IN THE KITCHEN WITH HELEN HUNDERTMARK
Tell us about yourself:
My name is Helen and I am 21 years old, originally from Germany. I moved to Texas when I was 6 and have stayed very close to my German roots. I call my Oma daily and still enjoy lots of German recipes. I am passionate about making healthy cooking, food awareness and eating as a family more accessible through my blog. It’s critical to honor our bodies and planet by choosing nourishing and well sourced foods.
How did you get involved in cooking?
Cooking has always been an integral part of my family’s culture. My earliest memories are of my mom or Oma in the kitchen and weekly trips to the local farm stand in our German village. I have always loved to eat and am blessed that my mom taught me to cook from an early age.
It wasn’t until I got very sick at age 17 that I started to cook regularly myself. I quickly learned what my body needs to get strong again and began to experiment until I created recipes that nourished me and tasted good.
Describe your cooking style:
Nutrient density is my number one goal when making any meal. I always make sure to include lots of well sourced meat or seafood, and plenty or healthy fats like butter, ghee, lard or tallow.
I currently follow a high fat carnivore diet but once I am healed I hope to transition back to carnivore-ish!
The secret to a yummy meaty meal is always the right amount or my favorite flaked sea salt, a crispy outside and a succulent juicy center! When in doubt, sear and throw on the smoker!
How did you learn about grass-fed meats?
I first learned about the importance of grass fed meats when I started to focus more on my health in 2018. We were always mindful to purchase organic meats but were not aware about the striking differences in the production of conventional meats versus grass fed meats. I am happy to say that my family has transitioned to 100% grass fed and species appropriate animal husbandry.
What is your favorite recipe featuring grass-fed meat?
My favorite cut is probably a grass fed ground beef or bison, it’s so versatile, juicy and flavorful and nourishes me to a different level.
When I’m short on time, I throw it in the pan as a patty with lots of flaked sea salt, crack some eggs into the pan and enjoy it all with plenty of butter.
I love to throw on some sugar free beef bacon if I have time!
When I still ate plants, I would garnish with some avocado and herbs!
You’re stranded on a desert island; luckily, you’re stranded with your top 5 ingredients and one must-have kitchen tool:
Eggs, flaked sea salt, butter, a bone in ribeye, and beef bacon (aka my favorite foods)! The must have kitchen tool would be a stainless steel pan.
Best cooking secret/tip/piece of advice you’ve learned:
My mom taught me to always clean and season as you go. A clean kitchen is a lot easier to navigate and seasoning food as it’s cooking helps create a solid flavor profile.
What’s your favorite quote/song for culinary inspiration (if any)?
My Oma Marlies is my inspiration, since I was little she has preached the importance of home cooking, hospitality and using everything you’ve got. When you came to Oma’s house you’d never go hungry. She also understood the importance of cooking with high quality animal fats like ghee and lard rather than industrial seed oils.
Anything else you want to share?
Don’t be intimidated if you don’t already regularly cook. When you use high quality ingredients you don’t need a fancy recipe, it will taste good with very simple preparation and minimal seasoning like sea salt. Follow your intuition and you’ll be surprised ????
Your social media links:
Instagram – @cureated
My Blog – Cureeated.com
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