The Best Bang for Your Bird
eartland Foodie family, today we take a look at the best bang for your bird – so to speak and why chickens are the most popular meat in the U.S. making them egg-ceptional!
So Why is Chicken the most popular meat in America?
According to the USDA in 2021, 68.1 pounds of chicken per person are available for human consumption (on a boneless, edible basis). That’s about 20% more than the second most available meat, which was beef at 56.2 pounds. However, just because it is more available, does that lead to more consumption? Not always the case, but as we look deeper into the numbers we find that chicken makes up 43% of all meat consumed in the U.S. as of 2018. It’s been speculated as to what makes chicken the most popular choice, but we’ll give our top 3 reasons why we think people absolutely love chicken!
Versatility– Perhaps the best reason why we feel chicken is the most popular is its versatility. Most cultures have a chicken dish so there’s no lack of recipes and it pairs well with all types of flavors and cooking methods.
Health Benefits– We can’t survive without protein and chicken is full of it! Proteins contain the building blocks of cells known as amino acids, it’s full of essential vitamins and minerals such as B6, B12, iron, zinc, and copper. It’s also low in saturated fat and contains the amino acid tryptophan (known as the feel good hormone). Furthermore it contributes to building stronger bones and muscles, weight management and heart health, it can even help to improve your mood. Though it’s considered a lean protein, chicken contains a small amount of cholesterol. If you’re on a low-cholesterol diet or at high risk for heart disease, pay close attention to the amount of cholesterol in the meat you buy. It never hurts to discuss what you’re eating with a doctor or registered dietician.
Familiarity– Starting in the 1940’s chicken began its upward climb to most consumed meat and overtook pork in 1996 and beef in 2010. Chicken is everywhere, it’s likely that you’ve seen it on the menu at most restaurants, food delivery services, food trucks, on commercials and in entertainment venues!
Well, when you’ve got as many ways to cook chicken as we do — from poached to braised, fried to grilled — it’s hard to resist! Read More HERE
eartland Foodie family, today we take a look at the best bang for your bird – so to speak and why chickens are the most popular meat in the U.S. making them egg-ceptional!
So Why is Chicken the most popular meat in America?
According to the USDA in 2021, 68.1 pounds of chicken per person are available for human consumption (on a boneless, edible basis). That’s about 20% more than the second most available meat, which was beef at 56.2 pounds. However, just because it is more available, does that lead to more consumption? Not always the case, but as we look deeper into the numbers we find that chicken makes up 43% of all meat consumed in the U.S. as of 2018. It’s been speculated as to what makes chicken the most popular choice, but we’ll give our top 3 reasons why we think people absolutely love chicken!
Versatility– Perhaps the best reason why we feel chicken is the most popular is its versatility. Most cultures have a chicken dish so there’s no lack of recipes and it pairs well with all types of flavors and cooking methods.
Health Benefits– We can’t survive without protein and chicken is full of it! Proteins contain the building blocks of cells known as amino acids, it’s full of essential vitamins and minerals such as B6, B12, iron, zinc, and copper. It’s also low in saturated fat and contains the amino acid tryptophan (known as the feel good hormone). Furthermore it contributes to building stronger bones and muscles, weight management and heart health, it can even help to improve your mood. Though it’s considered a lean protein, chicken contains a small amount of cholesterol. If you’re on a low-cholesterol diet or at high risk for heart disease, pay close attention to the amount of cholesterol in the meat you buy. It never hurts to discuss what you’re eating with a doctor or registered dietician.
Familiarity– Starting in the 1940’s chicken began its upward climb to most consumed meat and overtook pork in 1996 and beef in 2010. Chicken is everywhere, it’s likely that you’ve seen it on the menu at most restaurants, food delivery services, food trucks, on commercials and in entertainment venues!
Well, when you’ve got as many ways to cook chicken as we do — from poached to braised, fried to grilled — it’s hard to resist! Read More HERE
How come our chickens are so delicious?
Murray’s Chickens are raised in the rolling hills of Southeastern Pennsylvania. By partnering with a select number of family farms, Murray’s helps to strengthen local economies and protects small farmers by allowing them to focus solely on the exceptional quality and taste of the Murray’s Chickens they grow. Unlike many others in the industry, Murray’s Chickens is family-owned – their commitment is to great tasting, healthy chicken.
Even More To Love About Murray’s– Murray’s chickens are never administered antibiotics and are fed a vegetable-based diet free of animal fats and animal by-products. Their chickens are grown slowly on small family farms and were the first in the industry to be given the Certified Humane label which verifies the humane manner in which their birds are raised, transported and handled.
Now what should I cook with chicken?
Thai Coconut Curry Chicken with coconut milk and vegetables is a one-pot meal that is healthy, lusciously creamy, fragrant, delicious and incredibly easy to make. Customize it to your taste ~ add your favorite Heartland Foods protein, like our Murray’s Farms Chicken or our Cheshire Farms Pork!
Quick Tip: Often, Thai curries are made using coconut milk as the main liquid, which results in a creamy consistency. You can use as much or as little coconut milk as you wish based on your preference for texture, spice, and flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 1- inch piece ginger, peeled and minced
- 1 small onion, chopped finely or sliced
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1-2 tablespoons red curry paste (depending on how spicy you’d like 2-14 ounce cans full-fat coconut milk)
- 1 lime – zest
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
Ingredients Continued…
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup Home Garden Frozen Diced Carrots (thawed)
- 2 cups Home Gardens Frozen Broccoli Florets (thawed)
- 4 Murray’s Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 small red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 small zucchini, cut into 1⁄4-inch rounds
- 4 sprigs basil (Thai or Italian), roughly chopped
- 1⁄4 cup cilantro, chopped plus more for garnish
- Lime wedges for garnishing
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or large heavy bottom pan, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, ginger, onions and lemon zest and sauté stirring frequently for about 2-3 minutes or until the onions start to soften and the rest of the ingredients become
aromatic. Make sure the garlic doesn’t burn. - Stir in the red curry paste and sauté for about 2 minutes then, stir in the coconut milk,
lime zest, chicken broth, fish sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar. Mix to combine.
Bring the mixture to a quick boil, lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or
until the sauce thickens a bit. - Add the carrots and chicken and cook for about 5 – 6 minutes or until the chicken is
just cooked through. - Add the red bell pepper and zucchini and cook for about 4
minutes or until the vegetables soften. - Add the broccoli florets, basil and cilantro.
- Mix well, cover the pot and simmer for about 2 minutes. (the broccoli cooks pretty fast so
keep an eye on it.) - To serve, garnish with additional basil and cilantro and lime wedges over white or brown rice
