Featured Recipe: Easy Beef Stroganoff 
 What better time to spice up your family menu planning with classic beef flavor combinations that use traditional ingredients that you already have in the kitchen without breaking your food budget! These include onion, garlic, tomato, red wine, oregano, thyme, cheese, cream and soy sauce, just to name a few. Check out Easy Beef Stroganoff and try its powerful flavor pairings.

Shopping List: round tip steaks, minced garlic, mushrooms, brown gravy mix, wide egg noodles, dairy sour cream, salt, pepper, and vegetable oil.

Ultimate New Year's Tips
The new year brings new beginnings and hopes of another good year to come! Below are tips that incorporate beef into a healthy lifestyle, along with new recipes, new beef flavor pairings, and ideas for entertaining your New Year's and Bowl Game crowds!

29 Ways to Be Healthy in 2009!
With the New Year comes resolutions of becoming more healthy and fit. Not only is beef healthy, it packs a protein punch that is sure to give people that extra boost when exercising and getting lean!
Good News-- America’s favorite beef cuts are leaner than ever before. Now 29 cuts of beef meet government guidelines for lean. Calorie-for-calorie, beef is one of the most nutrient-rich foods to fuel an active and healthy lifestyle. A 3-ounce serving of lean beef contributes less than 10 percent of calories to a 2,000-calorie diet, yet it’s an excellent source of protein, zinc, vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorus; and a good source of niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin. When comparing 3-ounce cooked servings, the 29 cuts of beef have, on average, only 1.2 grams more saturated fat than a skinless chicken breast and all 29 cuts have less total fat and saturated fat than the same size serving of a skinless chicken thigh.
29 Ways to Love Lean Beef Chart


New Year's Party Favors
This holiday can be celebrated in a variety of ways. Here are some examples of how you can "beef up" the holiday.


New Year's Eve Romantic Dinner- Chances are you are, making it to Times Square is going to be slim, so why not make your own. Spend it with a significant other and enjoy a Filet Mignon (Beef Tenderloin) or New York Strip (Top Loin Steak) dinner.
Beef Steak and Vegetables for Two
Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Blue Cheese Topping

Dinner Party- Host a dinner party inviting friends and family to watch the ball drop together. Delicious lean beef dishes pair well with wine or as an appetizer.

Game Day Party-Many will get up to watch college football teams compete in a variety of bowl games on New Year's Day. Throw a party and share great "beefy" dishes such as Chunky Beef Chili or Beef Vegetable Soup.



Beef on A Budget! 
With changing economic times, consumers are changing purchasing patterns at the supermarket in an attempt to balance their budgets. Consumers are seeking information on how to best stretch their food dollar.

Beef not only tastes great, it easily fits into a healthful and affordable diet. You don’t have to sacrifice taste and nutrition for price. It is naturally rich source of nine essential nutrients that fuels a healthy, active lifestyle, including protein, zinc, vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorus, niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin. Beef can be an easy and economical way to “go lean with protein” by selecting one of the 29 cut of beef that meet government guidelines for lean. The majority of lean cuts are affordable, including top round steak, chuck shoulder pot roast and 95 percent lean ground beef.

  Here are some tips for beef on a budget:
 • Evaluate purchases based on the cost per serving – not  just the price per pound. The amount of beef to buy varies with the cut selected. Cooked yields per pound are related to the amount of bone, fat trim and cooking method.

• Match the cut with the cooking method. Matching the beef cut to the appropriate cooking method is the key to moist, tender, flavorful beef. For instance, less-tender steak cuts from the chuck, round, plate and flank (shoulder steak, eye round steak, top round steak, skirt steak, flank steak) are more affordable, but all require a tenderizing marinade before cooking using the grill, broiler or stove top. For many less-tender roasts and steaks, moist heat cooking methods, such as braising or using a slow cooker appliance, soften the strong muscle fibers and connective tissue, guaranteeing moist, flavorful results.

• Plan ahead to cook once and dine twice. Preparing a little extra ahead of time is an
easy way to create beef dishes that are ready to serve without breaking the bank. A
grilled steak tonight easily becomes a key ingredient for tomorrow’s protein-packed
salad. Or crumble leftover cooked burgers into chili, pizza or pasta dishes for a planned meal the next day. Classic Beef Pot Roast with Root Vegetables utilizes the affordable chuck shoulder pot roast for a timeless family favorite. And next day shredded beef sandwiches are fast and delicious!

• Explore the versatility of ground beef. A perfect option for many recipe favorites is 95 percent lean ground beef, a convenient and economical way to add protein to a family meal. A traditional meatloaf is easily transformed into Southwest Meatloaf with the addition of a few flavorful, low-cost ingredients. Extra servings can be frozen for future use, or continue the fiesta the next day and create a meatloaf burrito wrap.

• Buy in bulk to realize cost savings. Instead of buying pre-cut meat for kabobs, stew and stir-fry, save money by buying steaks or roasts and cutting into meat cubes or strips. Another approach is to purchase boneless roasts to cut into steaks. Your local butcher may be happy to slice them for you without added cost. Plan ahead and freeze cut beef for 6 to 12 months.

Visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com for additional information and more nutrient-rich main dish recipes that are satisfying, delicious and easy on the pocket book. 

Check out these recipes that stretch your beef dollar! 
Tangy Lime Grilled Top Round Steak
Classic Beef Pot Roast with Root Vegetables
Southwest Meatloaf
Flat Iron Steaks with Grilled Corn Cumin-Lime Butter
Italian Marinated Steak with Grilled Ratatouille

Feature Cut of the Month: Top Round Steak
What is a Top Round Steak?
Lean, full flavored top round steak has an excellent nutrition profile. This economical boneless cut is completely edible with no waste. It offers the best combination of flavor and texture among the round steaks. This steak is also known as the london broil, beef shoulder steak, and beef flank steak.
Preparation and Cooking Time:
Because the Top Round Steak is very lean and comes from muscle of locomotion, it is best when marinated 6 to 24 hours in a 1/4 cup of tenderizing marinade (usually acid based: Soy, yogurt, lemon, etc.) and then grilled, broiled or skilleted. For best eating quality, cook only to medium rare (145ºF) and carve into thin slices. It's great when used in a salad or stir-fry. One pound yields 4 (3 ounce) cooked trimmed servings.

Storage:
Top Round Steak can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer 6 to 12 months.


Funded by the Beef Checkoff