Savor the Flavor: Applewood Smoked Organic Free-Range Chicken & 5 Savvy Strategies for Affordable Organic Eating
This comprehensive guide to Applewood Smoked Organic, Free-Range Chicken not only walks you through crafting this incredibly flavorful and smoky dish but also shares my proven strategies for making organic eating accessible and affordable for your family.
Imagine biting into chicken that’s unbelievably tender, intensely smoky, and bursting with natural juices. Now imagine that deliciousness comes from a bird that led a healthy life – one free from artificial hormones, unnecessary antibiotics, and pesticide-laden feed. This is the essence of what our food should be, and frankly, how we should nourish ourselves. It’s about choosing quality, not just for the taste, but for our well-being and the ethical treatment of animals.
For too long, the idea of “eating clean” felt like a distant luxury. But a few years ago, I decided to make a significant shift in our household’s diet. I committed to eliminating all forms of “junk” – and by that, I mean anything artificial, loaded with pesticides, or simply unnatural. This includes a surprising number of items marketed as “all-natural,” which, upon closer inspection, often contain questionable ingredients. My journey began with simple changes, like creating my own Homemade Sports Drink, and the results have been transformative. The feeling of not consuming artificial additives is a subtle yet profound sense of overall wellness that truly makes a difference.
Like many, I used to dismiss the constant advice about “visiting your local farm” or “community shared agriculture.” My initial reaction was often an eye-roll, thinking it was just another fad. I envisioned myself sipping artisanal kefir while smearing yogurt on my face – not exactly my style. These ideas felt out of reach, too “crunchy” or simply inconvenient for my busy life.
However, a pivotal moment arrived when I watched the documentary Food, Inc. This film ignited a spark of curiosity, which quickly turned into fierce determination as I delved deeper into research. What I uncovered about the industrial food system and the conditions of “factory farms” left me outraged. I knew animal welfare wasn’t perfect, but I had no comprehension of the truly horrific lives these animals endure. The stress, confinement, and unnatural diets are not only cruel but also impact the quality of the food we consume. The thought of eating meat from animals raised in such conditions, or consuming the heavily subsidized corn and soy designed for cheap, unhealthy feed, became utterly unpalatable.
Yet, the reality remained: making the switch to organic and sustainably sourced food seemed financially daunting. My family’s budget wasn’t limitless, and I needed a practical approach to embrace this healthier lifestyle without breaking the bank. This challenge led me to develop a set of strategies that have made organic eating not just possible, but genuinely affordable.
And so, my journey brought me back to those seemingly quaint suggestions, particularly the concept of… the local farm.
5 Savvy Strategies for Making Organic Eating Affordable
1. Balance the Expensive with the Less Expensive: Embrace Plant-Based Meals
This strategy is perhaps the most impactful and easiest to implement. Meat, especially organic and free-range varieties, is often the most expensive component of a grocery bill. Instead of eating meat every day, consider it a special treat a few times a week. For instance, the delicious organic free-range chicken I smoked on a Sunday provided enough tender meat for our dinner and lunches for half the week. Similarly, a pound of high-quality wild boar sausage stretched into a satisfying Saturday dinner and a hearty Sunday brunch. That’s two dinners, three lunches, and a brunch with meat for the entire week! For the remaining meals, pivot to vegetarian options, which are often far more economical and incredibly nutritious.
Think beans, lentils, chickpeas, and hearty grains like quinoa or brown rice. These staples are not only budget-friendly but also packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. A can of tuna or a few eggs (especially from happy, local hens!) can also supplement protein needs without the higher cost of organic red meat or poultry. By consciously reducing your meat consumption and diversifying your protein sources, you can significantly lower your grocery expenses while still enjoying high-quality organic meat when you choose to.
2. Do Not Buy Organic Everything: Prioritize Smartly
Navigating the organic aisle can be overwhelming, and buying everything organic is often unnecessary and costly. The key is to educate yourself and prioritize where your organic dollars will make the biggest difference. Focus on items that are most susceptible to pesticide residue. This is often referred to as the “Dirty Dozen” (foods with the highest pesticide levels) and the “Clean Fifteen” (foods with the lowest).
For example, many fruits and vegetables with thick peels that are discarded – like citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), avocados, onions, and bananas – generally don’t retain pesticides in the edible portion as much. Opting for conventional varieties of these items is usually fine. The same logic applies to dried spices; while organic spices exist, the pesticide exposure is typically minimal, making conventional options perfectly acceptable for most budgets.
However, for produce where you eat the skin or the entire item, such as apples, peaches, nectarines, grapes, potatoes, leafy greens (spinach, kale), and berries, investing in organic is highly recommended. The skin or surface of these items is where pesticide residues tend to concentrate. Furthermore, prioritizing organic for meat and dairy products is crucial. Animals raised conventionally are often fed pesticide-treated grains and given antibiotics and hormones, which can accumulate in their meat and milk. By making informed choices about which items to buy organic, you can maximize your health benefits without overspending. Just recently, when I needed new olive oil, I chose a high-quality, 100% extra virgin oil from a local shop, but didn’t prioritize organic because olive trees typically require fewer pesticides.
3. Go Directly to the Source: Embrace Local Farms and Farmers’ Markets
One of the most surprising discoveries on my organic journey was how competitive the prices for organic produce can be when purchased directly from local farms or farmers’ markets. In my experience, the produce from our local farm was comparable in cost, and sometimes even cheaper, than conventional produce at the supermarket. This is because buying directly cuts out several layers of distribution, transportation, and retail markup. When you buy from a local farm, you’re not paying for a massive supply chain; you’re often getting produce harvested just hours earlier, offering unparalleled freshness and flavor.
Beyond the cost savings, there are numerous benefits to supporting local farms. You gain transparency about how your food is grown, build relationships with the people who grow it, and contribute to your local economy. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are another fantastic way to get a seasonal bounty of organic produce at a predictable, often lower, cost. While I’m a food blogger whose grocery bill can already be substantial, I’ve learned that by strategically sourcing from local farms, I can provide my family with significantly better, healthier food without increasing our overall spending.
4. Grow It Yourself When You Can: The Joy of Home Gardening
There’s an undeniable satisfaction and significant cost saving in growing your own food. Starting small is key: even a pot on a windowsill can host a thriving herb garden. Fresh herbs, which can be surprisingly expensive at the grocery store, are incredibly easy to grow and can elevate any dish. If you have any outdoor space, no matter how modest, consider starting a small vegetable garden. It doesn’t need to be extravagant or yield massive quantities; even a few homegrown tomatoes, peppers, or leafy greens can augment your diet with unparalleled freshness and flavor.
Beyond the financial and culinary benefits, gardening offers a wonderful sense of peace and accomplishment. It’s a therapeutic activity that connects you with nature and the origins of your food. Seriously, the “garden zen” is real – it’s cheaper than therapy! Inspired by this ethos, we’re not only expanding our garden with new raised beds but are also seriously considering raising our own chickens for fresh, organic eggs. Knowing exactly where your food comes from, especially when it’s from your own backyard, is an empowering and truly awesome feeling.
5. Make It Yourself When You Can: Ditch Processed Convenience
While I’m not advocating for making every single item from scratch (some things, like homemade cheese, can be incredibly time-consuming, as I quickly learned!), there are many everyday items that are surprisingly easy to make and offer huge benefits. Processed foods, condiments, and snack items are often loaded with hidden sugars, unhealthy fats, artificial ingredients, preservatives, and questionable fillers like high-fructose corn syrup or various soy derivatives.
These “in-between” items – the dips, dressings, and snacks – are where a lot of the dietary damage is often done, undoing the good choices we make with main meals. Instead, consider making your own hummus, a fresh yogurt dip, or even your own barbecue sauce and salad dressings. These recipes are typically straightforward, take minimal time, and allow you complete control over the ingredients. You eliminate all the undesirable additives, ensuring your food is cleaner, healthier, and often tastier. For snacks, simple vegetables with a homemade dip or organic seed crackers are far superior to highly processed alternatives. The only exception I make is for mustard – some things are just perfect as they are!
Introducing Our Featured Bird: The Applewood Smoked Organic Chicken
Now, let’s talk about this incredible chicken. This particular bird was a revelation. From the moment I unpacked it, I noticed a distinct difference from conventional supermarket chickens. It was built more naturally, with proportionally smaller breasts and wonderfully substantial thighs and drumsticks. This is a common characteristic of truly free-range, organic birds, contrasting sharply with the unnaturally large-breasted chickens bred by major corporations – birds so top-heavy they often struggle to walk. While I won’t name specific companies (lest I face legal action like Oprah!), anyone who’s seen a factory-farmed chicken knows the difference. For someone like me who prefers dark meat, this was absolutely perfect.
And the juiciness! Oh, the juiciness of this smoked chicken was beyond anything I could have imagined. While the “beer in the rear” method certainly contributed to its moisture, the inherent quality of the organic, free-range bird truly shone through. It was the most tender, succulent chicken I have ever had the pleasure of cooking and eating.
So, I urge you, embark on your own journey of conscious eating. Take the time to read, research, and truly understand where your food comes from. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight, but making a few informed changes and smart choices can dramatically improve your health and well-being. And when you do, treat yourself to a glorious, smoking-hot, bad-ass bird like this one. It’s a delicious step towards a healthier, more ethical, and surprisingly affordable lifestyle.
For the ultimate in Big Green Egg or smoker cooking, don’t miss my Smoked Over-The-Top Chili recipe.
Applewood Smoked Organic, Free-Range Chicken
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Ingredients
- 1 organic free-range chicken, approximately 3-4 lbs
- ½ Tbs extra virgin olive oil
- ½ Tbs Old Bay seasoning
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh herbs
- kosher salt, to taste
- fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 can of beer (standard 12 oz)
- applewood chips, for smoking
Instructions
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Prepare your smoker: follow the manufacturer’s instructions to heat your smoker to the recommended temperature (typically around 225-275°F or 107-135°C) and add your applewood chips to generate a consistent smoke.
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Rinse the organic, free-range chicken thoroughly under cold water, both inside and out. Pat it completely dry with paper towels to ensure a crispy skin. In a small bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, Old Bay seasoning, and chopped fresh herbs to form a smooth paste. Generously spread this aromatic paste evenly over the entire surface of the chicken. Season the inside cavity and the exterior of the bird liberally with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.
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Prepare the beer can: carefully open one can of beer and pour out (or enjoy!) approximately 1/4 of its contents. This creates space and prevents overflow during cooking. Gently place the chicken upright onto the beer can, ensuring the can is securely seated in the cavity. Adjust the chicken’s legs to create a stable tripod, helping the bird stand firmly. Insert a reliable temperature probe into the thickest part of the breast, making sure it does not touch any bone, to accurately monitor the internal temperature.
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Carefully transfer the beer-can chicken to your preheated smoker. Smoke for approximately 2 hours, or until the internal temperature registered by your probe reaches 160°F (71°C). Once it reaches this temperature, remove the chicken from the smoker and let it rest, tented with foil, for at least 10 minutes. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in an even more tender and flavorful bird. Finally, carve the chicken and serve immediately, enjoying the rich applewood smoke flavor and succulent meat.
Notes