Grokfeast in Cape Coral, Florida
On September 8th I asked my readers to host picnics and to send me the results. The following is one of 27 amazing submissions, the best of which will win an entire cow, courtesy of US Wellness. Vote for your favorite on October 8.
When I saw this contest description, I knew that I had to get my kids involved. By ‘my kids’ I mean my 4th grade class. From the beginning of the school year, they’ve listened to me talk about just eating fruits, vegetables and meat and this contest was my chance to demonstrate a good time, Old-School err…. Primal-School. The parents think I’m a bit nuts, but they’ve seemed to embrace, or at least can’t deny, the nutritional value of eating more fruits and vegetables (I always mention organic of course). Several have thanked me for my influence on their kids eating habits already. As such, 9 families embraced the spirit of the event and joined the fun, each bringing primal-styled foods.
We started off by hunting for twigs and sticks to get the fire going, picking up pokin’ sticks and spears along the way, of course! The natural lump charcoal fire had to be contained in the State Park’s grill, but a stone slab provided the primal cooking surface. As the adults worked on the fire using some rendered chicken fat I’d brought for the accelerant, the kids began their hunt for shells (see photos for shell-usage). Once the fire under the slab was blazing, we started cooking the skewers and the shrimp, which are great for temperature gauging. I brought an all natural, grass-fed bison hot dog for one little girl that only eats hot dogs – she ate it with glee! After these foods were cooked and consumed, I brought out the TEST: seasoned, ground cow heart. All but two of the kids tried it and of those, all but two had extra helpings! One brother-sister team had to be stopped by their parents from eating it all!
During the meal I explained various aspects of Primal eating to the parents and told them of my efforts and success. I’m happy to say that I’ve lost 30 pounds in 6 months without hardcore exercise and have recently begun going to a Crossfit gym. After eating our main meal, it was time to play. We went to the beach to have bear crawl and crab crawl races – the winners receiving precious drops of Organic Agave Nectar on their fingers, which I explained, would have been the Prize of Prizes for a Paleolithic Champion (then, of course, they all got a taste). All in all, it was a great day at the park. The kids had a good time and I think they will remember it for a long time – which is, of course, my goal as a teacher – learning while having fun!
The Feast
Raw foods enjoyed:
- Tropical fruit salads (2)
- Grapes
- Carrots
- Celery
- Lettuce (for wraps)
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Mango
Cooked foods:
- Venezuelan tuna antipasta (no pasta, of course)
- Cuban scallop ceviche
- Veg & beef skewers
- Juice marinaded vegetables
- Shrimp with salt and lime
- Cow heart
Recipe: Seasoned Cow Heart
- 2 lbs. cow heart. The key is the double grind. The butcher can do it easily. It’s a really tough muscle.
- 2 tsp of Kosher salt
- 2 tsp fresh ground cumin
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp of fresh nutmeg
- 1 lime
Mix well and set overnight. Why overnight? So that it’s already prepared in the morning! There may be some flavor absorption during that period, but I can’t verify that. For the sake of the kids’ palates, I kept the seasoning light. Personally, I would have added some heat.
Pre-heat a scrubbed clean, hardware store bought, stone slab to 500+ deg. How will you know it’s hot enough to cook on? Toss a shrimp on it. When it starts to change color, add another to see how fast it starts to cook. Once the shrimp start cooking quickly, you know it’s ready. Add a lump (~tbsp) of coconut oil, spread around and then add the meat. I chose to break it up into smaller chunks rather than burgers so that the kids would have small options available. Cook until desired doneness is achieved. Squeeze fresh lime over the meat.
For those that have never had beef heart, it is one of the beefiest beef flavors you’ll ever have. Adding just a little to a soup or meatloaf or burger or whatever – it adds a great amount of flavor!
The Tribe
- Matt Halstead (MDA member, organizer, bald)
- Brady family (4)
- Bowman family (3)
- Riepe family (4)
- Llanes family (2)
- Baptista family (3)
- Ogden family (2)
- Durepos family (3)
- Mars family (2)
- Talavera family (2)
Total: 26
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
Awesome! Glad there is a teacher out there spreading the Primal word…gives me some hope for the future.
“teach, your children well…”
Awesome concept!! Oh, & yummy looking heart recipe, btw…
I can’t say enough good things about the heart meat. I’ve served it numerous times over the past couple of years. Everyone loves it – until they find out what it is… Give it a try!
Why weren’t my teachers this cool?
I’m jealous…that beach looks like too much fun!
That looks fabulous! Grok on!
You’re not just a teacher, you’re the tribe wise-man teaching the children the things that will help them (and the tribe)to THRIVE! Keep up the good work. More tribes could use wise-men like you.
The recipes for Venezuelan Tuna and Cuban Ceviche would be aweosme!
*Nice tip on the double grind. I wonder if I could find a butcher to do that for me with a pastured one…?
~ extended pulses in a food processor might do the trick as well.
You used your class?! I must say, as a fellow teacher, that that’s awesome!!
I love this, I wish one of my kids teacher took the effort to bunk the system. Good for you guys.
This is terrific! Your students will carry the memories with them forever (still remember my first taste of papaya from our 5th grade Luau), plus you planted the seed of good health in 9 different families.
That is fantastic. I hope my kids’ teachers are so cool. Fantastic idea cooking on a stone slab – where to source one?
Home Depot. I went looking for natural stone. Now it’s got a really nice seasoned look to it. It’s living in my oven now. You might give it a try!
Hot rock = primal stove?
Congratulations on your health improvements, and your efforts to make sure the next generation is well prepared!
Now go after the school lunch program.
Thanks for all of the kudos!
Hopefully, I’ll be able to get the styro trays replaced with bio trays by next year.
Hello, my name is Elaine and I have been eating primal for about a year, as well as, doing CrossFit. I live in Riverdale, not far from the Cape. I would love to join your tribe.
those are some lucky 4th graders
Cow heart is amazing. Love that you included it!
I am getting my cow in a couple weeks (organs included) and was looking for something to do with the heart.
Oh my, a feast on the beach sounds too good. Especially with beef hearts! Yum
Oh wow… what a great idea, using Grokfeast as a chance to demonstrate to non-Primals what Primal eating is. The kids must have had a blast! Good job spreading the fire. Who knows who will pick up the torch.
Get ‘em while they’re young! The produce looks absolutely amazing. I love the idea of cooking on a big stone slab, makes every meal more primal.
Bet the kids had a ton of fun crawling around!
that’s awesome some of the parents were open minded enough to allow their kids to have fun
Nice! Cape Coral is my hometown.
Awesome recipe for cow heart! Have to try that.
what a great lesson plan!
How refreshing to hear of a teacher encouraging healthy eating! My son gets frustrated because his football coaches say “no pop, no pop, no pop”, and then after games and at all cookouts, the league only provides pop to drink. Sounds like an awesome field trip and a great way to teach people.
That’s great. I’m going to have to try the beef heart recipe.
I couldn’t be more proud of this guy. Aside from the amazing experience described here, his forward-thinking teaching methods never cease to amaze me.
This is a great, engaging assignment! Keep up the good work!
This is my favorite post so far, how else would Groks tribe have passed on knowledge, teach the young ones!
What a great idea for a primal picnic. Your students are very lucky to have you for a teacher.
Now, if I can just make myself try beef heart….recipe looks good…..maybe….