Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of trying an array of meat cuts from KY Darling Meats. A Kentucky Proud brand based in Stanford, Kentucky, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try out this delicious company. I cooked the filet mignon and cowboy ribeye (with the help of Alan and the Big Green Egg) and honestly have never eaten a piece of meat so tender prepared at home. I’m typically one to overcook and dry out even the best of cuts, but these selections were perfect inside out. KY Darling also gave me cheese bratwursts, 90% lean ground beef patties, and beef short ribs that we’ll cook in the coming weeks.
KY Darling meats are antibiotic-free, no added hormones, pasture-raised and grain-finished. This means their beef is on pasture their entire lives with grain the last few months and not held in a barn. They dry age all cuts which indicates their meat won’t shrink like some you might buy in a grocery store. If that isn’t enough, KDM features certified beef masters – they’ve taken classes on how to properly handle and care for the well-being of cattle to keep them calm and stress-free throughout their lives.
I prepared the cowboy sirloin on the grill with nothing more than salt, pepper, butter, rosemary, and garlic. We used the cast iron skillet to sear the filet and then finished it in the oven. Both cuts go perfectly with two of my favorite veggies – oven-roasted asparagus and fresh chive mashed potatoes. I roast the asparagus stalks in the oven for roughly 25 minutes (depending on their thickness) after coating in minced garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. My secret to the best fresh mashed potatoes is a little bit of heavy cream, 1 stick of butter, a tablespoon of softened cream cheese, and freshly chopped chives. Add a bit of salt and pepper and these potatoes are an impressive, easy side dish.
KY Darling is an impressive local business I’m proud to promote. They ship meats to 24 east coast states using recycled cotton material made from old blue jeans instead of Styrofoam. They offer free weekly deliveries to Lexington and even manage a VIP Facebook group in which they post all specials and local discounts. KY Darling Meats promotes head to tail eating and educates customers on new ways to cook cuts with which they’re not familiar. What are your favorite meat cuts to prepare at home?
This post has been sponsored by KY Darling Meats.