Grayson Farm Braised Short Ribs

 Delicious!  These grass-fed short ribs from local Grayson Farm are incredible.  We love this hearty and simple recipe.   

                                          

Ingredients

• 6 bone-in short ribs (about 5 3/4 pounds)
• Kosher salt
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large Spanish onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 carrots, peeled, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 1/2 cups tomato paste
• 2 to 3 cups hearty red wine
• 2 cups water
• 1 bunch fresh thyme, tied with kitchen string
• 2 bay leaves

Directions

Season each short rib generously with salt. Coat a pot large enough to accommodate all the meat and vegetables with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Add the short ribs to the pan and brown very well, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd pan. Cook in batches, if necessary.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

While the short ribs are browning, puree all the vegetables and garlic in the food processor until it forms a coarse paste. When the short ribs are very brown on all sides, remove them from the pan.Drain the fat, coat the bottom of same pan with fresh oil and add the pureed vegetables. Season the vegetables generously with salt and brown until they are very dark and a crud has formed on the bottom of the pan, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Scrape the crud and let it reform. Scrape the crud again and add the tomato paste. Brown the tomato paste for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pan. Lower the heat if things start to burn. Reduce the mixture by half.

Return the short ribs to the pan and add 2 cups water or until the water has just about covered the meat. Add the thyme bundle and bay leaves. Cover the pan and place in the preheated oven for 3 hours. Check periodically during the cooking process and add more water, if needed. Turn the ribs over halfway through the cooking time. Remove the lid during the last 20 minutes of cooking to let things get nice and brown and to let the sauce reduce. When done the meat should be very tender but not falling apart. Serve with the braising liquid.

Fourth of July Value Pack.....

We hope you have a great Fourth of July weekend. We are now offering a summer grilling package that includes some of our most popular selections. For your convenience it is available fresh or frozen. This package is a great alternative to some of the larger packs (ie. 50lb pack and whole sides of beef) and could be perfect for a small get together or to pull out of the freezer on a day when you don't have time to go to the store. This will only be available for a limited time so come in and take advantage of this great value.  Our Summertime Value Pack includes:

(2) 1 lb Hanger Steak

(2) 14-16 oz Ribeye Steaks

(2) 12-14 oz NY Strip Steaks

(4) 8 oz Pork Chops

(1) Slab of Pork Ribs

(4) 1 lb Packs of Ground Beef

Total cost: $125.00 ($36.00 Savings)

Feel free to give us a call at 703-790-8300 to order one, or stop by and we'll custom cut it for you.

Recipe of the Week

Shrimp Marinade

For : 1 lb shrimp

Mix:

1 cup  white wine 

2 T white wine vinegar 

1/2 cup Olive Oil

3 bay leaves

sprinkle basil

4 cloves diced garlic

After marinading shrimp add juice of one lemon right before grilling.

Enjoy!!

The Organic Butcher

Mother's Day specials and more...

In honor of Mother's Day we have plenty of great specials this week.  We have an oven-ready garlic and rosemary stuffed pork loin that is amazing. Our Flank Steak and Ribeyes will be on special as well. Whip up a salad with our fresh local spinach or grill up some of our local organic asparagus for a tasty side dish.

Recipe of the Week:

Stuffed Flank Steak

What Can I Bring/A Cookbook by the Junior League of Northern Virginia
(Available at the Organic Butcher for $17.99)

2     pounds flank steak                                          
1/4  tsp paprika
1    tsp salt
1/4  tsp pepper
1/4  tsp mustard
1/4  tsp ground ginger
1     tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4  cup butter
2    chopped onion
1    cup bread crumbs
1/4  tsp salt
2    T chopped parsley
3    T chopped celery
1    large egg, lightly beaten
      Vegetable oil
2    T all-purpose flour
1    cup water or stock
1    cup red wine

• Combine paprika and next 5 ingredients.  Coat steak with dry mixture.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; add onion and saute until tender.  Add the breadcrumbs and next 4 ingredients to onion, stirring well.  Spread mixture over steak; roll loosely and tie with string.
• Sear steak on all sides in hot oil in a skillet.  Transfer to a baking dish, reserving oil in skillet. 
• Add flour, 1 cup water or broth, and wine to oil in skillet, stirring until smooth.  Pour mixture over steak.
• Bake steak, covered at 325 for 1 1/2 hours.

Enjoy!

Grass-Fed Lamb Chops....

One of our featured items on special this week are our Virginia raised, grass-fed lamb loin chops. They are extremely tender with a wonderful mild flavor. Along with tasting great they also offer many nutritional benefits that grain fed lamb does not. For a quick and easy dinner we love to throw these chops on the grill after seasoning them with kosher salt and pepper. If you want to get more creative we have a great recipe that is always a hit with guests. The sauce is an amazing accompianment to the lamb loin chops. It is mint jelly jazzed up with a few other ingredients.

Recipe:

3 T mint jelly

1 T white wine vinegar

1T dijon mustard

1/4 cup chicken stock

2T olive oil

and of course Lamb chops

In a small bowl whisk together mint jelly, vinegar, mustard and chicken stock. Set aside while cooking the lamb.

Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat. Season lamb chops with kosher salt and pepper. Add the chops and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side for medium rare. Put the chops on a platter and cover loosely with foil to let rest.

Remove the pan from the heat and discard the fat. Add the mint jelly mixture. Set over medium-high heat and cook stirring occasionally until slightly thickened. Approximately 2-4 minutes. Pour sauce over chops and serve.

Pick up some of our local fresh spinach and a bottle of wine to complete your meal. We recommend the Siete 7 which is an organic Garnacha/Tempranillo blend from Spain.

Valentine's Day Special...

Looking to avoid crowded and high-priced restaurants this Valentine's Day? Then come by the Organic Butcher where we are featuring an easy to cook romantic dinner for two:

Two Maine Lobster Tails (5-6 oz each)
& Two Filet Mignons (4-6 oz each) for just $45.00.

Did the Surf and Turf last year and want to try something different? Try our frenched lamb racks at $20.99/lb. Or maybe you want to fire up the grill for some juicy ribeye steaks (heart-shaped available) at $19.99/lb. U-10 Dry Sea Scallops?? ...Pork Roast?? We're happy to help you find the perfect Valentine's Day meal- just give us a call or come in soon to place your order before the big day, Saturday, February 14th!

Super Bowl Weekend Specials...

Celebrate all weekend long with great specials from the Organic Butcher! We will be featuring our New York Strips and Ribeye Steaks both at $13.99 per pound! Pre-orders are welcome as our supply is limited. Don't pass up this tremendous offer!

Featured Special of the Week:

Beef shanks are on special this week, at $4.99/lb. If you've never tried them, they're a great slow-cooking cut, and the perfect alternative to the pricier veal osso buco. The shank is cut across the bone, in roughly 1-2" thick pieces, and the bone with its marrow is essential in adding flavor to the beef. These meaty cuts are also enhanced by the presence of connective tissue, which is ultimately dissolved into a flavorful sauce to finish the dish. We recommend this recipe as a traditional way to prepare this perfect winter comfort meal. Give this cut a try for its outstanding value and taste, and let us know what you think!

Holiday Pre-Orders...

are picking up as the festivities draw near. If you are still deciding on your menu, we have posted a few popular items below. Please also see our "holiday menu" on the righthand side of this page for other ideas. Why not check one job off your list of things to do, and come in or call us with your special pre-orders today!


Prime Standing Rib Roast - $17.99/lb
We've listed this selection first, as it is always our most popular holiday roast. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend ordering about one bone for every two people you want to serve. See this link for help with preparing your rib roast.

Striploin Roast - $ 14.99
We are featuring the often overlooked Striploin Roast as our Holiday Special this year. If you prefer a leaner cut, this is a great option with a lot of value
We recommend ordering about 1/2 lb/person of this boneless roast. See this link for help with preparing your striploin roast.

Lamb Crown Roast - $26.99/lb
If lamb is your go-to meat over the holidays, and you're looking to make a great impression, then this is the selection for you. Love lamb, but want a simple presentation? We'll offer frenched lamb racks as well, at $24.99/lb. Plan to order about 3 bones per guest. See this link for help with preparing your lamb crown roast.

Berkshire Pork Crown Roast - $15.99/lb
The ever-popular Berkshire pork is available for you in a variety of presentatoins, including boneless loins and frenched racks ($13.99/lb). This particular breed of pork is exceptional in taste and quality- a guaranteed hit at your holiday dinner! We recommend ordering about 1-2 bones/person. See this link for help with preparing your Berkshire pork crown roast.

The cold weather has arrived and so have Short Ribs.....

Short Ribs, upon popular demand, have landed on our specials list for the week. This is an increasingly popular cut that tops the list for flavor. English cut or flanken cut, slow cook them to perfection with any one of these recipes.

November 11th Weekly Special

If you're in a fish mood this week, we have a really great price on Alaskan Black Cod. If you've never had it before, you've got to try it, the flavor and texture are amazing. Also, if you haven't ordered a turkey yet, the clock's ticking. We'll have some extra on hand, but to be safe, please get your order in by Friday. Learn more... recipes.