Baja Grilled Flank Steak Salad

Baja Grilled Flank Steak Salad

SkinnyTaste Cookbook

SPICE RUB

1 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. sweet paprika
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. chipotle chile powder or cayenne pepper

1 lb. flank steak, trimmed of all external fat

LEMON-LIME DRESSING

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. minced scallions
1 Tbsp. minced fresh cilantro
1/8 tsp. kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper

SALAD

2 medium ears fresh corn or 1 cup thawed frozen corn kernels
1 large head romaine lettuce cut lengthwise into 4 wedges
1 medium Hass avocado, thinly sliced
1 cup heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese


For the Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, salt, cumin, paprika, oregano, and chipotle powder.

Generously season each side of the steak with the dry rub and, using your hands, rub it into the meat. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.

For the Lemon-Lime Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the lime juice, lemon juice, olive oil, scallions, cilantro, salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Set aside.

Preheat a grill to medium-high (or preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat).

For the Salad: If using fresh corn, grill the corn, turning often, until the corn is charred on all sides, 20 to 25 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Increase the heat of the grill or grill pan to high. Grill the steak for 5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or longer to your taste. Remove the steak from the grill, cover, and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut the corn kernels off the cob and set aside.

Thinly slice the steak 1/4 inch thick, across the grain and at an angle to the cutting board, then cut it crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces.

Put a romaine wedge on each of the serving plates, top each with one-fourth of the grilled steak. Dividing evenly, top with the avocado, corn, tomatoes, and cheese. Drizzle the dressing over the salads.

Serves: 4

My Notes:

Flank steak has a tendency to get tough very quickly, so most recipes call for some sort of a marinade to help break down the connective tissues. This recipe could benefit from some sort of a lime-based marinade (perhaps substituting the Asian seasonings with a little bit of cumin and cayenne pepper), as it was a little tough, in spite of my usual cooking methods for this particular cut of beef. I never cook it for more than 10 minutes total (5 minutes on each side). Also, prior to grilling the steak, I allow it to sit out on the kitchen counter for 20 minutes, and I also let it rest for 10 minutes after grilling. If you decide to use a marinade, I recommend that you dry the steak with paper towels before applying the rub.

With this salad, I chopped the romaine into bite-sized pieces rather than four individual wedges. I used regular tomatoes, cut into wedges.

The cotija cheese and lemon-lime dressing create a wonderful flavor with the other ingredients. I recommend doubling the dressing. You'll want to have more for your leftovers.

We ate less than half of the steak with our two salads, so I saved the rest and used some for steak & cheese quesadillas, later in the week.

Crock Pot Carne Asada Tacos/Machaca

A couple of years ago, I discovered a new (to me) food blog to which I quickly became addicted. Jessica Merchant's hilarious blog, How Sweet It Is, is not only full of hilariously snappy posts, but it's also filled with photos that are more than just enticing, they're seductive. It didn't take long for me to add dozens of recipes to Evernote, which of course I've completely ignored and forgotten. Somewhere along the line, I decided to cut back on my blog-hopping and stopped following HSII. Apparently I've missed a lot. Merchant now has a cookbook (Seriously Delish) AND a new baby. If only I had more hours in my day to read all the blogs I so enjoy.

I eventually did try one of the recipes I saved from How Sweet It Is and it's now a family favorite. I try to make it at least once a month, since we really love it for the leftovers. More about that in my notes.

Crockpot Carne Asada Nachos
(or in this case, tacos)

1.5 lb. flank steak
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
2 Tbsp. olive oil
8 oz. of your favorite beer 

1 ripe avocado
1 lime, juiced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, torn
1 bag of tortilla chips
8 oz. of monterey jack cheese, freshly grated
1/2 cup sweet corn (cooked or fresh)
1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup sour cream or greek yogurt

In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin. Whisk it together to create a rub, then evenly pat it all over both sides of the flank steak. Heat a large skillet over high heat and add olive oil. Add the flank steak and sear it on both sides until it is golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the steak and place it in the crock pot. Cover it with beer, then cover the pot and cook the steak on low for 6 hours.

After 6 hours, remove the steak from the liquid and place it on a cutting board to rest for 15 minutes. Slice against the grain, cutting it into thin strips--it may be tender from the crock pot and fall apart, and that is fine.

In a small bowl, mash the avocado with the lime juice, half of the cilantro and a pinch of salt. Set it aside. 

Layer the chips on a baking sheet or dish. Cover them with half of the cheese, then add the corn and the steak. Add the res of the cheese. Turn the broiler in your oven to high, and place the nachos underneath, cooking only until the cheese is golden and bubbly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the nachos and immediately cover them with the tomatoes, guac, sour cream and remaining cilantro. Serve!

Yield: Serves 4 appropriately, 2 obnoxiously [Jessica's note, not mine.]

My Notes:

I've made the meat portion of this recipe a few times, but have only made the nachos once. We prefer ground beef and pinto beans for our nachos and this seemed a little too dry. However, this recipe makes the most flavorful meat for machaca, so I continue to use it, especially since it's super easy in my slow cooker. However, flank steak is very fickle, and even in a slow cooker, it tends to dry out. From now on, I'll use the rub and beer, but I plan to buy a chuck roast instead of a flank steak. I want this meat to be super tender!

My slow cooker has a browning feature, so I skipped the step with the skillet and did it directly in the pot. 

I used a full bottle of Shiner Bock rather than just the 8 oz. the recipe calls for. It seemed silly to throw out the extra 4 ounces and since it was a workday (and quite early in the morning), I couldn't bring myself to drink the leftovers.

Check out Jessica's complete post for this recipe. She's a hoot!

And now for the leftovers:

Cut the cooked beef into bite-size chunks. 

Saute mushrooms, bell peppers and onions (however much you like and all diced) in a large skillet with either butter (approximately 1-2 tablespoons) or olive oil. Add beef and cook until sizzling hot.

Beat 4-6 eggs in a medium-size bowl, add to skillet and scramble until just cooked through.

Enjoy with steamed tortillas, avocado slices, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and salsa.


Even the leftovers of the leftovers are great! If we have anything left, I usually put some in a flour tortilla and make a breakfast burrito to take to work the following day.

Cowboy Lasagne (Trisha Yearwood)

Home Cooking with Trish Yearwood 

Rod and I have been fans of Trisha Yearwood's music for many years and when I first saw her cookbook, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical. I assumed a celebrity cookbook would be full of pretty pictures (it is), but an overall a disappointment when it comes to the actual recipes (is isn't). I've sampled a half dozen recipes and am pleased to report that this is a splendid cookbook! And it's my favorite kind: Full page photos for almost every single recipe, accompanied by interesting anecdotes and tips from Trisha and her sister and mother.

Last week I decided to try Trisha's Cowboy Lasagne. It's been ages since I've made lasagne, mainly because I've never been quite satisfied with my own recipe. And, back when I was first learning to cook, lasagne always seemed to be an involved and complicated recipe. Now that I've been cooking for over 30 years, I've learned the importance of multi-tasking in the kitchen. Lasagne is really a very simple recipe, as long as you have time for the preparation. (It's certainly not something you want to try to throw together after work!) And Trisha's recipe is worth the time. Rod and I thought it was the best we'd ever tasted. Yes, we went back for seconds! 

Cowboy Lasagne

Trisha's Note:

In my introduction to Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen, I mentioned that Garth had recently asked me about trying to create a heartier, meatier lasagne, and we started experimenting. Here's what we came up with. Remember those old commercials that said, "How do you handle a hungry man?" Well, here's how! Serves 12

1 pound lean ground beef, chuck or round

1 pound sage-flavored sausage

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 pound sliced pepperoni

1 16-ounce can tomatoes, diced or stewed

1 12-ounce can tomato paste

2 cups water

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 Tablespoon dried oregano

16 ounces lasagna noodles

16 ounces ricotta cheese

16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large, heavy skillet, lightly brown the ground beef, sausage, onion, and garlic in the oil. Be sure to keep the meat chunky, not finely separated, while cooking. Drain the meat. Add the pepperoni, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, and oregano. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

Cook and drain the lasagna noodles according to package directions.

In a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan, spread 1 cup of the prepared sauce. Alternate layers of lasagna, sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses, ending with  sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Bake for 40 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbling. Allow the dish to stand for 15 minutes before serving. Cut the lasagne into 3-inch squares and serve.

My notes:

I used Sweet Italian sausage and eliminated the pepperoni altogether.

I accidentally bought a 28-ounce can of tomatoes, which I used, so I reduced the amount of water by 1/2 cup.

I allowed the sauce to simmer for a couple of hours rather than 30 minutes.

I only used half a package of lasagna noodles (9 rather than 18).

I brought the water to a boil and began cooking the noodles prior to preparing the sauce.

I saved a little time by using some of the precooked sausage I had stashed in the freezer for our weekly pizzas.

After draining the cooked noodles, I placed them on a large piece of aluminum foil to cool.

I find it very easy to spread the ricotta cheese on the cooled noodles while they are still on the foil. The noodles stick to the foil nicely so they don't slide around while trying to smooth out the ricotta and yet are easily peeled away from the foil when ready to transfer them to the prepared dish as I'm ready to assemble the lasagne.

Weeknight Bolognese

I love pasta and was looking for something quick and easy to throw together after a long day at work. Tyler Florence has a delicious recipe for bolognese, but it's fairly involved and one that I'd rather make on a cold, rainy weekend. However, Ina Garten's recipe from Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That? was just what I had in mind.

She writes:

Everyone needs a quick dinner they can throw together during the week. Bolognese is a thick meat sauce that is a staple of northern Italy. It's always made with beef, tomatoes, and cream and I've added oregano, red pepper flakes, and basil to give it lots of flavor. It's the perfect stick-to-your-ribs dinner on a cold night.

I say it's perfect for any night. Even a hot summer night!

2 Tbsp. good olive oil, plus extra to cook the pasta

1 lb. lean ground sirloin

4 tsp. minced garlic (4 cloves)

1 Tbsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 1/4 cups dry red wine, divided

1-28 oz.  can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

3/4 lb. dried pasta, such as orecchiette or small shells

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sirloin and cook, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and has started to brown. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt, a splash of oil, and the pasta, and cook according to the directions on the box.

While the pasta cooks, finish the sauce. Add the nutmeg, basil, cream, and the remaining 1/4 cup wine to the sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. When the pasta is cooked, drain and pour into a large serving bowl. Add the sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan and toss well. Serve hot with Parmesan on the side.

Serves 4 to 5

My Notes:

Since I used ground chuck instead of lean sirloin, it wasn't necessary to use the olive oil to brown the meat. After it finished cooking, I drained the fat before adding the spices.

I used a medium-sized stockpot rather than a skillet.

Rather than open a can of tomato paste for just a couple of tablespoons, I use this:

Even though it's double concentrated, I still use the specified amount.

I reduced the amount of salt and pepper by half and omitted the red pepper flakes.

I forgot to toss the sauce with the Parmesan and pasta before serving, but it didn't matter. My husband and I both loved the flavor of this bolognese, so I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to try it Ina's way.

Beef Bourguignon (Tyler Florence)

Extra-virgin olive oil
4 bacon slices
4 lbs. beef chuck or round, cut into 2-inch cubes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup Cognac
1 bottle dry red wine, such as Burgundy
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
2 T. tomato paste
Bouquet garni (1 fresh rosemary sprig, 8 fresh thyme sprigs, and 2 bay leaves, tied together with kitchen twine or wrapped in cheesecloth)
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups pearl onions, fresh or frozen, blanched and peeled
1 pound white mushrooms, stems trimmed
Pinch of sugar
2 T. unsalted butter
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Serve with buttered egg noodles

Serves 8 to 10

Place a large, heavy pot over medium heat and drizzle in a 1-count of olive oil. Fry the bacon until crisp, about 5 minutes, then remove it to paper towels to drain, leaving the rendered fat in the pan. When cool, crumble the bacon and set aside.

Working in batches, add the beef to the pot and brown well on all sides over high heat, about 10 minutes per batch. Season each batch with a generous amount of salt and pepper and transfer to a plate while you brown the remaining beef cubes.

Return all the beef cubes to the pot and sprinkle with the flour, stirring to make sure the pieces are well coated. Pour in the Cognac and stir to scrape up the flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook over high heat until the Cognac has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Pour in the red wine and beef broth; then add the tomato paste and bouquet garni. Stir everything together and bring the liquid to a simmer. Cook uncovered until the liquid has thicken a bit, about 15 minutes, then cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour.

Add the garlic, pearl onions (blanched & peeled), and mushrooms to the pot along with the sugar (to balance out the acid from the red wine). Season with salt and pepper. Turn the heat up slightly and simmer 30 to 45 minutes longer, until the vegetables and meat are tender. Discard the bouquet garni, then stir in the butter to give the sauce a rich flavor and beautiful shine. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and the reserved bacon before serving.

My Notes:

I didn't have any Cognac, so I added an extra 1/4 cup of beef broth.

I used a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.

I didn't bother tying the bouquet garni with twine--just dropped the herbs in the pot. (Julia Child agrees with me on this one!)

I substituted a regular onion (rough chop) for the pearl onions.

The first time I made this dish, I served it with buttered noodles. Not bad, but I didn't love it. The second time I decided to skip the noodles and add potatoes to the pot. However, I didn't want them to overcook and fall apart, so I par-boiled them separately (peeled and cut-up) and added them to the pot a few minutes before serving.

Now here's my biggest adjustment to Tyler's recipe: The meat needs to cook much longer than the 2-2 1/2 hours he's suggested. I recommend at least 3-4 hours. And, if possible, cook it a day in advance. The flavors are amazing on the second day!

I have another recipe for Beef Bourguignon here. They're almost identical!

Cheeseburger Soup

Photo courtesy of Kristen Doyle

1/2 lb. ground beef
3/4 cup chopped white onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup diced celery
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
2 cans low-sodium chicken broth
4 cups peeled, diced potatoes
1/4 cup flour
2 cups (8oz) Velveeta, cubed
1 1/2 cup milk
3/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup sour cream

In a 6-quart saucepan, brown beef; drain and set aside beef.

In the same saucepan, sautee onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 2 Tbsp. butter until vegetables are tender (about 10 minutes).

Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, in a small pan, melt remaining 3 Tbsp. of butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3 minutes or until bubbly. Whisk into soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.

Reduce heat to low. Add Velveeta, milk, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese melts.

Remove from heat; stir in sour cream.

Makes 8 servings

Notes:

I discovered this amazing soup on Dine & Dish. I should be upset with Kristen for introducing me to this heart attack-in-a-bowl recipe, but decided it isn't any worse for me than half the recipes on my blog! I'll just have to try to limit the frequency of making this delicious soup to no more than once a month. Yummmm-O!!!

Roasted Lime-Cilantro Eye of Round Roast Tacos

8 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 Tbsp. coriander seeds
1 Tbsp. cumin seeds
1 Tbsp. coarse-grain salt
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 (4.5-pound) eye of round roast

Corn or flour tortillas, warmed

Garnishes:

Diced fresh tomatoes
Shredded cheddar and/or Jack cheese
Sour cream
Pico de Gallo
Guacamole
Cilantro

Process the first 8 ingredients in a food processor until a thick paste forms, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl.

Make 3 to 4 (1-inch) cuts in each side of roast with a sharp knife. Fill each cut with about 1 teaspoon of paste. Spread remaining paste over beef. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap; chill at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours. Unwrap roast; place in a 13-x 9-inch pan.

Bake, covered, at 325° for 3 hours and 15 minutes or until meat shreds and a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 180°. (Meat will not shred below this temperature.) Let stand 10 minutes before shredding or chopping.

Serve with warm tortillas, tomatoes, cheese, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.

Makes 12 servings

Notes:

I only used half the amount of beef (and the full amount of ingredients for the paste) and it still made plenty of meat for several meals (for two adults). I didn't include the garlic, so rather than a paste, I wound up with a marinade. I simply placed the meat in a large Ziploc bag, added the marinade and let it sit in the refrigerator over night, turning occasionally.

I also didn't bother with the 1-inch cuts in the roast.

I didn't have coriander seeds or cumin seeds, so I used 2 teaspoons of dried ground coriander and cumin. I probably could have even gone with a full tablespoon of each.

Instead of roasting the meat in the oven, I used my crock pot, cooking it for 8 hours on the low setting. It turned out great!

This is a nice alternative to my pork carnitas. Delicious for tacos, enchiladas, or mixed with scrambled eggs (Machaca Con Huevos).

Adapted from Southern Living magazine (April 2004)

Beef Bourguignon

1.5 lbs. boneless beef chuck, cut into 2-inch chunks (discard large pieces of fat)
1-2 Tbsp. butter
3-4 slices bacon, cut into bite-size pieces
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 tsp. salt
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1 3/4 cup red wine (preferably a Burgundy or Pinot Noir)
1 dozen pearl onions
8 oz. button mushrooms, cleaned and quartered

In a large skillet, working in small batches, brown meat in 1 tablespoon of butter. Add more butter as needed. Place browned meat in a large Dutch oven.

Cook bacon in skillet until crisp and brown. Drain on paper towels. Drain all but 1-2 tablespoons of bacon fat; sauté onion and carrot in bacon grease until tender; add to meat.

Season meat mixture with salt, pepper and thyme. Sprinkle with flour. Add tomato paste and bay leaf. Stir to combine. Add red wine; cover and simmer gently over low heat until tender (approximately 3 hours).

Meanwhile, bring a small saucepan of water to boil. Add pearl onions and blanch for 3-4 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water and peel skin from onions.

Clean and quarter mushrooms. Sauté in 1-2 tablespoons butter until tender. Using slotted spoon, remove from buttery pan and set aside.

Bring another pot of water to boil. Cook cubed potatoes for approximately 20 minutes, until tender. Do not over cook! Drain and set aside.

When meat is tender, add onions and mushrooms. Continue to simmer for 15 minutes. Add potatoes and simmer for another 15 minutes.

Season to taste and serve in shallow rimmed bowls with crusty French bread.

Delicious with Spinach Salad.

This recipe was given to me by my friend, Mary Kate. She and Josh had us over for a wonderful dinner and after the first bite, I knew I had to get the recipe! Thanks, MK!

Roast with Onion-and-Mushroom Gravy

1 (2.5 lb.) boneless beef chuck shoulder roast, trimmed
3/4 tsp. pepper
1 (14-oz.) can low-sodium beef broth
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (1.0-oz) envelope dry onion soup mix
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. water

Sprinkle roast with pepper; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker (crock pot). Add beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, and onion soup mix.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour. Reduce heat to LOW, and cook for 7 hours or until tender. Transfer roast to a serving platter, reserving juices, keep warm.

Whisk together cornstarch and water; slowly whisk into juices in slow cooker. Increase heat to HIGH, and cook uncovered, 1 minute or until slightly thickened, whisking frequently.

Serve roast with gravy.

This is so delicious and tender. It's wonderful with mashed potatoes and green beens. A perfect comfort meal for wintertime.

Serves: 6
Prep: 6 minutes
Cook: 8 hours

Discovered in Southern Living Slow-Cooker Cookbook

Georgie's Oriental Shrimp Kabobs

2/3 cup dry sherry
2/3 cup soy sauce
2/3 cup olive oil or peanut oil
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 clove garlic, crushed
Fresh lemon juice
1 lb. raw shrimp, shelled and deveined
3/4 lb. fresh mushrooms, stemmed
1/4 lb. bacon, cut into 2" lengths
Cherry tomatoes
Onion wedges
Zucchini wedges
Bell pepper wedges

In a large bowl, combine sherry, soy sauce, oil, ginger, lemon zest and garlic.
Sprinkle a little lemon juice over shrimp.
Place shrimp in bowl with marinade.
Refrigerate no more than 1 hour.
On metal skewers, alternate shrimp with vegetables and bacon.
Grill on BBQ over medium heat, turning frequently and basting with marinade until shrimp are pink (approximately 6-8 minutes).

Excellent with rice pilaf.

Note: I like to add cubes of chicken and steak to the kabobs and I prefer to use a Bermuda (purple) onions rather than a white. I recommend partially frying the bacon ahead of time to insure that it gets completely cooked by the time the kabobs are finished (plus, we like our bacon crispy!).

I'm not sure who the contributor was, but this recipe (which I've always thought of as "Georgie's Oriental Shrimp Kabobs") is an adaptation of Oriental Skewered Shrimp from Even More Special, A Contemporary Collection of Recipes from the Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties, Inc. (1986). I first discovered it a dozen or so years ago, when Rod and I were visiting my Uncle Rick and Aunt Georgie in Durham, North Carolina. Georgie served these delicious kabobs for lunch one afternoon and was kind enough to share the recipe with me. The original calls for shrimp, mushrooms, bacon and water chestnuts, but at some point I made a few modifications to add more veggies (and drop the water chestnuts, which I don't particularly care for). It's been a family favorite ever since.

Flank Steak Sandwiches with Apple Barbecue Sauce

1 (1 ½-pound) flank steak
Apple Barbecue Sauce (recipe follows)
6 onion rolls, split
6 tomato slices
Leaf lettuce
Purple onion slices (optional)
Coarsely ground pepper

Place steak in a shallow dish or heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; pour ½ cup Apple Barbecue Sauce over steak. Cover or seal, and chill 8 hours.

Remove steak from marinade, discarding marinade.

Grill steak, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350-400), 5-6 minutes per side or to desired degree of doneness. Do not overcook, though, or meat will be dry and tough.

Cut steak diagonally across the grain into thin strips. Serve on rolls with tomato, lettuce and onion. Drizzle with remaining sauce; sprinkle with pepper.

Yield: 6 servings

APPLE BARBECUE SAUCE


½ cup apple jelly
1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
¼ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon hot sauce
¼ teaspoon salt

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a saucepan, stirring until smooth. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20-25 minutes.

Yield: 1 and 1/3 cups

Notes: This is so easy and a nice alternative to hamburgers. Great with potato salad, corn and baked beans.

Indonesian Bamie

1 package (8 oz.) vermicelli, broken in half
Boiling salted water
5 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
½ tsp. crushed red pepper
1 flank steak (about 1 lb.), cut across the grain into 1/8-inch-thick slices
½ pound medium-sized raw shrimp, shelled, deveined
2 green onions (including tops), cut diagonally into ½-inch slices
2 cups coarsely shredded green cabbage
1 cup each sliced (about ¼ inch thick) leeks and celery
¼ cup soy sauce

Following package directions, cook vermicelli in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente; drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Set aside.

Place a wok or wide frying pan over high heat. When pan is hot, add 2 tablespoons of the oil. When oil begins to heat, add garlic and pepper and stir once. Add steak and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add shrimp and stir-fry until shrimp are opaque and steak is browned but still pink inside (about 30 seconds). Remove from pan.

Pour 2 more tablespoons oil into pan; add onions, cabbage, leeks, and celery. Stir-fry vegetables until tender-crisp (about 1½ minutes). Add cooked vermicelli, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and soy sauce; stir-fry for 1 minute.

Return meat/shrimp mixture to pan and continue stir-frying until almost all liquid has evaporated.

Makes 4-6 servings

Note: Angel hair pasta may be used instead of vermicelli. Steak might also taste good if it’s been grilled instead of stir-fried. Be sure not to over-cook either the steak or shrimp. Bean sprouts and/or broccoli might be a nice addition.

Recipe from Sunset Quick Meals with Fresh Foods

Balsamic-Basted Steaks

3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp. coarse mustard
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1-2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, minced
4 (6-ounce) filet mignon steaks, 1" thick

Mix together the oil, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper and rosemary in a large, shallow dish. Place steaks in marinade and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Lightly coat clean grill grids of grill with cooking oil spray. Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Place steaks on grill and cook, without turning, 4 minutes with the lid down. Turn steaks and cook for another 4 minutes with the lid down. (Adjust cooking time to your personal preference).

Serves 4

Recipe adapted from Real Simple magazine.

Meatball Soup

1 beaten egg
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 Tbsp. flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. onion, finely chopped
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 lb. ground beef
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 14.5-ounce can beef broth
1 14.5-ounce can Italian-style stewed tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 tsp. Italian seasoning, crushed
1/4 cup tripolini (tiny bow ties) or ditalini (tiny thimbles)
3 cups fresh spinach, torn

Combine egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan or Romano cheese, parsley, onion, garlic salt, and pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Add ground beef; mix well. Shape meat mixture into 36 balls.

Cook meatballs in a large skillet over medium high heat about 8 minutes or until no pink remains, turning occasionally to brown evenly. Drain fat from pan. Set meatballs aside.

Stir together garbanzo beans, beef broth, undrained tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water, mushrooms, and Italian seasoning in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Stir in spinach and meatballs. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more or just until spinach is wilted.

Makes 4 main-dish servings

Notes:

I used regular dry bread crumbs (not soft). I wound up with only two dozen meatballs, so next time I need to make them a bit smaller! I substituted one can of navy beans for the garbanzo beans. Next time, I think I'll use fresh diced tomatoes with a few dashes of basil and oregano. I don't care for the large chunky canned tomatoes. I also think two carrots, finely chopped, would be a nice addition. This was a delicious and hearty soup. Quite easy, too!

Adapted from Simply Perfect Pasta magazine (1995)

Impressive Beef Stroganoff

1 1/4 pounds beef sirloin
2 Tbsps. butter or margarine
1 yellow onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 large portobello mushrooms, chopped
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 tsp. basil
Pinch nutmeg
3/4 cup milk
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 cup sour cream
1 12-ounce package spinach fettuccine, cooked and drizzled with melted butter or margarine

Cut the beef across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Then cut the slices into 1-inch-wide strips. Melt 1 tablespoon butter or margarine in a large frying pan and brown the meat on high heat for about 5 minutes, flipping once to cook evenly.

Reduce heat to medium-high, add the onion, salt, and pepper, and sauté an additional 2 minutes.

Remove the meat and onions from the pan, set aside in a bowl, and cover to keep warm. Add the mushrooms and remaining 1 tablespoon butter or margarine to the pan and sauté for 5 minutes, or until tender.

Return the meat and onion to the pan with the mushrooms. Add the wine, basil, and nutmeg. Stir and heat for about 2 minutes over medium heat.

Remove the meat, mushrooms, and onions from the pan and set aside in covered bowl. Stir the milk and flour into the drippings left in the pan, heating over low heat until the sauce is somewhat thickened, for 1 to 2 minutes. Return the meat, mushrooms, and onions to the pan. Stir in the sour cream and warm the mixture over low heat for about 1 minute. Serve over buttered spinach fettuccini.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Notes:

This has incredible flavor! I substituted 1 8-oz. package button mushrooms for the portobello, and regular egg noodles for the fettuccini. It was absolutely delicious. I'd like to try a different cut of beef, as the sirloin was a little tough.

From The Book Lover's Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature and the Passages that Feature Them by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen

Pasta e Fagioli al Tenore

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage
1/4 lb. bacon or pancetta, chopped
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped fine
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped very fine
4 cups chicken broth
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce (low sodium)
2 (19 oz.) cans cannellini beans, well drained, divided
1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans, well drained
1 (14. oz.) can tomatoes, seeded and chopped, liquid drained
1/2 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. dried ground thyme
1 tsp. dried rosemary
2 tsps. dried basil
1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) ditalini or other tubular pasta
1 cup cooked orzo
1 carrot, shredded
Parmigiano and chopped basil for garnish

Place a large, heavy soup pot over medium heat. Cook the sausage links with a small amount of water, covered, until the sausage has browned, about 10 minutes.

Remove sausages to a plate and allow to cool. Once cool enough to handle, chop into pieces and grind in a food processor.

Brown ground beef in the same pot as was used for the sausage. Drain fat and set meat aside.

Fry bacon/pancetta in the pot, cooking until browned but not crisp. The pancetta may need a little olive oil to keep it from sticking/burning. Drain on paper towels and return to pot along with the sausage and ground beef. Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes.

Add the onions, celery, and garlic to the meat mixture. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the chicken broth and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a food processor, blend tomato sauce and 1 cup cannellini beans until smooth. Pour the mixture into the pot and add remaining cannellini beans, kidney beans, canned tomatoes, and herbs. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the ditalini pasta and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

Add the cooked orzo and shredded carrot; simmer for an additional 10 minutes or so.

Add more water or broth if necessary to produce a soupier consistency.

Serve with grated Parmigiano and chopped basil.

Yield: 8 servings

Notes: The original recipe calls for 2 onions, but that seemed like a bit too much for my taste, so I only use 1. Great Northern or Navy beans may be substituted for the Cannellini. I don't care to grind the sausage too finely. I prefer it a bit chunky.

This is delicious with crusty hot bread and a Caesar salad on the side.

Adapted from Food Network, Calling All Cooks - Michael J. Begley

Taco Salad

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1/2 - 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
1-2 tomatoes, diced
1-2 avocado, diced
1 can black olives, drained and sliced
Dorito Original taco chips, broken
Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing

Over medium heat, brown ground beef in frying pan; drain fat and return meat to stove.

Add taco seasonings and 3 Tbsp. water (just enough to moisten); mix well and continue cooking for a couple of minutes.

Remove from heat and allow meat to cool.

In a large serving bowl, combine meat with all remaining ingredients.

Garnish with extra unbroken taco chips.

Notes:

I use homemade Ranch Dressing. I think it tastes better than the dressing in a bottle. I also prefer to use the original buttermilk mix to make the dressing.

All amounts may be increased or decreased (or omitted) depending on your personal preference. Chopped green onions make a nice garnish. Pinto or black beans (drained and rinsed) can be added to the meat mixture. Shredded cooked chicken or turkey may be substituted for the ground beef.

I like to serve this as a cold salad, so I chill the cooked meat in the refrigerator before tossing with the remaining ingredients. I toss the salad with a generous amount of the Ranch dressing, but we usually wind up adding more!