A quick note about this blog. My focus is to bring Columbia Consumers clever tips and the best buys. I will speak with leaders in all areas of business, but this blog is not meant as an advertisement of the goods they may provide. Rather, I want to take advantage of their expertise and save you money.
In just a few days, I’ll be joining my family for our biggest holiday, the 4th of July. A group that has grown to 30+ family members — and some folks that just wander through whom I’ll probably never see again — will converge on a sleepy little hallow in SW Mo., cramming into my Grandma’s house.
We have a set schedule: we swim, drink, eat and shoot fireworks and then repeat. There is great importance placed on the food. We’ve usually got at least two grills and a smoker the size of a boat filled to the brim with hens, ribs, chickens, etc.; and the smells waft throughout the whole town. With this bunch, the norm is that the men guard the coals with serious passion. But what if I wanted to show the men that this chick can bring it to the grill, and on a budget, too?
So, I’ve set out to determine what meats can deliver some real bang (total pun intended) for the buck.
My first stop is at Hy-Vee, where I speak with Manager of perishable foods, Matt Rohe. I ask Matt, “What’s affordable, will feed many and impress the crowd?” Matt tells me that Hy-Vee’s service case is where I should start my search. Hot dogs and brats are cheap, as are their pre-made hamburger patties. He also says that a hot item choice is pork steak. And there is a bonus, it’s on sale for 99 cents a pound.* Matt also suggests that I think about a pork loin, which I can roast and cut it up and serve a decent-sized crowd. He tells me that the loins usually run between $1.50 and $2.00 a pound.
Hoss’s Meat Market is next on my list, where I talk with owner Trish Koetting, who suggests I might think about a time-saver. I could skip the hours of marinating and smoking a pork butt and could pick up some of Hoss’s pulled pork, which I’d just warm and serve. It is on sale this week for $5.99 a pound.* It’s an option, but I don’t know if I’d get the praise, accolades and glory that I so desperately seek. Trish tells me I could order raw pork shoulder or beef brisket, but I’d have to call the Market in advance. She gives me similar advice to Matt of Hy-Vee. Hot dogs, brats and chicken are always a cheap route. She also sings the praise of pork steaks, noting that Hoss’s carry locally farmed Patchwork Family Farms pork.
Patchwork Family Farms is a non-profit group of 15 independent pork farmers who sell pork that is free of synthetic growth hormones and antibiotics. Tim Gibbons with Patchwork tells me that pork is a great cost-effective meat with flavor that bar-b-q fans love. He suggested spareribs and then echoed the praise of bratwursts and pork steaks. Tim also says something that really works for the occasion: it is pretty patriotic to spend your money locally and have that money stay in the town we love. Patchwork Family Farms pork is sold at both Hy-Vee, Hoss’s and you can pick it up yourself, and is also available off the menu in many restaurants in the area.
I talk with a couple other stores and I keep hearing the same suggestion: pork steaks. It’s a fatty piece of meat off the shoulder that if trimmed, seasoned and well-basted can be delicious. So, I think that’s the route I’ll go.
Let me know how you are going to be savvy and save, while still bringing the flavor this weekend.
*Prices and discounts may no longer be available
Tags: consumers, girls can grill, saving moneyCategories: Consumer Interest.
I loved reading this blog. As this holiday season began to approach, I confess that as a practicing Vegan I doubted I would find anything of value to me in this blog. How wrong i was! After showing the many different choices that consumers have now and the low prices that are now being offered I am proud to say that this 4th of July I have 3 things to celebrate…3) going back to meat eating 2)celebrating our nation’s birthday 1) that finally there is a blog worth reading from the local area!