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Fast & Easy Dinner: Steak and Potato Salad

partysugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:48 -0700

Tonight serve your loved ones a meal inspired by the classic steakhouse dinner of meat, potatoes, and wedge salad. The potatoes are roasted in the oven, while the ribeye steaks are seared on the grill. A quick but wildly flavorful salsa verde (a mixture of chives, capers, oregano, thyme, and garlic) coats the cooked and crispy potatoes. Serving the potatoes and steak on a bed of crunchy romaine lettuce makes this a balanced meal that's sure to be enjoyed by all.

Check out the recipe when you read more.

Steak and Potato Salad
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

2 lbs. small new Yukon Gold potatoes, halved or quartered
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1-1/2 to 2 lb. ribeye steaks, cut 1-inch thick
2 heads romaine lettuce
1/2 cup chopped Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons chopped chives
3 tablespoons drained capers
2 teaspoons chopped oregano
1 teaspoon chopped thyme
2 cloves minced garlic
5 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place potatoes in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Roast, uncovered, 50 to 60 minutes or until tender. Cool slightly.
Meanwhile, brush remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil on steaks. Season with salt and pepper. For charcoal grill, grill steaks on rack of uncovered grill directly over medium coals, 10 to 12 minutes (145 degrees F for medium-rare), turning once. (For gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place steaks on rack over heat. Cover; grill as above.)
Slice romaine into six 2-inch-thick slices, reserving tops for another use.
In bowl combine parsley, 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, chives, capers, oregano, thyme, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
Place slice of romaine on each serving plate; drizzle; with 1/2 of the salsa.
Toss warm potatoes with remaining sauce and green onions. Spoon onto romaine. Thinly slice steak and place on top of potatoes.

Serves 6.

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'Wich of the Week: Cap'n Blue Cheese Chicken Sandwich

YumSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:00:09 -0700

With double-meat sandwiches, it is important to tread carefully. So for this indulgent combination of marinated chicken and cured meat, I gathered exceptionally gourmet ingredients: Point Reyes blue cheese, capocolla (aka coppa) from Chris Cosentino's Boccalone deli, and organic chicken thighs. Since I was piling meat upon meat with creamy cheese, I made extra-small sandwiches using soft but firm dinner rolls.

Somewhere between salami and pancetta in terms of flavor, the capocolla adds a bacon-y bite, so the resulting cap-and-cheese-laden creation is reminiscent of a bacon cheeseburger without the beef. Using chicken thighs and a nutty, salty marinade adds to the heartiness, while the sautéed mushrooms and tomato help temper the richness. To get the recipe for this double-meat delicacy, read more.

Cap'n Blue Cheese Chicken Sandwich
Original recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup peanut sauce
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
8 pieces of thinly sliced capocolla, or coppa
2-ounce block of blue cheese, sliced
2 small roma tomatoes, cut into 8 slices
1 cup button mushrooms, ends trimmed and caps sliced
1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
4 soft but sturdy white dinner rolls

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine the first five ingredients to make the marinade. Toss the chicken thighs in the mixture so that they are evenly coated; cover and refrigerate for 1-3 hours.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Place the chicken thighs, with the marinade, in a casserole dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until the juices run clear.
Heat one tablespoon of butter or olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and sautée until medium-brown and soft, 10-12 minutes.

To make each sandwich, slice the dinner roll horizontally, stopping just at one edge to create a hinge. On the bottom half, place one chicken thigh, followed by two pieces of capocolla, two slices of blue cheese, and two tomato slices.
Divide the mushrooms evenly among sandwiches, and place atop the tomato. Cover mushrooms with top half of roll and serve.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

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Off To Market: No Meat or Dairy Appetizer

partysugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:58:09 -0800

The other day I received a frantic voicemail from one of my best girlfriends, Melissa in Seattle. She enjoys cooking and has invited some friends over for appetizers and drinks before they head out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Melissa is a strict vegetarian who doesn't eat meat or fish in any way, shape, or form. One of her guests has a fragile stomach, is lactose intolerant and cannot consume dairy products. Now you can guess what Melissa hurriedly asked me in the message, "What should I make?" This is a tough one guys, and I need your help (all of my crowd pleasing appetizer recipes have meat or cheese!). What should she make? I need you to add your best recipes for a meat and dairy free appetizer to the recipe database. Don't forget to mark your recipes with the keyword phrase No Meat-Dairy Appetizer.

To learn how to share your recipes in the recipe database, read geeksugar's easy to understand guide.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Penne With Meat Sauce

partysugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:50:59 -0800

Classic bolognese - or pasta with meat sauce - can take hours to prepare. However, this updated rendition comes together in no time. Lean ground beef is cooked with onion before being tossed with a simple puree of tomatoes, red wine, and spices.

Black olives provide a salty kick, while chunks of mozzarella make this pasta comforting and delicious. Although the recipe calls for penne, feel free to use whatever thick pasta you have on hand. Look at the recipe when you read more.

Penne With Meat Sauce
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

8 ounces dried penne
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 14-ounce can whole Italian-style tomatoes, undrained
1/2 of a 6-ounce can Italian-style tomato paste
1/4 cup dry red wine or tomato juice
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (2 ounces)
Fresh oregano leaves (optional)

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well. Return pasta to hot pan; cover to keep warm.
Meanwhile, in a very large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until meat is brown. Drain off fat.
In a blender or food processor, combine undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, wine, sugar, dried oregano, and pepper. Cover and blend or process until smooth.
Stir tomato mixture into meat mixture in skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir in cooked pasta and olives. Cover and heat through.
Sprinkle individual servings with mozzarella cheese. If desired, garnish with oregano leaves.

Serves 6.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Skirt Steak With Crispy Garlic Potatoes

partysugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:45:09 -0800

Typically used in fajitas, skirt steak is an affordable cut of meat that makes a delicious dinner. After a quick cook in a hot pan, the long, flat piece of beef is flavorful, tender, and juicy.

This recipe pairs the steak with crisp, garlicky oven-baked potatoes and a lightly dressed, peppery watercress salad. When served with a glass of red wine, it's the perfect midweek pick-me-up. Get the recipe when you read more.

Skirt Steak With Crispy Garlic Potatoes
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds red new potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 4 equal pieces
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 bunches watercress (about 12 ounces total), thick ends removed

Directions

Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
Finely chop garlic, and sprinkle with salt. Using a chef's knife, press flat side of blade back and forth across garlic to make a paste. Transfer to a small bowl; stir in thyme and 1 tablespoon oil.
On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss potatoes with garlic mixture; bake until browned on underside, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet or grill pan over high. Season steaks with salt and pepper, and cook* (in two batches if necessary) until medium-rare, 3 to 6 minutes per side (depending on thickness of steak). Transfer to a plate to rest.
While steaks rest, make salad: In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, Dijon, and remaining oil; season with salt and pepper. Add watercress, and toss to combine. Serve steaks with potatoes and salad.

Serves 4.

*Because they are well marbled, skirt steaks can go in a hot skillet without added fat. Cook them to medium-rare so they'll be tender, not tough.

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'Wich of the Week: Dungeness Crab Roll

YumSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:00:41 -0800

Crab season is a big deal in San Francisco, and if you've ever tackled a whole crab to extract the sweet, succulent meat, then you understand what the fuss is about. Since we're right in the middle of Dungeness Crab Week, I'm celebrating with a New England-style crab roll filled to the brim with fresh Pacific crabmeat.You could put crabmeat on pretty much anything and I'd eat it (I'm still drooling over this salad). I devoured the sandwich version at a New England-style seafood joint in SF called Woodhouse Fish Company.

The rainy-day-appropriate restaurant uses the split-top rolls popular in New England then fills them with Dungeness crabmeat that's West Coast all the way. But these are easy to make at home: The key is finding the freshest, most delicious crabmeat possible. To get the recipe, read more.

New England Crab Rolls
From Bon Appétit

The recipe calls for any kind of crabmeat, but if you can get access to in-season Dungeness, go with that. If not, any kind of fresh crab will do.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 pound fresh crabmeat, picked over
3 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, room temperature
4 hot dog buns, sides split open
4 red leaf or Bibb lettuce leaves

Directions

Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon peel, and cayenne pepper in medium bowl. Mix in crabmeat and chopped green onions. Season crab salad to taste with salt and pepper.
Spread butter on insides of hot dog buns. Warm large skillet over medium heat 1 minute. Place buns, buttered side down, in preheated skillet and toast until golden, about 5 minutes.
Place 2 toasted buns on each of 2 plates. Place 1 lettuce leaf inside each bun. Divide crab salad among buns and serve.

Makes 2 sandwiches.

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Sunday Dinner: Classic Meatloaf

partysugar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 01:38:31 -0800

Thanks to the high-end comfort food trend, meatloaf is suddenly seriously scrumptious. A nostalgic dish, meatloaf is a super-flavorful, filling meal. Several types of meat add a great complexity, finely chopped vegetables and herbs act as seasonings, and a tomato sauce keeps the meat moist and succulent. To get the recipe for this soothing Sunday night supper, read more.

Meatloaf
From Emeril Lagasse

2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 rib celery, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic, plus 1 teaspoon
1 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves
1 teaspoon chopped rosemary
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 cup ketchup, plus 1/4 cup
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup breadcrumbs
1 pound ground chuck
1/2 pound pork sausage (such as breakfast sausage)
1/2 pound ground veal
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons plus 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 slices bacon, cut in half
2 tablespoons white or red wine vinegar
1/2 cup canned tomatoes, chopped or crushed

In a large skillet heat the butter over medium-high heat until melted.
Add all but 1/4 cup of the onions, the celery and all but 2 tablespoons of the bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to caramelize around the edges, about 6 minutes.
Add 2 teaspoons of the garlic, the thyme, rosemary, and parsley and cook for 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
When the vegetable mixture is cooled, transfer to a mixing bowl and add the eggs, mustard, 1/4 cup of the ketchup, 1 teaspoon of the Worcestershire sauce, and heavy cream and mix until thoroughly combined.
Add the breadcrumbs, ground chuck, pork sausage, ground veal, 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
Transfer meat mixture to a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan and using your hands, form mixture into a loaf shape. Arrange the slices of bacon on the top of the meatloaf and set aside.
In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/4 cup of chopped onion, remaining 2 tablespoons of green pepper, remaining teaspoon of garlic, remaining 1/2 cup of ketchup, remaining 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, remaining 2 teaspoons of pepper, vinegar, and canned tomatoes and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Pour the sauce over the uncooked meatloaf and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bacon and sauce are slightly caramelized on the top of the meatloaf.
Remove from the oven and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Slice and serve.

Serves 4-6.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Fettucine with Bolognese Sauce

partysugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:01:31 -0800

Bolognese is a classic, kid-friendly crowd pleaser. Who could resist a bowl of piping hot pasta coated in a chunky, flavorful meat and tomato sauce? It's also great because you throw all the ingredients into a large pot and forget about them until the sauce is done. This recipe calls for fettuccine, but you could serve the fragrant bolognese over any pasta you have on hand. Serve with a glass of Italian red wine and let the weekend begin! Sound scrumptious? Wait until you see the recipe, read more.

Fettucine with Bolognese Sauce
From Real Simple magazine

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diceed
1 carrot, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 pound pancetta, chopped
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup whole milk
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 14½-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano, or 1 tablespoon dried
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 lb cooked fettuccine, for serving

In a Dutch oven, over medium heat, heat the oil.
Add the onion and saute for 3 minutes. Add the celery, carrot, and garlic and cook for 5 minutes more.
Add the pancetta and cook for 5 minutes, then add the beef and cook until brown.
Add the wine and the remaining ingredients and simmer for 45 minutes.
Serve with cooked fettuccine. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Serves 4-6.

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Sunday Dinner: Harissa-Crusted Tri-Tip Roast

partysugar — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:11:52 -0700

Tri-tip is one of my favorite cuts of beef because it's affordable and feeds a crowd. Besides being lower in cost, tri-tip is also incredibly flavorful with a lower fat content. If you have never experimented with it before, I suggest you do so tonight.

This simple recipe coats the steak with a spicy African sauce known as harissa. While the meat cooks, the sauce forms a delicious crust.

To see how it's made, read more.

Harissa-Crusted Tri-Tip Roast
From Bon Appetit magazine

Ingredients

1 3/4 teaspoons caraway seeds
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves
1/4 cup chili paste (such as sambal oelek)*
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/4 teaspoons chili powder
1 1 3/4- to 2-pound tri-tip beef roast, most of fat layer trimmed

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Toast caraway seeds in small nonstick skillet over medium heat until seeds darken and begin to smoke, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
Add olive oil and garlic cloves to caraway seeds in skillet. Cover; remove from heat. Let stand 1 minute.
Pour caraway mixture into processor. Add chili paste, tomato sauce, cumin, and chili powder and blend until garlic cloves are pureed. Season harissa to taste with salt.
Sprinkle beef all over with salt and pepper; place beef, fat side down, on rack on rimmed baking sheet.
Spread with half of harissa. Turn beef over; spread remaining harissa over top and sides.
Roast beef until thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F to 130°F for medium-rare, about 35 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes. Slice and serve.

Serves 4-6.

*Available in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets and at Asian markets.

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Brined, Bourbon-Glazed, Spice-Rubbed Turkey Is Deliciously Juicy

partysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:39 -0800

Last year, after reading countless turkey recipes, I finally decided on one from a somewhat unexpected source: Every Day With Rachael Ray. I didn't follow the method exactly - the magazine's recipe grills a turkey breast and I roasted a whole turkey - but I used the brine, spice rub, and glaze recommended. The resulting turkey, with a fiery brown color and slightly charred skin, was fabulously moist and super flavorful. The meat was so succulent it almost didn't need gravy. To check out the recipe, read more.

Bourbon-Glazed Spiced Rubbed Turkey
Modified From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

4 cups apricot nectar
4 cups apple juice, plus more for basting
2-1/5 cups dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup salt
6 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
3 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
2 fresh or dried bay leaves
1 turkey (ours was 18 pounds)
1 cup bourbon
1 cup honey
1 cup apple cider vinegar
4 tablespoons paprika
4 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 stick of butter, at room temperature

Directions

In a large pot, combine 8 cups water with the apricot nectar, apple juice, 1 cup brown sugar, the granulated sugar, salt, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and stir, then remove from the heat and let cool.
Place the turkey in the brine. Cover the turkey with foil and refrigerate overnight.
In a container with a tight-fitting lid, combine the bourbon, honey, vinegar and 1 cup brown sugar. Shake vigorously to blend; set aside.
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
In a bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar with the paprika, mustard, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and butter to form a paste.
Dry the turkey with a paper towel and rub the paste all over the turkey.
Roast the turkey for about 45 minutes, until slightly golden brown. Reduce the heat to 350°F and continue roasting, brushing with some of the bourbon glaze every 20 minutes, for about 1 hour, 15 minutes longer. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh should register 160 degrees F. Remove the turkey from the oven, brush with the remaining glaze, loosely tent and let rest 15 minutes before slicing.

Serves 8-10.

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