A Ranch Wife's Favorite Beef Recipes

At my house, we almost always have a freezer full of beef which is a good thing because our family not only raises beef, but we love beef.

Beef is a great source of zinc, iron, and protein which happen to be the most lacked nutrients in the diets of young children and adult women.

Here are some of our family's favorite beef recipes and a few favs from some of our farming friends, too.  If you would prefer to see pictures of all of these delicious recipes, check out my Beef Recipe Pinterest Board.

Bacon Cheeseburger Jalapeno Poppers
Barbecue Meatballs
Beef Taquitos 
Beefy Nacho Potato Soup
Beefy Taco Bake

Calypso Beef Soup
Cheesy Enchiladas
Cheesy Mostaccoili

Easy Cheesy Beefy Burritos
French Dip

Kansas Farmer's Mexican Skillet
Kat's Corned Beef 
Italian Beef Roll

Mediterranean Steak Salad
Mexican Hamburger Skillet
Mom's Disappearing Beef Stew 
No Boil The Noodles Lasagna 

Overnight Lasagna
Porcupine Meatballs

Simply Elegant Steak and Rice
Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef
Spicy Cheeseburger Soup
Spicy Shredded Beef
Steak and Pasta Salad
Steak Rollups
Sweet Potato Beef Mashup

Taco Bites
Taco Soup
Taco Soup With a Twist

Cooking With Kids

I am a firm believer that all kids should learn how to cook (just ask any 4-H'er that wasn't enrolled in foods before they met me).  Everyone has to eat everyday and eating out can be super expensive and not very healthy.  Both of my boys are very handy in the kitchen and I have taught at least 3 girls that I can think of how to bake some amazing bread. 

Why Teach Kids how to Cook?

The will take a lot of pride in making something for the whole family.
They will be more likely to eat what they make.

It teaches them to read and follow directions in order.
They learn about fractions and additions without realizing it.

If you think about it, cooking and baking is really edible chemistry and biology.  They can learn about different reactions, sugar feeding yeast, changes of state of matter and so much more.

The boys have also baked me so many things that we have donated them to baked food sales and learned that they can help other kids struggling with illness with their talents.

It is a great time to teach kids about food safety.  The earlier we learn something, the more it becomes a habit of a lifetime.  Why not teach them how to keep themselves safe when it comes to food handling at a young age.

My question is Why wouldn't you teach your kids to cook? 

The following are all recipes my boys have helped make at one time or another.  Some they required some assistance and others they are fully capable of themselves. 

Appetizers

Cheese Crisps
Hot Dog Snacks
Pork Meatball Appetizers
Taco Bites
Touchdown Taco Dip

Breads

Cinnamon Roll Muffins
Two Cheese Braided Wheat Bread

Main Dishes

Barbecue Meatballs
Crispy Strips
Easy, Beefy, Cheesy Burritos
Italian Beef Roll
No Boiling Lasagna
Porcupine Meatballs
Steak Roll Ups
Taco Soup

Sides

Baked Beans
Country Barbecue Potatoes
Freezer Slaw
One Step Mac and Cheese

Salads

Cherry Tomato Salad

Snacks

Cream Cheese Snickerdoodles
Hello Dolly Bars 
Henry Ford Chocolate Chip Soybean Cookies
Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
Trail Mix Bars
Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies

Desserts

30 Minute Oatmeal Pecan Squares 
Banana Bars
Chocolate Chip Cranberry Milk Bars
Frozen Apple Rolls
 Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
Pecan Pie 
Pecan Praline Crunch
Pecan Rolls

Book Barn Review Index

I am always on the lookout for books with an Ag Theme that are mostly accurate.  My boys and I have quite a collection.  Here are some of our favorites.  Did we miss any?  Let me know.  If you would like to write a quick review of one (or more) of your favorite kids ag book, message me and I will let you know what I need. If you just want to give me a book to 2 to check out at the library that is great, too!  (The ones in blue I have written reviews that you can click on to read.)

Barntastic Board Books

Cowboy Small by Lois Lenske
Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley
Buzz Buzz Busy Bees by Dawn Bentley
John Deere Farm ABC
Moo, Baa, LA LA LA! by Sandra Boynton

Farm Friendly First Readers and Cool Classroom Reading

Pancakes! Pancakes! by Eric Carle
Levi's Lost Calf by Amanda Radke
Where's My Cowboy Hat by Katy Williams
Barn Cat in the Christmas Tree by Katy Williams
Corey Combine and the Great Big Mess by Elana Roth
Be a Friend to Trees by Patricia Lauber
 The Little Farm by Lois Lenske
More Farmyard Tales by Heather Amery & Stephen Cartwright
The Grumpy Goat by Heather Amery & Stephen Cartwright
Growing Farm, School and Me! by 6th grade students in Reading Pennsylvania
Milk Comes from a Cow? by Dan Yunk
Celebrate Wheat by Dan Yunk
Growing Up Strong by Dan Yunk
The Soil Neighborhood by Dan Yunk & Steve Swaffer

Moooving Up the Reading Ladder

Days on the Farm by Kim Lewis
Little Star....Raising Our First Calf by Rhanna and Sheridan
Johnny Appleseed by Jodie Shepherd
Hank the Cow Dog Series

Growing A Crop of High End Readers

Lamb in the Laundry by Ben M. Baglio
Animal Ark Series
Pet Finder Club Series
Misty of Chincoteague Series
The Horse Diaries Series
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock Recommended by a Facebook Follower
Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen. (Very funny book. Has mature language. Recommended for middle school readers.) Recommended by a Facebook Follower