Is there such a thing? Well, no. But there are some meat choices that are better than others. 

My research is showing  less fat = less cholesterol. Plus, there are some meats that are more responsibly grown than others.  Recently, I saw an ad saying buffalo meat is cholesterol-free which prompted this blog. I thought perhaps I was wrong, but my research says I'm not. So, if you're looking for cholesterol-free buffalo ... it doesn't exist.

In the 'numbers world' buffalo or bison is not a whole lot better cholesterol-wise, but it is better in other ways. Before I get to that, here's another thought: is there a difference between bison and buffalo? It turns out there is, but overall the numbers seem to be very similar. What's the difference?

To continue, buffalo is ...

1. taster than beef and richer in flavor
2. healthier than regular cow beef
3. It is lower in saturated fat than regular cow beef

Bison is one of the leanest meats and still has a lot of protein. But, it is the amount of protein you get in bison meat, without the saturated fat that makes this a great alternative to regular beef.

As one who chooses to eat most plant-based foods, we do eat sustainably caught wild salmon, tuna, and sardines. I think it might be time to add some buffalo once in a while.

Burgers, anyone?

Me! I do! I do! I cannot tell a lie! While my hands are, by far, my best tool, there are some tricks of the trade that warrant a gadget. I enjoy a well-stocked kitchen!  In today's world of convenience foods, it's so easy to fall into opening a package, but I still prefer to do it the old-fashioned way ... manual labor. It relaxes me and I enjoy it. If you do, too,  I have linked some of my favorites to Amazon for a picture; some items can be found at dollar stores, WalMart, etc. Here are some of my favorites:

• Strawberry Huller / To simply take a knife and cut off the top can be very wasteful! Plus, to buy them already cut up is expensive! I enjoy cutting, chopping, and slicing fresh fruit and vegetables. If you don't, well, do what you have to do!
• Kale and Herb Stripper / I prefer to purchase fresh whole kale, but I do not like the stems - they're bitter and too chewy for me. I also grow rosemary and when I strip it from the stem, my hands smell like rosemary for a very long time! Rosemary is somewhat oily so when I discovered this stripper both kale and rosemary are a breeze to handle!
• Cheese Grater / picture yourself at Olive Garden when the waiter/waitress offers to grate some fresh cheese on their famous salad. I wanted to do that at home and now I do! It's so much easier than using a standalone grater and better for your knuckles, too!
• Zester /  I'd be lost without my zester! Recipes often call for lemon or lime zest so having one was a given. It's also handy for ginger, garlic, coconut, etc.
• Biscuit Cutters / Aside from the obvious - making biscuits - this little treasures are great to make bullseyes (see picture in slideshow below), little sandwiches for little fingers or old ladies, etc.
• Baby Ninja Blender // OK, I'll admit it ... this is my goto blender. It's small, which makes it quick and easy to use and clean up! It's great for salad dressings, hummus, chopping carrots and onions, etc.
• Spice / Coffee Grinder // This is another tool I use often. I love to grow herbs as organically as possible, in our backyard. Basil, rosemary, lavender, and if you're into grinding your own coffee beans, this would be perfect!
• Citrus Juicers // I have three (3) different ones and use them all depending on what I want the results to be and how much time I have. All three are useful for different reasons and yet, can be interchanged, as needed. Handheld Juicer / Reamer / The Old-Fashioned Way
• Mason Jars // With all the hype about plastics leaking into our foods, I made the switch to Mason jars years ago. Replacing the lids and seals as needed, I still feel the best about food storage in glass. From the very small to the very large, there is a Mason jar for the job!
• Variety of Funnels // From my tiny funnels for essential oil recipes to my wide-mouthed version ... I love my funnels! Regular Funnels / Wide-mouth.
• ​Bamboo Mortar and Pestle // When getting the herb grinder out seems like more trouble than it's worth, this is the way to go. It's quick and easy.

The benefit for us is that I can share the list with my husband. Then, he can add to the shopping list or menus, too. I can't tell you how often I have left my shopping list on the kitchen counter forcing me to go aisle to aisle hoping to not forget anything. Is that successful? What do you think? :(

​Once I arrive at the store, I just pull up the Google Keep app (and, yes, I have bookmarked it to the homepage on my cell phone) and I can check off those items as I add them to my cart.

I even use it to remind me to return an item, if needed. There seem to be few limitations, which I like. I can move stuff around to change the order. It's easy to add notes, too, like "coupon" or "BOGO" to ensure I don't forget to use the discounts.

Check it out if you're looking to simplify your shopping and to-do lists!