BRAISED BEEF & ONIONS aka BAKED STEAK, PARMESAN GARLIC POMMES ANNA and my new OXO tool

Baked SteaksBRAISED BEEF & ONIONS aka BAKED STEAK

1 new york strip steak per person

1 LARGE Vidalia onion

garlic salt

white pepper

sea salt

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Pat meat dry.
  • Generously sprinkle meat with garlic salt, sea salt and white pepper to taste.
  • Using a mandoline slice onion as thin as possible.
  • Place half the onions on the bottom of a baking dish.
  • Lay steaks on top of onions.
  • Top with remaining onions.
  • Seal with foil.
  • Bake for 2 hours.
  • Check for tenderness.
  • Bake another 30 minutes as necessary.

PARMESAN GARLIC POMMES ANNA

1-2 Yukon potatoes per person

Parmesan cheese

garlic salt

  • 1 tablespoon butter per person, sliced very thin
  • Using mandoline slice potatoes on thinnest setting.
  • Spray baking dish with PURE.
  • Arrange potatoes in layers, sprinkling with garlic salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese between each layer and on top.
  • Microwave for 2 minutes on high.
  • Top with butter slices and then a bit more Parmesan cheese and bake with beef the last 30 minutes until crisp and tender.

 

LOVE MY NEW TOOL! It’s an OXO hand held mandoline.  There are 3 thickness sizes and best of all a lock!  The lock prevents those cuts that are inevitable otherwise.

Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday hosted by Lisa at Blessed with Grace.

Cooking Thursday is hosted by Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Weekend Cooking Creations is hosted by Jennifer.

weekendkitchencreations

CARNE ASADA

According to Wikipedia Carne asada is a roasted beef dish, literally meaning “roasted meat”[1][2]. The dish mainly consists of pieces or thin cuts of beef (e.g. flank steak, skirt steak), sometimes marinated, sometimes lightly salted or rubbed with salt, pepper and/or spices, and then grilled. It can be eaten alone, with side dishes, chopped and eaten as tacos, or chopped and used as filler for tortas, burritos, etc. It is commonly accompanied with guacamole, salsa, beans, and grilled scallions and tortillas.

The dish is commonly prepared in the northern parts of Mexico (in the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas) as well as in the American Southwest (especially Texas and New Mexico). It can be found as the main ingredient in tacos, tortas, burritos and fajitas, or is simply served as a stand-alone. It is sold at Mexican meat markets called “carnicerias” in the American Southwest; especially those states with Mexican/Mexican-American enclaves.

When purchasing carne asada from meat markets, consumers have two options available to them regarding the amount of preparation the steak has undergone pre-purchase: preparada, marinated meat as described above, serving as a time-saver for the home cook but typically at higher cost; and no preparada, unprepared meat, allowing for a home cook to create one’s own marinade. I buy unprepared meat and doctor my own.

What you have left after the marinating.

CARNE ASADA

2-3 pounds flank or skirt steak, sliced THIN

1 medium Vidalia onion, sliced thin

2 lemons, 1 sliced thin, 1 wedged for squeezing

1 lime, sliced thin

1 orange, sliced thin

1/3 cup champagne vinegar

2 teaspoons minced garlic, jar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika

  • Soak the meat in the vinegar for an hour or so.
  • Remove meat from vinegar and dry on paper towels.
  • Sift together all the seasonings and rub into the meat on both sides.
  • Layer the meat into a container alternating with the slices of lemon, limes, oranges and onions squeezing lemon juice on each layer as you go.
  • Let marinate for overnight or a day or so.
  • Grill on a VERY hot grill to desired doneness.
  • Serve with warm tortillas, Fresh Guacamole and Garden Tomato Salsa.

PARIKA POT ROAST

Paprika Pot RoastPAPRIKA POT ROAST

2 pound chuck roast
2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 KNORR concentrated beef stock
2 cups hot water
1 large Vidalia sweet onion, sectioned in pieces
1 bag baby carrots
6 ounces roasted red sweet peppers, cut into strips
2 tablespoons cornstarch
8 ounces sour cream
2 cups wide egg noodles
4 tablespoons butter

  • Generously salt and pepper roast on both sides.
  • Rub paprika into both sides of roast until well coated.
  • Whisk together the hot water and beef stock. Place in a slow cooker.
  • Top with the tomatoes, onions, carrots, sweet peppers and the broth.
  • Cover and cook on low 10-12 hours or 5-6 hours on high.
  • Remove the meat and shred with forks.
  • Whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth and add to the slow cooker blending well.
  • Add the meat back in and cook another 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile cook the noodles al dente’.
  • Toss noodles with butter.
  • Stir in sour cream into slow cooker and serve over noodles.

BEEF BARLEY STEW

BEEF BARLEY STEW

1 1/2 pounds boneless chuck roast

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

3 tablespoons butter

1 bunch green onions, sliced

1/2 red onion, chopped

4-6 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups beef broth

1 can diced tomatoes

2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon Thyme

2-3 cups root vegetable pieces (I used carrots and parsnips)

2/3 cup barley

1 tablespoon blood orange vinegar (red wine is great too)

  • Bring meat to room temperature.  
  • Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Melt butter in dutch oven over medium high heat.
  • Add meat and brown on all sides.
  • Remove meat with a slotted spoon.
  • Add onions and garlic, sauteing until garlic is fragrant and onions are soft and slightly browned.
  • Stir in broth, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Thyme and root vegetables.
  • Gently simmer for 1-2 hours, covered.
  • Stir in barley and continuing simmering until barley is tender.
  • Stir in vinegar.

BAKED MEATBALLS w/ ONION GRAVY

MEATBALLS
1 pound hamburger
1 pound ground pork

2 bunches green onions, chopped

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup Panko crumbs or crushed saltines

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon bail

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon white pepper

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Using your hands blend all the ingredients together.
  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • Roll meatballs into golf ball size meatballs.
  • Bake for 30-45.
  • Bake how ever many you need today and freeze the others for future meals. Thaw in refrigerator before baking.

ONION GRAVY

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

2 tablespoons self-rising flour

1 tablespoons cream sherry

2 cups hot water

1 tablespoon better than bouillon beef base

1 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet

salt and pepper to taste

  • In a large skillet melt the butter for the gravy. Saute the onions until browned.
  • Add the bouillon base, cream sherry and hot water. Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat, add flour and continue cooking to desired consistency.

MEAT LASAGNA & CHICAGO METALLIC’S 3-ROW LASGANA PAN

1 pound sweet Italian sausage

3/4 pound lean ground beef

1/2 cup minced sweet onion

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 cans diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano and basil

1 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 tablespoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

12 lasagna noodles(I like the Barilla no cook)

16 ounces ricotta cheese

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned.
  • Stir in crushed tomatoes (juice included) and tomato sauce.
  • Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley.
  • Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water OR use no bake noodles.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  •  To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  • Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce.
  • Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture.
  • Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices.
  • Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
  • Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  • Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  • Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes.
  • Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

My mom got me this new lasgana pan from Chicago Metallic for Christmas and I have to say it is awesome.  Lasagna no longer is a mess to cut and each edge of cheese is crispy and just perfect!  Assembly is also a breeze with no overlapping. You can even make 3 different flavors at once.  I can’t wait to try it on some banana bread and meatloafs.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS ~ OLDIE BUT GOODIE

Traditionally this recipe is served with lingonberries – YUMMMMMMY!!
MEATBALLS*
1 Jumbo egg
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 large slice white bread, crusts removed, and bread torn into 1-inch pieces
8 ounces ground pork, double ground
8 ounces ground beef, double ground
1 medium onion, grated or minced
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
Olive Oil, heavy coat

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Whisk egg and cream together in small bowl. Stir in bread and set aside to soak.
  • Blend hamburger & pork, onion, nutmeg, allspice, pepper, brown sugar, and salt smooth and uniform.
  • Using fork, mash bread mixture until no large dry bread chunks remain.
  • Add mixture to beef mixture and blend until well mixed.
  • Form 1-inch round meatballs. You’ll have about 25-30. 
  • Bake 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
  • At this point you can either complete the recipe or freeze the meatballs for a later weeknight.

SAUCE
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
Table salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Melt butter over medium high heat.
  • Once melted, add flour and cook, stirring constantly with whisk, until flour is light brown.
  • Slowly whisk in broth.
  • Add brown sugar and bring to simmer.
  • Reduce heat to medium and cook until sauce is reduced to about 1 cup, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in cream and return to simmer.
  • Add meatballs back to sauce and simmer, turning occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.  If making the meatloaf, at this point pour sauce over the meatloaf and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
  • Stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper to taste and serve over noodles.

TEX MEX MEATBALL SOUP

It’s cold here and snowing like a banshee so I whipped up some warm (heat and spice) soup to have with some fresh baked beer bread!

TEX MEX MEATBALL SOUP
MEATBALLS
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 Jumbo Egg
1 cup cooked rice
1 tablespoon bread crumbs
SOUP
2 pounds Roma tomatoes, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 small sprigs of cilantro, minced fine
1/2 small Vidalia onion, diced
1 tablespoon safflower oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 cups chicken stock
1 avocado, sliced
white cheese or sour cream for garnish

MEATBALLS

  • In a small food processor grind together the garlic, cumin, salt, pepper and onion until well blended.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine the beef, pork, egg, breadcrumbs, rice and seasoning mixture until well blended.
  • Roll into 1 – 1 1/2 inch balls and set aside.

SOUP

  • In a sauce pan heat the oil and add the onions and garlic. Saute’ until fragrant.
  • Add the tomatoes and sea salt, cooking for 5 minutes until soft and tender.
  • With a slotted spoon remove the tomatoes to a blender and puree with chicken stock.
  • Return the tomato and chicken stock to the sauce pan and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce to a slow simmer and add the meatballs, cooking for 30 minutes until meatballs are cooked through.
  • To serve, place a few meatballs in each bowl and cover with ladles of soup.
  • Garnish with avocado and a sprinkle of white cheese or sour cream.

BEEF TENDERLOIN

BEEF TENDERLOIN
1 (3 pound) beef tenderloin roast 
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
4-5 mushrooms, sliced thin
1/2 cup melted butter

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
    • Sprinkle garlic on bottom of shallow, glass baking dish and then layer green onions on top. 
    • Place roast on top of onions.
    • Whisk together soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and butter.
    • Pour over the tenderloin.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, then turn the roast over, and continue cooking 35 to 40 minutes, basting occasionally until the internal temperature of the roast is at 140 degrees for medium.
    • Let meat rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing
  • STUFFED SHELLS

    STUFFED SHELLS adapted from Weight Watchers
    15 large shells, cooked and drained**
    1 pound lean ground beef
    1 1/2 teaspoon Pampered Chef Italian seasoning
    1 medium onion, chopped
    8 ounces tomato sauce
    1/2 cup water
    1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    2 tablespoons Classico tomato pesto
    1 cup shredded cheese

    • Brown meat and onion, Drain.
    • Whisk together tomato sauce, water, bouillon, garlic, pesto and seasoning.
    • Stir 1/2 cup of tomato sauce mixture and 1/2 cup of cheese into beef mixture.
    • Stuff shells with meat mixture.
    • Pour 1/2 of remaining sauce on bottom of the baking dish.
    • Put shells on top of sauce.
    • Pour remaining sauce over shells.
    • Top with remaining cheese.
    • Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

    **If you prefer the shells and beef mixture can be tossed and cooked as a casserole. When I do this I use the smaller shells, but same proportions.

    CRY BABY BURGERS and ROASTED PAPRIKA POTATOES

    CRY BABY BURGERS

    1 pound ground chuck

    sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

    1 small can jalapenos, drained and chopped (save a small amount for the mayo)

    1 small can green chiles, drained and chopped

    1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

    2 slices pepper jack cheese

    jalapeno mayo (small amount of minced jalapenos whisked into mayo)

    caramelized onions – 1 small Vidalia onion, thinly sliced

    • Combine ground chuck, jalapenos, green chiles, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce until well blended.
    • Form into 3 patties. Refrigerate for several hours.
    • Whisk together mayonnaise and minced jalapenos.  Refrigerate until chilled.
    • Sear and brown patties, turning frequently until cooked through.
    • While cooking the patties, melt a small amount of butter in another pan and caramelize onions to desired doneness.
    • When burgers are done, top with cheese, mayonnaise and caramelized onions.
    • Enjoy!

    ROASTED PAPRIKA POTATOES

    2 pounds baby red potatoes

    sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

    Hungarian paprika

    1/4 cup melted butter

    • Scrub potatoes.
    • Boil for 10-15 minutes.
    • Drain the potatoes until cool enough to handle.
    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    • Spray a 9×9 shallow baking dish with PURE.
    • Place potatoes on bottom in an even layer.
    • Smash each potato slightly.
    • Evenly sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika.
    • Pour melted butter evenly over top.
    • Bake 30 minutes until crunchy and bubbling.