BUSY and will continue to be so until our irrigation systems stabilize and we fall into our regular rhythms. The fields are such a glorious green, with particularly deep and luscious grass this spring- I'm excited to see what the first cutting will bring and what other projects we can accomplish with the support these cool temperatures and spring rains have afforded us!
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THe Mythological Brisket

5/15/2019

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Many thanks to Alan, our guest blogger, for this delightful rendition of his recent experience with one of our small briskets. He breaks down his preparation methods and shares his and his family's review- spoiler alert: he raves JUST a little bit. And as the rancher's apprentice, I can't help but rave about our beef with him! I'm learning the ropes from true artisans- and Alan has just found out exactly what that means. Follow him on Instagram (@an_oregon_family) for more photos on his many grills and cooks!
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The Clear Creek brisket, already hours into preparation for its cook.

​​This is a story of conversion. 
 
If you’ve attended church at all in your life you have a certain understanding, or expectation, for what “church” is like.  In some towns you can find a church on almost every other corner.  You see those churches—regardless of denomination—and say to yourself “I know what it feels like in there, I know what to expect.” However, if you’ve ever found a CHURCH, then you know what a rich, dynamic, fulfilling experience it can be.   How...expanding. 
 
There is a definite difference.  If you know, then you know.
 
I now know the same can be said for meat, specifically, beef.  
 
I have purchased beef from a variety of places, probably the same type of places most folks shop...Fred Meyer, Safeway, Winco, Cash & Carry.  My beef shopping choice du jour has generally revolved around which store also happened to have milk on sale, or a great deal on eggs, or cheese, or...you fill in the blank.   Basically, my beef shopping choices were all based on things that had very little to do with beef, or the quality of that beef. 
 
Here’s why.  Regardless of store, my beef experience was basically the same.  It was about price, and it was simply an alternative to pork, or chicken, or turkey.  The taste was fine, it was ok.  Bottomline: I knew what to expect. Or I thought I did.
 
Then something changed for me.  I found BEEF.  Clear Creek Beef.
 
Through the magic of social media and Instagram, I came across Clear Creek Beef, and Sheen, the Rancher’s Apprentice.  The Clear Creek story and their mission resonated deeply with me.  I am #bornandraised an Oregonian, and I love this state, and the pacific Northwest.  The diversity here—people, geography, business—combine to draw out an innovative, pioneer creativity that is uniquely Oregon.  I find myself drawn to that which is uniquely Oregon; it both grounds and inspires me.  Clear Creek Beef fits this description perfectly.  Long story short, I soon found myself on the receiving end of a beautiful 3-pound brisket.
Brisket, small brisket, clear creek beef, flat and point
The beautiful 3 pound brisket, thawed and ready to begin prep.

​I was excited holding this cut, and a little nervous, too.  Brisket is almost mythological in its meat status, so when my thoughts turned to the upcoming cook, I knew that I had to do justice to the steer that surrendered this special cut of beef.   In my opinion, that meant letting the beef flavor shine through, and that meant it was going on my Traeger Bronson grill. 
 
                                                                                                                                                           
 
If you’ve ever had low and slow smoked brisket you know how awesome it can be.  With a beautiful Clear Creek brisket in hand I knew that I wanted to focus on simplicity to allow that pasture-raised beef flavor to shine.   After a review of options, I decided upon going “Texas style,” a guarantee for big beef flavor that almost melts in your mouth.  Texas style means salt, pepper, smoke, and time.  That’s it—simple, straight forward...perfect for me.
 
The day before I planned to grill, I prepared to trim up the brisket by giving my best boning knife a few extra passes on the sharpening stone. 
 
FYI: Frankly, trimming is what made me the most nervous with this cook.  If you’ve never trimmed a full brisket before I’d definitely recommend reviewing some of the how-to videos or articles available on the Internet before you feel like you understand what and how to trim.  Personally, I’m a big fan of Aaron Franklin (@franklinbbq), Susie Bulloch (@heygrillhey), and Danielle Bennett(@divaqbbq) for their passion and approach to brisket and grilling.
trimming brisket, flat and point, marbling
Now, we all know that fat equals flavor.  However, the visible fat deposits and silver skin on briskets don’t really render down, and they certainly won’t provide any added flavor benefit, so I felt confident that I could trim away!  Besides, it’s the marbling that truly makes the beef sing, and my Clear Creek brisket had marbling to die for! 
 
After steeling my nerves with a second cup of black coffee, I set to my task.  Ten minutes later I had removed about 8 oz of fat and separated the “flat” from the “point.”  My Clear Creek brisket was now divided into two nice slabs of beef ready for seasoning—my favorite part.
Picture
Brisket flat and point separated, excess fat removed

​I had any number of beef-centric rubs and seasoning blends available to me, but I wanted to taste BEEF, not seasoning.  For me, the decision was clear: simple Texas style seasoning--coarse salt and black pepper.  I prefer to blend my salt and pepper before applying them to the meat, so I measured out equal parts of each (about 2 tablespoons each) and combined them in a spice shaker container.  After applying a light coating of olive oil as a “binder” I shook the spices over the meat, creating a nice even layer across the entire surface of the flat and the point.  Oh, let me tell you, it looked so good; I could picture the bark forming already.  I may have even drooled a bit.
Picture
Texas style seasoning- coarse salt and black pepper, with olive oil as a binder

​With the seasoning applied, I covered the brisket with plastic wrap and placed it in the refrigerator, letting it rest for about 20 hours.  Yard work, family activities, and more yard work filled the rest of my day, capped by a Traeger-grilled cast iron pan pizza for dinner.  At day’s end the beef was prepped, my yard looked good, the family was fed and happy, and I was fully ready for brisket glory!
 
The next morning it was time to start the cook!  Pulling the brisket from the fridge so it could raise to room temperature, I fired up my Traeger Bronson on a blend of hickory, maple, and cherry pellets, setting it to 250 degrees to allow the smoky goodness to really bathe the brisket.  My goal was to get consistent heat and a steady flow of smoke over the meat as it slowly cooked.  I was not in a rush.
Picture
Low and slow- Clear Creek brisket on the Traeger Bronson

​Going low and slow with a brisket means that you are cooking based off of meat temperature, not time.  I was seeking an internal temperature of 165 degrees, so I inserted my digital meat thermometer and closed the lid. 
 
165 degrees arrived after about three hours in the smoke, and I wrapped both pieces of meat in peach butcher paper.  This is a crucial step as it helps ensure that the brisket is mouth-wateringly tender, with a super dark bark crust.  I placed the brisket packs back in the Traeger and raised the temperature to 275 to finish off the cook, looking for an internal temperature of 203.  The smoke continued to roll, and I enjoyed a glass of pre-brisket red wine with my wife in the spring Oregon sunshine.
 
After a full glass (or two), 203 degrees arrived and I pulled the meat from the grill.  I have to say, I was tempted to dig right in—my hunger, combined with the grilling aroma (and the wine) were making me dizzy with anticipation.  However, I resisted temptation, hearkening back to Susie Bulloch’s advice:
 
“Rest your smoked brisket. DO. NOT. SKIP. THIS. STEP. Resting your brisket allows so many of those hot and bubbly juices to settle down a little and redistribute to the meat. It also brings your brisket down to perfect slicing and serving temperature.”
 
Advice heeded, I wrapped the brisket packets in a clean, old towel and placed them in my cooler for the requisite resting period. 
 
Heading indoors, I prepped green salads for the family and put the finishing touches on a quartet of cheesy twice baked potatoes, coating them in way too much melted shredded Tillamook cheese.  With the table set, the family pressing me for dinner, and a reasonable brisket rest period (40 minutes) it was time to slice and eat!    
                                                                                                                                                            
​And now, the conversion starts... 
 
Buttery.  Break apart tender.  Beefy.  Rich.  Juicy delicious.  So good. 
 
There are not enough adjectives to fully capture the tastiness, the tenderness, the richness of this meat.   No knives were used at the table.  Not a scrap of beef was left on a plate, no fat trimmings pushed to the side.  It was not until the brisket was gone did anyone even start in on their potatoes or salads.  There were no leftovers.  There were many smiles.
 
Brisket is indeed the stuff of myth, and the Clear Creek brisket we enjoyed only added to the legend. 
 
I thought I knew what to expect from beef, but that was before I had experienced BEEF.  Pasture-raised, hand-finished.  Clear Creek Beef.  
 
Our brisket dinner was a rich, vibrant, fulfilling dining experience. 
 
There is a definite difference.  If you know, then you know, and you want more. 
 
I’m converted.
 
#LOVELAUGHGRILL
                                                                                                                                                           
You can probably tell by his IG name and logo that Oregon holds a special place for Alan.  As a native Oregonian currently living in the Portland area, Alan appreciates the beauty and splendor found in all four corners of the state and finds the Pacific Northwest essence uplifting and enriching. 
This inspiration has led Alan to grill and cook in a way that he hopes fills his growing family’s tummies and spirit.  Alan strives to use local ingredients whenever possible, believing that they are fresher, healthier, and make his meals better, and more enjoyable.
Inspired by authenticity and passion, Alan believes that quality product made by passionate folks doesn’t just connect you to great stuff, it connects you to great people.
Alan blogs about his cooks on Instagram, and can be found @an_oregon_family.  He longs for days of wide open skies, snow-capped mountain ranges, and endless opportunities.
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Grass Vs. Grain

4/17/2019

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We are all hearing a lot about grass-fed beef these days and from the sounds of it, it's being put out there as the most healthy, conscientious way to produce and consume beef. But frankly, this is a gross oversimplification with a whole lot of gray area in the phrase "grass-fed". 

For one thing, pretty much all beef is "grass-fed". It is the simplest, most natural and cheapest way to feed cattle while they grow and mature, so to have anything but grass-fed in the first 6 months of life would just be inefficient and wasteful across the board. So let's clarify here that what they are really talking about when they're using the term "grass-fed" is "grass-finished", which is finishing out a steer on an exclusive grass-diet. 
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The most important thing when deciding what type of finishing you are looking for in your beef is to know what is available, what the terms actually mean, what that translates to in terms of your food experience and what it means for the animal. At the end of the day I think we are all looking for the same things- quality of life for ourselves and others, responsible care of our environment, good health and an understanding of what goes into the food that lands on our tables. 

There are a few different ways to finish beef, but here I will cover only three. There is plenty of information out there that goes into greater detail/depth on this subject, so this will be a very basic overview targeted to those who are unfamiliar with the subject. 

First, the conventional way has been to raise calves on grass to weaning. The calves are then sold to a mass feedlot where they are finished out on a grain diet. Because this is where the bulk of the beef produced winds up, it becomes a numbers game- from weight gain to minimizing illness, the sheer numbers require many standardized processes. Most of the beef you'll see in the supermarket or at any fast food or other inexpensive restaurant will come from a feedlot unless specifically marked with the various certifications stating otherwise (think- Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished, Natural Beef, Certified Humane). This route is the most economically efficient way to get inexpensive beef into the hands of consumers. The focus is on quantity, much less on quality and it is about meeting the demands of a global economy. 

Second, and increasing in popularity, is grass-finishing. This is a very conscientious method of finishing beef and the focus is very much in creating a very natural product without the use of all those extras. It takes much longer to finish an animal exclusively on grass- about 4-6 months longer (I mean, how quickly do YOU gain weight eating salads vs. salads and carbs?). These animals are generally maintained in beautiful pastoral settings with conscientious ranchers engaged on a much more individualized level with each animal. The focus is on optimal health and life experience for the animal to create beef that is leaner and has a solid nutrient profile. Grass-finished beef will likely taste a bit different and indeed be leaner than the typical grain-finished animal. 
 
Let's talk now about what we do- or what we mean when we say pasture-raised beef. While we do finish some of our beef on grass, it is more expensive to produce due to the longer finishing time- and many of our customers prefer the taste of a grain-finished animal. Our steers spend their whole lives with access to improved pasture. They dine on native pasture grasses conscientiously irrigated by each year's melting snowpack (a source that is renewable thru natural weather systems rather than water pumped from aquifers millions of years in the making) to keep the natural grass and clover thick and lush, which naturally chokes out excessive weeds. For the last 90 days or so before they go to processing, their diet adjusts to a ratio of 30% grain, with 70% maintained on the natural pasture grasses. This enables us to maintain a nutrient profile as close to the grass-fed side as possible, reduce finishing time by a significant margin and provide that individualized, pastoral experience that honors the animal and the land in a sustainable way. The grain creates tender, well-marbled beef that melts in your mouth and needs no more than salt and pepper to bring out the rich, buttery flavor. 

It's always a bit difficult to answer the question "is your beef grass-fed?" because as you can see, answering requires that the ask-er and the answer-er be speaking the same language with the same definitions. Most often, it is more an opportunity to educate the curious and the interested on our process and share a little of our passion, perspective and priorities- and even on occasion clear up some misconceptions embedded in the question! And trust me when I say that there is a LOT of misinformation out there regarding many aspects of the beef industry. Stick around and we'll share some very interesting research that turns many commonly accepted beliefs about animal agriculture upside down!
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Saving Lives

4/4/2019

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spring, cattle country, eastern oregon, hells canyon, pasture-raised beef, cattle ranch, spring growth
The hills are beginning to green up as fresh grass emerges.
Spring is truly lovely, isn't it? Such a wonderful time to watch the new growth after a long winter as the weather warms and the mountain snowpack begins to thaw and the gentle spring rains build up ground water.

The hills are greening up and the whole valley seems to be cast in an emerald glow. And when the morning sun hits those hills, the place is bathed in that magical golden light and in that moment, if you stay real still and quiet and let it sink into your bones, you could almost imagine that this is all there ever was and all there ever will be and no worries could ever touch you again. 

All you need to do is breathe and listen.
cattle grazing, new grass, spring in hells canyon, spring, pacific northwest, angus mix, grass-fed beef, bulk beef, cattle ranching
The herd searches for new grass to graze in the slowly warming spring earth.
That's about when you remember that no, unfortunately, this ISN'T the only moment ever. Grass isn't the only thing growing in that ground with all that lovely water and sunshine.

That's when you remember that there are very real and present worries to resolve right now.

​No, there is also ​lots of fresh, new bacteria growing and they've been working hard to evolve and survive themselves- some at the expense of our new calves. New calves who, like all children, put their curious little mouths on everything they can find.

The biggest problem at this time of year is scours. Scours is basically calf diarrhea and it hits hard. Every year, the strain of bacteria that causes it evolves, like any bacteria, and this year's strain is a rough one.

The thing about scours is that if we don't catch it and treat it in time, the calf will get dehydrated. Once a calf is dehydrated, it is lethargic and weak and less likely to nurse and more likely to become less active. Without the extra energy from regular movement and digestion, body temperature drops- especially in these still-cold spring nights. If a calf gets too cold, it will become hypothermic. Once it becomes hypothermic, the only chance we have at saving it is reheating it to a stable temperature.

So we go out every morning and rush thru every field checking each and every calf- is there external evidence of scours? Will the calf get up? If it does, does it move quickly and steadily or is it lethargic and staggering? If it doesn't, what is the temperature in its mouth? It needs to be hot- and if it is, that calf is better off given a tube of electrolytes and what is basically the calf version of Pepto-Bismol and continued surveillance in the field. Sometimes they also get a special little calf jacket to keep them warm! A lukewarm mouth is a quickly dropping temperature that we can likely save. Cold... well, that depends how long it's been cold. Either way our job is the same- bring it into headquarters out of the wind and create a cocoon of warmth with old sheets and a blow dryer.
calving, healthy calves, humanely raised beef, stewards, ranching
A calf lifts its head after regaining body heat in the warming shed.
It can take hours to bring a calf's body temperature up to a normal- and stable- temperature and it takes still longer to wean it from the warmth of the blow dryer. But there isn't a member of our team who isn't willing to do what it takes to save a calf. And there is nothing better than returning a stable calf to its mom back out in the pasture. 

So, yes, spring is indeed glorious- new calves, fresh lovely grass, growth and life all around- and a charge to do everything in our power to keep the lives in our care healthy and happy!
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Three Way Vigour

3/7/2019

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The most reputable ranchers always put a great deal of thought and care into their breeding programs. We have been carefully cultivating the genetics in our herd since the brothers originally began ranching twenty years ago. From selecting animals with desirable physical & temperamental traits to breed, to culling those animals with negative characteristics (for example, the fence jumpers or those overly defensive cows), every season requires attentiveness to continually improve the genetics of the herd. ​Quality breeding impacts so many aspects of the final beef product, but it also can impact the quality of life of both the ranchers and their animals.
clear creek beef, hells canyon, three-way vigour, cattle breeding program, humanely raised beef
One of many little mini-herds assembling on the ranch.
Three-way vigour, or heterosis, is essentially the best result of animals bred to incorporate the best characteristics of three chosen breeds- ours being Black Angus, Red Angus and Charolais. Achieving this three-way vigour can improve fertility, longevity, maternal instincts, temperament and survivability of the calf, which are just a few of the traits we select for. Clearly the other piece of the genetic puzzle is improving the quality of the beef at the end of the day- improving marbling, red meat yield and consistency. This just means that building the genetics of a herd isn't something that can happen in a season or two. It is a long-range project- so take a moment to relish the fact that we have been cultivating our herd genetics for around two good decades now!
For the moment, though, we are right in the midst of calving season and they are coming at us fast! One of the most enjoyable parts of this hybridization is seeing the way those genetics play out on the physical side. It never fails to delight me to see such variety between cow and calf- but no more so than to see a little mini-me at a new mama's side. 

We've also seen a surprising number of twins this year and there is no better way to see the evidence of the solid mix of genetics than to see a black white face cow give birth to both gray white face and red white face calves!

I must say that I personally fully appreciate the genetic progress so far as temperament is concerned. I am out working new calves with our team daily, which has us holding those new calves down to tag them, spray the umbilicus with iodine to prevent infection and give them a shot of vitamins and minerals to help prevent deficiency.

Mamas don't generally like whatever comes between them and their babies- some can get vocal or agitated, but most are just concerned and curious. Some stand patiently back, lowing gently for their baby to come. Many will step forward to sniff their calf while we work, sniff our coats or hands and just evaluate what intentions we have with their little ones. Although we are always on alert for any signs of agitation or aggression, we have yet to come across a cow that can't be calmed with a quiet, firm voice to bring her back down. I have heard enough stories from other ranchers to know to appreciate this characteristic whole-heartedly. These are big animals and it is so much easier to work with a large animal than to fight against one!

​From beginning to end, both nurture and nature have a powerful impact on the life, productivity, workability and quality of the beef cattle a rancher produces- which in turn, I might add, impacts the life, productivity, workability and quality of the rancher as well. Ranching is not simply a job- it is a way of life. As always, it is our goal to continually improve the quality of every life in our care.
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Second Winter

2/26/2019

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The last couple of weeks have been absolutely relentless with these snowstorms. It is nearly March and spring is nowhere in sight- but the weather is so bipolar I'm sure it will suddenly decide to melt off one day and start blooming!

At the beginning of winter we were just hoping and praying for a solid snowpack to lead us into the coming El Nino summer- water is always the question and we need solid irrigation to keep us in grass and hay to harvest for next winter. Last year our snowpack was a bit low, so there were a few winter pasture fields we worried about getting enough water to really get a good graze ready for the herds to come in on from their summer pastures, but by and large they came into some really deep, lush grassy fields. The snow held off for long enough that they maximized the grazing potential of each field. Sometimes if it snows too much too early, all that graze goes to waste because it winds up flattened beneath the snow and becomes much less accessible. This year we needn't have worried- nearly every field was grazed optimally before the first real snow.

The other part of that concern is the hay already stored up for the winter season- and in our case, banked for following years. After a summer like this one, the question is whether or not you'll have to buy feed. It is vital in these cold months that cows get enough to eat, and of nutrient and protein-dense feed. Not only does it keep them at a healthy weight and nutritionally healthy, it gives them energy and helps to keep them, and in turn, their calves, warm. Fortunately, we have been able to harvest enough over the past two years that we have hay banked for a year such as this- a cold winter following a dry summer. Not every rancher has been as lucky, and at the current prices of $160 per ton (one ton feeds about 60-65 head per day), it can get truly painful. 

When I was a kid, I remember the weather worries of all the local farmers- but it pretty much all seemed focused on rain. I don't recall ever hearing any emphasis on the importance of snowpack, but then again all I remember feeling about winter was that it was terribly inconvenient. I truly did not appreciate how much everything in agriculture is impacted by the weather, from the day to day to full seasons and even years. 

After a worrisome December and January, the snowpack had built enough that it appeared irrigation would be manageable, but not ideal. We are in the last week of February now and the snowpack in our region is over 120% of the normal range. So I'm finally ready to let out the breath I've been holding over snowpack- but now the worries for our new calves in the cold and the wet are ready to take the place of snowpack concerns. 
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I don't love rolling around on my quad in icy or slushy fields and roads in twenty degree temperatures, my hands and face freezing, my breath condensing on my eyelashes and my nose hairs freezing. But all it takes is one brief moment picturing these very wet, wide-eyed calves being expelled from the warm confines of their mothers' wombs into this same world I complain about from within my layers of warm and dry Carhartts to get me rushing out the door every single morning to help the team check every field and make sure all is well. Every day that we find healthy, happy calves nestled in the feedline is a victory- and every time we find a calf or cow in distress we have an immediate opportunity to resolve that distress. All it takes is getting our eyes on the problem in time.

Winter is a harsh season, but once the initial checks for the morning are done, its quietness and beauty are worth a pause to simply absorb. For all the worry and the inconvenience, there is always a moment in there to let the stillness of the snowfall blanketing the earth suspend time, to sit quietly and watch as the cows lick their nestled babies. To listen to them low gently, talking to their new little ones. To watch the older calves kick up their heels and frolic in pure, unbridled joy at this big, new world to explore. To breath in the crisp air and just be there fully in that moment. 
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What Is Hand-finished Beef?

2/24/2019

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clear creek, clear creek beef, hells canyon, pacific northwest beef, farm to table, humanely raised beef, pastured beefDocility in cattle has been shown to be associated with lower death rates and more highly graded meat. It can be improved by calm handling and regular interaction with humans.
We keep saying our beef is hand-finished, but what do we mean by that exactly?

There are two main elements in our definition. The first is that we walk among our herds daily- our cattle know us and are comfortable with our presence among them. The second is that our finishing expert knows precisely what to look for to ensure a steer is finished and he finds that information with his hands. 

Docility in cattle is a measure of temperament, or how calm a given animal is in a new or stressful environment, specifically in handling by humans. It is a trait that can be inherited- which of course means that it can be improved through breeding. It is also highly influenced by their environment, mainly the manner in which they are handled by humans. Low docility, flightiness or wildness, is expected when cattle are raised in the wild as it is required for survival- an approachable cow will not last long with natural predators about. However, our herds are pastured and protected, so high docility scores are desirable, both for the safety of our team and for more highly graded meat. 

Our standard practice is to work each and every animal and the herd at large as quietly and calmly as possible. We work in slow, steady movements and speak in low, quiet voices, always focusing on using the least amount of pressure required to move or work them. This is always best practice from a practical standpoint as a stressed animal is an unpredictable animal. Further, we are solidly dedicated to raising them in as peaceful and humane an environment as we can foster. We may be raising them as a food source, but we have every responsibility to ensure they live naturally and free from fear and pain where we can manage it. 

The second aspect of hand-finishing requires this docility in our cattle- and not only are our steers approachable, they love getting the daily hands-on attention of our crew! They know that when their people are around that means good things- and we want to keep it that way.

Our Finishing Manager has years of experience under his belt and knows exactly what to look for visually in a finished beef and especially what to feel for and where. The feel of the animal at the tail, rib and loin, weight gain tapering off and the overall look of the animal all inform on when a steer is finished. Each animal is unique, of course, which means they finish out at different times and different weights. 

We take our responsibility in our stewardship over these animals quite seriously and are thoughtful at every level of their care and keeping. Our entire focus and intent is to give them full, happy lives in wide, green pastures and we work hard every year to improve our knowledge, skills, resources and systems to better provide for their well-being.

​This is what we mean when we say our beef is hand-finished.

humanely raised beef, wholesale beef, farm to table, clear creek beef, clear creek, hells canyon, pacific northwest, sustainable agriculture, responsible farming, boise farmers market, eagle farmers market
One of our young steers grazing on one of our many open pastures.
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    Author

    ru·mi·nate verb
    1. to think deeply about something
    2. to chew the cud

    ram·bler noun
    1. one who enjoys walks, especially through the countryside
    2. one who talks in an aimless, erratic & often long-winded fashion

    Sheen is the rancher's apprentice and the online face of the team. She enjoys reading, writing, ranching and rambling and avoids cooking and housework. She loves people most days and animals every day. You will usually find her outside either sweating or freezing, likely learning another of life's lessons the hard way.

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