Tip Type: Inspiration & Recipes

Fresh Starts: Lighter Meals & Seasonal Favorites

Spring is one of our favorite times of the year. What was gray is now green — temperatures are warming, everything is budding, and we can finally get out to enjoy our favorite outdoor activities. Spring also marks a culinary shift. After long months of hearty comfort food, it’s time to lighten up.

At Butcher Boy, we feature a wide selection of fresh seasonal produce, perfect for pairing with your favorite entree. Prime spring veggie picks include asparagus, spinach, broccoli, and carrots. This mouth-watering asparagus recipe featuring maple-Dijon vinaigrette is a great accompaniment to a grilled ribeye or strip steak cooked over high heat with simple salt and pepper and finished with butter.

grilled flank steak chimichurri butcher boy marketFresh spring vegetables are a perfect complement for lighter meat and poultry dishes. Need some inspiration? Check out this delicious grilled flank steak topped with a vibrant and flavorful chimichurri. Add a salad featuring seasonal spring greens like arugula and baby spinach for the perfect light and nourishing spring meal.

Speaking of grilling, this is the perfect time to dust off your grill and get cooking. There’s nothing like it to give meat and vegetables an extra kick and delicious flavor that melts in your mouth.  For some ideas, check out these easy weeknight Butcher Boy grilling tips.

One great way to add extra flavor and tenderness to your spring dish is taking a little extra time to marinate your ingredients. The best marinades enhance and highlight the natural flavor of your meat or produce, making the result amarinade perfect centerpiece for a great meal. Add grilled veggies or a simple salad, and no one will feel like they’re eating “light.” Marinades are perfect for leaner flank steak, London broil, or sirloin tips. Butcher Boy carries over 15 types of marinated meats, made in-house, so you can just toss them on the grill or in a pan.

And what would a deliciously light spring meal be without the perfect wine pairing? Not just for your preferred protein, the right wine pairing can bring out the unique taste qualities of any food, including your favorite vegetables. It’s all in creating a combination that brings out the full flavor depending on ingredients and preparation. For some ideas, explore spring meal pairing ideas here.

Too busy taking full advantage of the beautiful spring weather to cook? Whether it’s for a crowd or a table for one, we’ve got you with our own freshly-prepared selection of entrees, salads, side dishes, and desserts, both house-made and locally sourced. Come on in and check out the latest we have on offer!

Butcher Boy Makes Our Own Fresh Ground, Hand-Tied Sausages

hand-tied sausages

One of our most popular offerings is sausage. You can serve it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Did you know Butcher Boy makes our own? Since our founding nearly 70 years ago, we’ve been making fresh-ground, hand-tied sausages in all your favorite flavors.

Throughout the year, you can find in our butcher case:

  • Sweet Italian Sausage
  • Sweet Fennel Sausage
  • Hot Italian Sausage
  • Tomato & Cheese Sausage
  • Garlic & Cheese Sausage
  • Chicken Sausage
  • Turkey Sausage
  • Tomato Sausage – English Style
  • Breakfast Sausage
  • Steak & Cheese Sausage

We can provide sausage out of the casing, too. Just ask the butcher!

So what’s the best way to prepare sausage? Cooking can be difficult to master using a single technique because grilling or frying can mean the sausage crisps up quickly on the outside, leaving the inside undercooked or dry. One popular way around that challenge is to parboil sausages before throwing them on a grill or into the frying pan. This method ensures that the insides cook more quickly and the casing won’t burn. The result is perfectly crisp, but tender, juicy sausage.

There are two general tips to follow, no matter your cooking method:

  1. Bring the sausages to room temperature. Take them out of the fridge about 20 minutes before you start cooking. This will help them cook evenly, and there’s less chance that the skins will break as they cook.
  2. Don’t pierce your sausages. While some might believe poking a few holes in the meat will keep it from breaking open, it isn’t necessary, and you risk losing a lot of tasty juices in the cooking process.

 

hand tied sausagesWhat are your favorite ways to eat sausage? Sweet or hot Italian links with peppers and onions is a favorite cookout addition to burgers and hot dogs.

Sausage goes great with pasta dishes as well. This recipe with sausage and orecchiette and greens manages to be both quick and light.

Visit us at Butcher Boy to see all the options and ask us for cooking suggestions. Don’t forget you can get just about everything else on your grocery list, from snacks and appetizers to desserts, too.

Get a copy of our Summer Favorites Shopping Guide here.

Easter & Passover Feasts: Timeless Traditions for Your Holiday Table

The arrival of Easter and Passover often signals the welcome of spring. Although the holidays sometimes fall close together on the calendar, the foods traditionally served at each celebration—especially the centerpiece meats—reflect their own distinct traditions. Read on to learn more about what meat dishes work for each of these holidays, including some selections that can work if you’re celebrating both traditions in your home.

For Easter, many households feature a moist and tender ham, usually with a sweet glaze. Our precooked hams are ready to glaze with our own in-house recipe, or make your own, including this intriguing cola glaze from All Recipes. Want to know how long to put your ham in the oven or what temperature to use? Our Ham Roasting Guide takes the guesswork out of perfectly heating your Easter Ham.

For a delicious alternative to ham, consider a succulent pork roast. This impressive pancetta-wrapped pork roast recipe comes courtesy of Giada de Laurentiis and boasts a five-star rating.

Beyond pork and ham, many Easter tables also feature other celebratory roasts that feel just right for a spring gathering. Lamb is a longtime favorite, whether prepared as a classic leg of lamb with herbs or a tender rack roasted to perfection. Beef roasts and prime rib are also popular centerpieces for families looking for something rich and impressive. For some more Easter dish ideas, check out our past blog on Easter Dinner Recipes. And don’t forget the bakery favorites that make the holiday complete—think braided breads, specialty cakes, and festive pastries that add a sweet finish to the celebration.

Passover Brisket Flat Cut Butcher Boy MarketFor your Passover Seder, it’s all about the beef brisket. Cooked low and slow, it’s tender and full of flavor. A flat cut will be your best choice for slicing. If you want enough for some leftovers, allowing about one pound pre-cooked weight per person is a good rule of thumb. Here’s a classic braised beef brisket recipe courtesy of Beef. It’s what’s for Dinner.

If you’re looking for a meat selection that works well for both Easter and Passover, lamb might just be perfect for you. Not only is lamb suitable for both meals, it carries special symbolism in both the Christian and Judaic faiths. Roasted rack of lamb Easter Passover Butcher Boy MarketWhether a roast rack of lamb, lamb shanks, a juicy lamb roast, or one of our other delicious lamb offerings, you might be surprised at how simple it is to create a show-stopping dish sure to impress your guests. Here’s a classic rack of lamb recipe from Simply Recipes that promises to be fool-proof. To learn more about popular Easter and Passover meat cuts, check out this previous blog.

Round out your meal with bright seasonal sides like roasted asparagus, spring potatoes, or fresh greens, decorative and disposable place settings, decorations and spring flowers, all available at Butcher Boy.

Still not sure? Come see us and talk with our expert butchers. They’re sure to have some great recommendations perfect for your Easter or Passover table.

Best Picks from Butcher Boy for a Great St. Patrick’s Day

By the time March arrives, we’re all ready for a little green, and there’s no better way to do that than to go all in on St. Patrick’s Day. Irish heritage or not, sometimes you just need a little color and fun to break up a cold, gray month—and we have everything you need to celebrate this uniquely Irish-American holiday.

our own corned beefLet’s start with corned beef. Whether the typical red corned beef with spices or the harder to find New England grey corned beef, Butcher Boy doesn’t disappoint with housemade and delicious corned beef offerings. Have you ever heard of corned ribs? For a delicious alternative, Butcher Boy corns ribs in-house. The result is ribs ready to pair with traditional (or less traditional) sides. Want an easy corned beef boiled dinner recipe? We have that, too. Or, you can pick up our boiled dinner mix of vegetables ready to throw in the pot or completely cooked ready-to-serve corned beef dinners at our store.

st. Patricks shepherds pie corned ribs corned beef boiled dinner irish stewIf corned beef isn’t your thing, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a hearty lamb or beef Irish Stew or Shepherd’s Pie made in our kitchen.

Looking for traditional Irish Soda Bread? We have it at Butcher Boy, with or without caraway seeds. If you prefer making your own, here’s a delicious authentic family recipe, along with its story.

St. Patrick’s day has become synonymous with beer, and what’s more Irish than Guinness, a brand from Dublin that dates back to the 18th century? Even those who are continuing the tradition of dry January can enjoy a pint of non-alcoholic Guinness. You owe it to yourself to check out Butcher Boy’s full selection of beer, including Murphy’s, Wexford, Smithwick’s, and other stouts and ales. There’s sure to be something that will be perfect for your St. Pat’s celebration.

Konditor Meister cake St. Patrick's Day cakeAfter a boiled dinner and refreshment, who doesn’t crave a sweet treat? We have delicious Bailey’s cakes from Konditor Meister and individual St. Patrick’s Day cakes.

Need more inspiration? Check out this video of some of our St. Patrick’s Day offerings, then come see us!

Customer Favorites: Most-Loved Meats and Meals This Season

Spring may be just around the corner, but you’d never know it by the winter we’ve been having. When temperatures are cold and snow threatens, there is nothing like a hearty, filling meal made with your favorite cuts of meat.

At Butcher Boy, we have generations of experience in preparing and purveying the finest in meats and prepared foods to our customers. Whether you want a perfectly prepared steak or one of our house-made specialties, a visit to our North Andover store will be sure to cure your appetite – and your winter blues.

Need some inspiration? Our 60-foot full-service meat counter is sure to have just the right thing. Here are some of our most-requested cuts of meat:

steaks, marinated meats, burgers, sausages, and ready-to-cook meals North AndoverHand-Cut Steaks: Our expert butchers carefully cut and trim the finest cuts of beef:

  • Porterhouse: Make a dinner to remember with our amazing Porterhouse steak that combines tender filet mignon with the succulent richness of a New York sirloin (or New York strip) steak.
  • Delmonico: Known for rich marbling and tenderness, a Delmonico is a thick and juicy steak cut.
  • Flank Steak: If you’re a fan of fajitas or marinated steak dishes, the leaner flank steak cut is a great choice.

Marinated Meats: You can’t go wrong with pre-marinated beef, chicken, lamb, or pork. Choose from Burgundy, Steak House, Teriyaki, or Sweet Bourbon Beef Tips. For a lighter dish, our Lemon Pepper chicken is a perennial favorite, or try one of our other marinated chicken selections such as Italian, Teriyaki, or Garlic Ginger. Love pork? You can’t beat our Chinese Style or Barbecue ribs, and our Honey Apple Pork Roast is perfect for those cold nights.

Burgers your way: Our 100% beef, in-house crafted burgers are ready to cook and garnish just the way you want them.

hand-tied sausages customer favoritesSausage: There’s nothing better than hearty sausage to warm you up. Serve them with onions and peppers and serve on rolls, or toss them with any combination of vegetables and pasta you have on hand. With over eight different varieties from hot to sweet to savory, our sausages make savory and delicious meals.

Need just a little more? After a long day, sometimes the last thing you want to do is figure out “what’s for dinner.” Let us do the work with our prepared meats and meals. Here are just a few customer favorites you might find in the store:

Stuffed Flank Steak: Picture this: a rolled flank steak bursting with spinach, mozzarella, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley and seasoning. Pop it in the oven and serve an elevated dish that looks like it took you hours to prepare.

Meat Loaf: An American classic, juicy and delicious. Pair it with our mashed potatoes for true comfort.

Chicken Pot Pie: Made fresh in our kitchen, our pot pies are oven-ready, filled with tender chicken and vegetables topped with a classic, flaky pie crust.

And, if you just need a “little something sweet” after a delicious meal, may we suggest something from our bakery or chocolate selections? Konditor Meister Apple Strudel is rich, flaky, and the perfect dessert for two. Or maybe some Raspberry Linzer or Lemon Ricotta cookies from one of our favorite vendors, Fisichelli’s Bakery, who bake in one of the oldest ovens in Lawrence.

Dinner is just a few hours away. What are you waiting for? Come and see us!

View our Ideal Beef Cuts for Braising & Roasting here. 

Deliciously Dry: Perfect Pairings for Alcohol-Free Occasions

After the indulgence-filled holidays, the first few months of the year are the perfect time for a fresh start. Enter “Dry January,” a popular newer tradition designed to help us establish better health in the new year by abstaining from alcohol for short periods of time. “Dry” or “Damp” periods of time for those who would like to reduce their alcohol consumption, bring some real health benefits. These can include lower blood pressure and resting heart rate, better sleep, and improved hydration.

But giving up alcohol for a month or longer doesn’t have to mean giving up what you love about enjoying delicious food and beverage pairings with family and friends. Years ago, going “dry” meant settling for fizzy water or generic alternatives. In today’s more health-conscious climate, there is a wide selection of non-alcoholic beers, wines, and spirits to choose from with more being created every day. Here are some of our favorite go-to deliciously dry pairings:

Speaking of non-alcoholic beers, the tasteless single compromise is a thing of the past. Today, we have a wide selection of flavorful N/A beers including traditional and craft selections, perfect for pairing with casual gatherings and football.

non-alcholic dry january food pairingWhile many non-alcoholic recipes have historically relied on fruit juices and sparkling water, the evolution of non-alcoholic distilled spirits has really raised the mocktail game. Relying on botanical ingredients such as citrus and herbs, these beverages are great substitutes for alcoholic spirits such as whiskey and tequila while bringing their own depth of flavor and unique notes to drinks. We invite you to explore our large collection of non-alcoholic spirits to substitute in your favorite cocktail recipes or to use as inspiration for your own house mocktail creations.

Going dry isn’t what it used to be. Whether it’s a simple sparkling water, non-alcoholic beer, or a tasty mocktail made with dry spirits, we’ve got you covered.

Butcher Boy’s Picks: Cuts We Love in the Winter

Is there anything better in the winter than the aroma of a delicious roast or savory osso buco in the oven? With the right cuts of meat and a good recipe to follow, restaurant-quality meals are yours with just a little preparation and some patience.

butcher boy market Best winter cuts of meatIf you’ve ever visited our store in North Andover, you know we have a wide selection of meats, including beef, chicken, lamb, and pork. Winter, with its cold temperatures and cozy vibe, calls for comfort food, dishes that could have been passed down from your grandparents.

Let’s start with the classic pot roast. Boneless chuck is the traditional choice for this dish, but other cuts of meat, including brisket, are delicious alternatives. For a complete guide on how to cook a roast in the oven, including temps, times and valuable tips, check out our guide here.

butcher boy market Best winter cuts of meat osso buco recipeOne of our favorite cuts of meat is the often-underrated veal shank, a bone-in cut that is the foundation for a classic osso buco, a surprisingly simple dish that delivers amazing flavor. Substitute beef, lamb, or pork shanks (just make sure they are shank cuts from the leg) for equally delicious results. For another variation, brown your meat and veggies in pancetta rather than olive oil for an added dimension. Always make extra – osso buco, like many slow cooked dishes, is even better the next day.

Speaking of lamb shanks, there is nothing like the tender goodness of braised lamb shanks, perfectly paired with green beans or grilled vegetables from our kitchen.

butcher boy market Best winter cuts of meat classic beef stew recipe beef cubesHow about a classic beef stew featuring our cubed beef? Pair it with a crusty bread selection from our bakery to sop up all that gravy goodness.

If you don’t have the time for a slow-cooked meal, we’ve got some delicious marinated and ready-to-cook options perfect for those cold winter nights including our always-popular honey apple pork roast and pork pinwheels stuffed with fresh spinach, mozzarella, and breadcrumbs. Your family or guests will never know you didn’t spend hours preparing them!

Want more inspiration for perfect winter cuts and recipes? Come in to browse our selections and for some expert advice from our butchers and staff. You’ll always get a warm welcome at Butcher Boy.

Winter’s Best Comfort Foods

Winter has settled over us, and with more time spent at home, there’s more time for cooking and finding comfort in our favorite foods. These are the kinds of meals that bring us emotional comfort — reminding us of fond memories, occasions, people or places in our lives. What are your go-to meals for chilly evenings and weekends when the only thing on your schedule is to stay cozy at home?

There are classics, such as pot roast, meatloaf, stews, pastas, and casseroles from family recipes. Others have a modern twist, some are simple enough to prepare on a weeknight, and still others are even better as leftovers. Here are a few ideas that will fill your home with delicious aromas and meet all your comfort food needs.

Sometimes there’s nothing better for Sunday dinner than a traditional roast, accompanied by a variety of vegetables. The same goes for beef stew. These are the meals that simmer for hours and make your mouth water while you wait… and it’s worth it. Meatloaf is another meal often associated with reminiscing about childhood or making us feel better when we need a boost. No matter which beef entree is on your menu, Butcher Boy can provide the freshest cuts of meat, including ground beef prepared right in our store so you always know you’re getting the best quality.

bone in center cut pork roast

If pork is more to your liking, how about a bone-in roast? It looks more elaborate than it is to prepare, so you can impress the family with an amazing meal. For something different, how about Butcher Boy pork pinwheels stuffed with spinach, mozzarella and breadcrumbs? It’s a fancy-looking meal that is prepped for you – but no need to tell the family that little secret!

stuffed pork pinwheels

No matter the time of year, sometimes there’s nothing like lasagna or baked ziti to bring a family together. Many of the conventional recipes we love can be tweaked for something more sophisticated, like this recipe for baked rigatoni with lamb ragu. The most basic spaghetti and meatballs can hit the spot, too. For the side, we think you’ll love a fresh focaccia bread from local favorite Iggy’s Breads – available at Butcher Boy Market. Just slice and serve.

After a cold winter’s day in the snow and ice, either sledding, skiing or skating, what’s better than a hot homemade chicken noodle soup or chili to warm you up? Talk about comfort! Make a big batch to feed your family for days or freeze some for later. Don’t forget to shop for all your ingredients at our market — from fresh veggies to poultry and your meats of choice.

When time is tight after working all day or you just don’t have the energy to prepare a large meal, simple is best during the week. For a change of pace, try sizzling beef steak fajitas. But on the nights when cooking is more of a chore, Butcher Boy has you covered, with prepared foods like rotisserie chickens and side dishes to go with anything on your dinner table.

It’ll be weeks before we can think about grilling without winter coats and wind chill, so we hope you can find some seasonal inspiration in some of these ideas. For more ideas and inspiration, check out the recipes and guides on our website!

The Evolution of Dinner

Since our doors opened in 1955, there has been a dramatic transformation in the ways families prepare and serve meals, especially the iconic American dinner. From the classic meat and potatoes meals of the 1950s to today’s globally-inspired dishes, rich with flavors and spices sourced from around the world, we’ve come a long way. In some ways, though, meal preparation is going back to its roots as we rediscover the art of cooking with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.

Opening Day 1955 Butcher Boy Market Evolution of Dinner

In the 1950s, homemakers shopped more frequently and often spent all day preparing the evening meal, typically served at the same time each day with families seated around the dining room table. Today, by contrast, it is estimated that as few as 25% of homes have a separate, dedicated dining room. With today’s more active lifestyles and activities, we are more likely to casually eat at the kitchen counter or in a smaller eating area.

70 years ago, “hanging beef” or full sides would be delivered to butcher stores on specialized rails. Households would often invest in very large cuts of meat and freeze them in large chest freezers to feed their families for months.

The smaller refrigerators of that day often limited the amount of meat that could be prepared and served at one time. Also, because of these smaller refrigerators, typically about half the size of today’s models, the larger families of that time needed to shop for groceries at least several times a week.

Today, advancements in meat processing technology allow for packaging and shipping meat in smaller quantities, giving us more options to choose the specific cuts of meat we want. And, given that a side of beef can weigh 300 pounds or more, we think you’ll agree those smaller selections are much more convenient. The 1950s homemaker would certainly be impressed with the selection of cuts we offer today.

Speaking of selection, a typical 1950s dinner likely featured what we now describe as “comfort” foods. Examples are meatloaf, casseroles, baked ham, pot roast and creamed vegetables. Dessert might have been a layered gelatin creation or a fruit-topped angel food cake. Pineapple was often introduced as the lone exotic element in ham entrees or the classic pineapple upside down cake.

Today, families are smaller, and with advancements in transportation and delivery coupled with the expansion of world travel and knowledge, our palates have broadened as well. We now have access to once unattainable ingredients and recipes. Today’s cook is just as likely to serve an Asian or Mediterranean dish as they might an all-American meat loaf. And, while meal preparation was once confined to the stove top and oven, today’s cooks can choose from a variety of preparation tools including slow cookers, pressure cookers, air fryers, and smokers.

Butcher Boy has evolved with today’s customers while staying true to our roots of providing the freshest and highest quality meats and foods. Today we meet busy families half way with freshly prepared products like stuffed chicken breasts, marinated meats, and delicious entrees including garlic pepper pork roast and stuffed pork chops. We’ve added delicious prepared appetizers, side dishes, desserts, bakery goods, and so much more.

We’ve come a long way from the time of all-day dinner preparation. Whether you want just the right ingredients to cook a special weekend meal or the convenience of picking up a quick prepared dinner to bring home on a busy weekday, we’ve got you covered.