Sarah Cummins Turns Heartbreak Into Hope A SERVING OF LOVE
resident of Wheeler Mission in Indiana. “It’s a great opportunity to spread love … This is just a very nice thing to do.”
If you’ve ever purchased a cut of beef or strolled past the meat counter at your local grocery store, you’ve probably noticed the different grades of beef. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has guidelines for the meat sold in stores across the country. Before the meat is sold, it receives a grade. As a shopper, it can be difficult to understand what these grades really mean. Here’s how the grades break down: USDA Prime: If you want a high-quality cut of beef, you should get USDA Prime. These cuts of meat tend to be more expensive, but for the price you get a tender, flavorful and well-marbled cut of meat. For a fantastic steak, you should reach for Prime. USDA Choice: A lot of people purchase USDA Choice when they want a good cut of beef but don’t want or cannot afford to pay the USDA Prime price. These cuts generally have less marbling, but they are still fairly high quality. When you just want to throw a few steaks or burgers on the grill, Choice will serve you well. On Saturday, July 15, 2017, the sky was clear, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day for a wedding. Unfortunately, less than a week before her big day, Sarah Cummins and her fiancé called it quits and Sarah was left with a broken heart and a nonrefundable reception. Instead of letting the dinner go to waste, Sarah invited over 100 people, including many veterans, from homeless shelters in Indiana to come enjoy the meal. When word of her generosity got out, other people stepped up to make the day special. After two years of planning, Sarah’s reception was meant to be an elegant affair, so many people donated formal and semi-formal clothes for guests to wear. After getting all dressed up, guests were treated to fine hors d’oeuvres, catered dinner, drinks and of course cake. Many of the guests had never enjoyed such a fine meal and they were grateful for Sarah’s kindness during such a difficult time. “It’s just a really great opportunity for us. That was going to be a huge tragedy in her life,” said Erik Jensen, a
After turning a painful experience into a day of love, Sarah was inspired to continue the good work in her community. During the would-be reception, Sarah met staff and residents of Dayspring Center, a shelter for homeless families in Indianapolis. Despite attending Purdue University and working two part-time jobs, Sarah began volunteering at Dayspring Center, finding a new sense of purpose by helping out in the kitchen. “I am also thankful for the Dayspring Center and all the people there who have taught me how fulfilling it is to give freely to others,” says Sarah, recovering from her rocky year. “I am so fortunate to have so many inspiring and strong people in my life.”
UNDERSTANDING USDA BEEF GUIDELINES BEEF GRADES DECODED
USDA Select: This grade of meat is decent quality, but it doesn’t have the level of marbling found in Prime and Choice cuts. Because of this, Select cuts are usually less tender and flavorful. These aren’t great options for steak, but if you’re making a stew, you can’t go wrong with Select. Standard and Commercial: These cuts of beef don’t always make it to the supermarket, but when they do, they’re often priced lower. They also have limited marbling, which can mean a tougher texture with less flavor. Keep in mind that these cuts are not often labeled anywhere on the packaging, so if you see beef packaging that lacks a grade, it may be a lower-grade cut. Utility, Cutter and Canner: Many people never encounter these grades at the supermarket. These are cut from very lean, older cattle and are usually sold directly to food manufacturers to make processed meat products, such as hot dogs. These grades are also used in dog food.
2 www.OctoberKitchen.com
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