Stemple Creek Ranch — Pasture-Raised Ground Pork (1 lb)

Pasture-raised ground pork, 80/20, from a ranch that raises pigs the way it raises cattle: outside.

Most supermarket pork comes from confinement barns. Stemple Creek's pigs are a Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace cross raised on pasture, California Prop 12 compliant, with no hormones and no antibiotics. Pork raised outdoors, moving around and rooting in real ground, has more flavor and a better fat than the pale stuff in the case. Ground at 80/20 so it stays juicy in sausage patties, meatballs and dumplings. Pork is naturally rich in thiamine (B1), selenium and B12.

Who this is for

• Homemade breakfast sausage: add sage, salt, pepper and maple
• Meatballs and meatloaf, mixed half and half with the ground beef
• Asian cooking: dumplings, lettuce wraps, dan dan noodles, mapo tofu
• Anyone who avoids pork on principle and would reconsider for pasture-raised

Details

1 lb package, 80% lean / 20% fat. Sold frozen; thaw in the fridge overnight. Cook to 145°F with a short rest.

From Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales, California, a fourth-generation family ranch run regeneratively by Loren and Lisa Poncia.