Dutch Oven Mushroom Beef and Barley Soup

I LOVE Sundays.  I love that I get to sleep in (sort of).  I love that I can make pancakes or scones or muffins for breakfast, not something I can do during the week, and I love hanging out in my pajamas!  I also LOVE Sunday dinner.  Gathering around the table with your loved ones and sharing a good meal has got to be just about one of the best things on earth. 

The last time we got together I got to make a big pot of this warm, hearty soup.  It was the perfect remedy for a cold and blustery day.


Beef and Barley Soup
1 1/2-2 lbs. beef stew meat or chuck roast, cubed
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 Tbsp. butter
3/4 cup onion, finely diced
3/4 cup celery, finely diced
3/4 cup carrots, finely diced
8 oz baby bella mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 tsp. fresh thyme
1/2 cup red cooking wine
4 cups beef bone broth, low-sodium
3-4 cups vegetable broth, low-sodium
2/3 cup barley, rinsed


In a Dutch Oven, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat until rippling. Add the onion, carrots and celery.  Reduce heat to medium and saute until onions are soft and translucent. Remove to a bowl and set aside.  Add about a half of a tablespoon of butter and another small drizzle of olive oil to the pan.  Add the mushrooms and saute until soft.  Remove and set aside as well.

Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil and beef cubes and saute until browned on each side.  Add veggies back in, the garlic and fresh thyme.  Saute about a minute, until fragrant.  Add tomato paste and red wine.  Increase heat to high and bring to a boil to scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan.  Add broth and barley and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to simmer and cook about 45 minutes.

Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.  Serve warm



SOURCE:  Slightly adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Greek Pot Roast

So, how many of you have an instant pot and love it?  I've been dying to get one since Christmas and we finally did last week!  Thank you Amazon prime for 2-day delivery!  We've used it about 4 or 5 times since then and just love it.  I seriously can't believe how fast it cooks things.  Like, if you cut a roast into pieces....10 minutes.  10 minutes!!!  Gone were the days of oops, forgot to turn on the oven or crockpot 6 hours ago, I guess we're having cereal for dinner....again, ha!

Anyway, I'm so happy with how this roast turned out.  Greek food and flavors are some of my most favorite to prepare and eat.  While the meat doesn't taste quite like your typical gyro meat with ground lamb, it's still very tender and well-seasoned.

You can serve the meat with some veggies over rice or potatoes but I love to serve it gyro-style. Use either some flatbreads or pitas, spread the meat down the middle and add toppings, such as tzatziki sauce, cucumbers, tomatoes, extra onions, feta cheese or kalamata olives.


Greek-Style Pot Roast (Instant Pot/Slow Cooker)
2-3 lb. boneless chuck roast
olive oil
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1 Tbsp. dried basil
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried dill
1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1/2-1 cup beef broth

Trim any excess fat off the roast and cut into 1-inch thick slices.  Mix seasonings together in a small bowl. Add meat to a bowl, drizzle with olive oil then add seasonings and toss to coat.

If using the Instant Pot/pressure cooker, turn on sauté mode.  Drizzle a little olive oil in the bottom and add the onions.  Sauté 4-5 minutes until tender, stirring frequently.  Add garlic another 30 seconds, careful not to burn it.  Add the meat and sun-dried tomatoes and pour in the broth.  Give it a little stir then pop the lid on.

Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes then release steam and open the lid.  Remove meat to a plate or cutting board.  Slice or shred the meat and put it in a serving dish. Strain the onions and tomatoes from the liquid and add them back to the meat.  Add additional broth back to the meat as well, taste for seasoning and adjust, if necessary.


*To cook in a slow cooker, trim fat off roast and leave it whole.  Place in slow cooker, rub with seasonings then add the onions, garlic, tomatoes and broth.  Cook on low 6-8 hours or until comes apart easily.



SOURCE: Our Best Bites

Perfect Pot Roast

 Nothing says Sunday dinner like pot roast! We don't eat much red meat, and roast maybe once or twice a year.  But boy do I love it!  And my girls are actually old enough that they are beginning to enjoy it as well. I hadn't had much experience with cooking roast, except in college when I threw it in a crock pot with a can of cream of mushroom soup.  Good, but I don't like using canned soups anymore.  Luckily many years ago Pioneer Woman came into my life.  If anyone knows how to cook beef it's her.  So when I first saw her recipe for pot roast I knew it would be good.  And she's right, it is perfect!!  I absolutely love it this way and don't think I'll change.

Perfect Pot Roast
1 whole chuck roast, 4-5 lbs.
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 onions, quartered
6-8 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch slices then halved or quartered
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup red wine (or extra beef broth)
2 cups beef broth
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried rosemary

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.  When hot but not smoking, add the onions, browning on each side.  Remove to a platter then do the same with the carrots.

Generously salt and pepper the roast.  Add another drizzle of olive oil to the pot, if necessary, then add the roast.  Sear on all sides, about a minute on each, until it's browned all over. Remove to a plate.  Deglaze the pan with about a cup of red wine (or red wine vinegar or beef broth), scraping bits off the bottom with a whisk.  Place roast back in the pan, arranging the onions around it.  (You can add carrots now but I usually add them the last hour.)  Add enough broth to cover the meat about half way.  Add rosemary and thyme.  Cover with lid and roast in the oven 3-4 hours, until fork tender and falling apart. This would be delicious served with mashed potatoes.  Use the juices from the roast to make gravy to go with the potatoes.

SOURCE: Pioneer Woman

Smoky Black Bean Chili

I know it's summer time and hot, hot, hot! But my oldest daughter has fallen in love with chili since eating it at a friend's house recently.  I don't know about you, but I'm so over the dinner time struggle!!  I know I still have to deal with it for years to come, but hey, if I can find a few more healthy things my kids like that I can add in to the dinner rotation, I'm all over it.  My middle daughter already LOVES this black bean soup, as well as taco soup, so I didn't think it would be hard to get her to try this delicious chili!  Plus, you can totally eat it with chips.  That always gets their attention, haha! To my surprise both girls told me they didn't like the chili, they LOVED it!  I was so happy, I literally jumped up and down with them.  Dinner time was happy time that night.

This chili, like most soups, is open to a little interpretation.  I didn't add a ton of heat because I knew my three littles would be eating most of it.  I wanted to add a couple chipotles in adobo during cooking but I knew it would be too spicy, but feel free to do so.  Instead, I decided to just use the chipotle tabasco sauce on the side instead; my husband loves that stuff anyway and puts it on everything.  Whatever you do, don't leave out the smoked paprika, ginger ale and cocoa powder!! They lend such a unique element to the dish, I think that's why I loved it so much.

This chili would be lovely served with some cornbread, fresh tortillas or even hot cooked rice.


Smoky Black Bean Chili
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 onion, finely diced
1 red pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 1/2 cups ginger ale
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
3 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can RoTel
1 can diced or crushed tomatoes

garnishes:
sour cream
shredded cheese (cheddar, monterey jack, mozzarella or my personal favorite smoked cheddar)
cilantro
diced avocado
chipotle tabasco sauce
tortilla chips

Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan or Dutch oven over medium high heat.  Add onion and ground beef and cook until onions are translucent and beef is browned.  Drain off all but a tablespoon or two of the fat.  Add chopped red pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, cocoa powder, oregano, smoked paprika, and brown sugar.  Sauté 2-3 minutes, until fragrant. Add ginger ale, tomato sauce, black beans, RoTel and tomatoes to the Dutch oven.  Stir to combine.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook about 15-20 minutes.

Serve warm, with desired garnishes.

Steak and Blue Cheese Salad

You guyyyyyyys! I can't stop eating this salad. It is my new absolute favorite.  And because it only has like 5 ingredients, besides the dressing, you can blink twice and it's basically done.  Ok, maybe a few more times than that.  But, seriously, like 5 minutes tops.

When it comes to ANYTHING beef, I always turn to Pioneer Woman first, because her hubby is a cattle rancher and they like live and breathe beef. If you've never tried her Perfect Pot Roast, I strongly urge you to.  It is heaven on a plate; best roast I have ever had. Ever!

So, after you get everything prepped, throw the dressing together. It's a little tangy, a little sweet, a little gingery and goes perfectly with beef. You will use some to marinate the meat and the rest you'll just want to slurp up eat it on salad practically every day 'till it's gone. 


Steak and Blue Cheese Salad
2 steaks (Ree suggests rib-eye or strip steaks, I just get whatever looks good)

for the dressing/marinade:
3/4 cup light olive oil
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. lime juice (about 1 lime)
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger
1 tsp. salt
fresh ground pepper

for the salad:
lettuce mix (whatever floats your boat, I like romaine and arugula or just arugula)
cherry tomatoes, halved
thinly sliced red onion
about 4 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (or more if you want leftovers)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Combine all the dressing ingredients together in a mason jar. Twist on the lid and shake vigorously.  Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.

Place steak in a zip-loc bag and add about 1/3-1/2 of the marinade.  Seal and marinate in refrigerator for about 2 hours.

When you're ready, preheat grill and cook steak over medium-high heat about 2-4 minutes per side, depending on how pink you want it.  Remove from heat and let it rest 5 minutes.  Thinly slice steak across the grain.

To assemble salads, place a large handful (or more) of lettuce mix on each plate.  Top with a good handful of tomatoes, sliced onion and a couple tablespoons each of blue cheese and pecans.  Lay the sliced steak on top of everything and add dressing as desired.



SOURCE: Slightly adapted from Pioneer Woman

Thai Steak Salad

It is very seldom that we eat beef, even less that we eat steak.  I absolutely love this salad though and thought this weekend would be perfect for a little splurge.  I have had the original version of this recipe for probably almost 10 years.  It was in one of my most favorite Cooking Light Cookbooks.  What attracted me at first was the beautiful picture in the cookbook.  The bright purple cabbage and orange carrots contrasted against a bed of lovely greens. 

This salad also has three of my favorite fresh herbs: basil, cilantro and mint.  While I have eaten them and love them separately, they are amazing all together in this salad.  It is a HUGE burst of flavor going on in your mouth! The dressing uses a bit of Thai fish sauce which adds great flavor in small amounts.  If you're not a fan of fish sauce or can't find it, this Ginger Lime Dressing is a good substitute.  It is my all time favorite dressing and use it on my Asian Slaw whenever I make it.


Thai Steak Salad
for the marinade:
1 flank steak (or ribeye or sirloion)
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. red cooking wine (can also use sherry or red wine vinegar)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. olive oil

for the salad:
1 small nappa cabbage, shredded
1/4 small red cabbage, shredded
2-3 cups baby spinach
2 large carrots, peeled and small-diced (julienned or shredded works too)
1/2 (or more) fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup (or more) fresh basil leaves
1/2 (or more) fresh mint leaves

for the dressing:
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 1-2 limes depending on how big and how juicy)
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. fish sauce
2 tsp. fresh minced garlic
1 Tbsp. Sriracha (sweet chili sauce)

garnish:
chopped peanuts


Combine marinade ingredients and place in a ziploc bag along with steak and marinate for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours.

Combine salad dressing ingredients and set aside. 

In a large salad bowl, combine salad ingredients and set aside. 

When you are ready to cook the steak, drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large grill pan and heat over medium-high heat.  Cook steak about 4-5 minutes per side, or until desired degree of doneness.  Remove from heat and let rest at least 5 minutes.  Slice steak across the grain in thin slices.

When ready to serve, toss the salad with a little bit of the dressing.  Divide salad between plates and top with sliced steak and chopped peanuts.


SOURCE: Adapted from Cooking Light and Pioneer Woman

The Perfect Hamburger

What is summer without the perfect burger?  I've been making these burgers forever.  They are so simple but really the best homemade burger I have ever made.  My oldest daughter asks for hamburgers about once a week at least so I'm glad I have this simple recipe to throw together.  They are so quick, you'll be finished making them before the grill heats up!

I like to serve my burgers on whole wheat buns, I use this recipe and substitute whole wheat flour, with just lettuce, tomato, mayo and ketchup.  I know, pretty plain, but there are some things that just don't need to be complicated.


The Perfect Hamburger
1 lb. ground sirloin
2 Tbsp. finely chopped yellow onion (I use dehydrated since it's just a small amount)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1-2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Place everything in a mixing, bowl. Mix together with your hands until well incorporated.  Form into patties; I do about 5-6 per pound.

Preheat outdoor grill over medium-high heat.  Oil the grates of the grill.  Place the patties on the heated grill and cook 4-5 minutes.  Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes.

Serve warm with toasted buns and toppings of your choice.


SOURCE: Williams Sonoma

Pineapple BBQ Beef Sliders with Sweet Hawaiian Slaw

 

 
So, a while back I ordered part of a cow!  I never thought that would be something I would do, but as we are changing our eating habits and learning more about what actually happens to some of our food, it seemed like a natural step.

One of the cuts I was left with was a rump roast.  Now I'm sure there's not a shortage of recipes for roast but I wanted to make it GOOD since we hardly ever eat it.  I had initially planned an Italian-style meal with Pioneer Woman's Italian Pot Roast but changed my mind at the last minute.  I was in the mood for some sliders and slaw!

I was really pleased with how this whole meal turned out.  The meat was delicious and tender and I loved the pineapple and onion mixed in there.  The slaw is light, crunchy and so fresh and adds great flavor and color to the sliders.  The slider buns are a take on my favorite hamburger bun recipe, flavored with a unique ingredient; can't go wrong with those!

Pineapple BBQ Beef Sliders

1 (2-3 lb) beef rump roast

2 cups fresh pineapple, chopped

1 onion, diced

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Place cold roast into a cold crock pot.  Turn it on low.

Cut up pineapple, reserving juice if you can, and onion and spread over and around roast in crock pot.

In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce and any juice leftover from cutting up the pineapple.  Pour over roast and replace lid. 

Cook roast for at least 6-8 hours on low, until meat easily shreds with a fork.  Once cooked, remove roast to a large tray or cookie sheet and shred with two forks.  Return meat to crock pot, letting it soak up the juices and mixing it with the pineapple and onion.

Serve on Hawaiian rolls with Sweet Hawaiian Slaw.

Sweet Hawaiian Slaw

1 small head of cabbage, thinly sliced (I used half purple and half green)

1 cup shredded carrots

3 green onions, sliced

1 1/2-2 cups fresh pineapple, small-diced

Anaheim pepper, finely diced

juice of a lime

2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted

squirt of Dijon mustard

salt and pepper, to taste

Place cabbage, carrots, green onions, pineapple and pepper in a salad bowl and toss to combine.  In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, coconut oil, mustard and salt and pepper.  Pour over slaw and toss once again to coat evenly.  Serve either on top of or aside the Pineapple BBQ Beef Sliders.:

*Note: If you refrigerate the slaw with the dressing, the coconut oil in the dressing will firm up.  To serve again, just leave the slaw on the counter and bring to room temperature.

SOURCE: Beef adapted from Six Sisters' Stuff

Baked Chimichangas

Chimichangas are one of my most absolute favorite Mexican foods. My mom has been making these as long as I can remember and they have been the star of many a family gathering. So a little while back I got the hankering for some chimichangas and actually thought I could find a better recipe. So I looked and looked and found a recipe I thought would be good. Well, it got rave reviews and it was good, but it wasn't THIS good. It didn't really compare to my mom's recipe. So, I will never search for another chimichanga recipe again! This is my go-to; perfectly seasoned, wonderful taste!

If you're looking for a main dish to celebrate Cinco de Mayo look no further! These will be the star of your feast. They are easy to throw together, can be made a day in advance and they still get that flaky, crispy outer layer, resembling it's fried form, but healthier since it's baked.

Baked Chimichangas
for the Mexican Meat Mix:
2 lb. beef roast
1-2 cups beef broth
olive oil
1 small onion, finely diced
1 4-oz. can chopped green chiles
1 7-oz. can tomatillo salsa (salsa verde)
2 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp. cumin
3 Tbsp. flour
juices from roast
salt & pepper

for the chimichangas
12 8-inch flour tortillas
sour cream
roma tomatoes, diced
salsa
lettuce, shredded
guacamole

Set out a crock pot large enough to fit your roast. Turn on low.

Heat a small drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high. Generously season both sides of roast with salt and pepper and place in skillet. Brown on all sides. Place browned roast into warm crock pot and add beef broth until it reaches about half way up the roast; between 1-2 cups. Cook on low for about 6-8 hours. Alternately you could put the roast in a roasting pan in the oven at about 275 degrees F for about 2-3 hours.

Once roast is cooked, remove meat to a large platter, reserving juices. Shred meat and set aside. In a large skillet, over medium heat, add a drizzle of olive oil. Add onions and saute until translucent. Add garlic and saute about 30 seconds, then sprinkle with flour and saute another minute or so. Add green chiles, tomatillo salsa and cumin, then reserved meat and juices (should be around 1 1/2 cups-feel free to add more broth if you don't have many drippings). Cook about 5 minutes, until it has thickened. Cool slightly.

*Preparing the Mexican Meat Mix can be done a day in advance to minimize time spent in the kitchen during dinner prep.

To assemble the chimichangas: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Warm tortillas in the microwave about 20-30 seconds so they are pliable when rolling. Spread about 1/4 - 1/3 cup Mexican Meat Mix on lower third of tortilla. Fold bottom edge up over filling, then fold sides toward center and roll up the rest of the way. Place on greased baking sheet and continue with remaining meat mix and tortillas. Brush the tops of each chimichanga with olive oil and bake about 20-30 minutes or until lightly golden.

Serve on top of a bed of shredded lettuce. Top with your choice of garnishes: sour cream, chopped fresh tomatoes, salsa, guacamole, cheese, olives, etc.

*These freeze very well. Once you are done rolling them all up, stop there and place them in a zip-top freezer bag. When you're ready to bake, continue with the rest of the instructions, baking slightly longer to account for them being frozen.

Sweet Italian Sausage and Spaghetti Bolognese

Years ago I began making my spaghetti sauce with ground beef because, like most daughters, that's what my mother did and my cooking roots came from her. It wasn't until I got married that I explored other things in making my spaghetti sauce. For example, I threw in mushrooms and zucchini lots of times and per my husband's request started using Italian sausage. I found out that I really loved sausage in my spaghetti sauce and that I much preferred it over ground beef. One thing that I didn't like about sausage though, was that if you're not careful about what kind you buy, you can get some pretty gristly stuff that's not too appetizing. Finally, I got to the point where I didn't even want to buy pre-packaged sausage and started searching for a recipe that I could easily make at home with the knowledge of every single ingredient that went into it.

In my search, I found this breakfast sausage blend that we really love and enjoy but I didn't think the flavor combination was quite right for a big bowl of Italian-style spaghetti. Then I came across this Italian blend and as soon as I saw the list of ingredients, I knew I was going to love it! And love it we did. My girls, however, didn't like the big fennel seeds in it so next time, I might try grinding them a little bit before I add them. This is a very flavorful sausage, so whatever you pair it with, I would make sure it is very lightly seasoned.

Sweet Italian Sausage
5 lbs ground meat (chicken, beef or pork or a combination)
40 grams kosher salt
35 grams sugar
20 grams toasted fennel seeds
6 grams cracked black pepper
4 grams ground nutmeg
1 cup minced fresh parsley
1 head garlic, peeled and chopped
1 cup dry sherry (I used sherry cooking wine)

Mix all the spices together then add it to your meat. Using the paddle attachment to a stand mixer (or a stout wooden spoon, or your VERY clean hands), mix the sausage well. Add the sherry to the meat mixture. With a stand mixer set on level 1, let this go for 90 seconds. It might take a little longer with the spoon or hands. You want the mixture to get a little sticky and begin to bind to itself – it is a lot like what happens when you knead bread.

Now you have sausage. I like to portion mine out in to 1 lb. sections and freeze it. You could make 1 lb. blocks, links, patties, meatballs or whatever shape you want!

For the Bolognese sauce:
olive oil
1 small onion, finely diced
1 quart crushed tomatoes (you could also use tomato sauce)
1 lb. Sweet Italian Sausage

Drizzle olive oil into a large saucepan and add onion and sausage. Fry on medium-high heat until sausage is no longer pink. Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot over cooked spaghetti and shave fresh parmesan over the top.

SOURCE:Sausage recipe Adapted from Simply Recipes

Skillet Tacos

I've been making these skillet tacos for about the past 3 months. It's pretty much a homemade hamburger helper meal, only better. I try to stay away from the boxed stuff and a lot of processed foods, and this is pretty easy to put together. My kids and I really like American-style tacos, with hamburger and taco seasoning, so I'm all for cooking something they like and will eat. While my 3-year old would eat a taco in a shell, I would have to help her and it can get pretty messy. When I saw this version popping up on several blogs, I knew it would be a great alternative for our little hands to handle.

1 lbs. lean ground beef
8 oz. rotini
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
4-5 roma tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup taco seasoning (or 1 pkg. taco seasoning)
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet or sauté pan, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. A few minutes before the beef is cooked through, add the chopped onion to the skillet. Once the beef is cooked through, mix in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Mix in most of the diced tomatoes, reserving some for garnish, and taco seasoning and let simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Stir in the cooked pasta, sour cream and reserved pasta water, if needed, and continue stirring until the sauce is well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and top with shredded cheddar cheese and fresh tomatoes.

SOURCE:Adapted from Annie's Eats

Tangerine Beef with Peppers and Onions

Oops, I don't know what happened, here's how the original post was supposed to read:

This meal was supposed to be the orange beef way back from my January monthly menu, now here it is the end of February and I"m just now getting to it. When it was time to get this meal ready, I couldn't find the recipe I had planned to use so I went to Food Network's website, which I don't do a whole lot, and on the home page was a picture and a link to Guy Fieri's Tangerine Beef. I knew immediately that it would replace my orange beef and my thoughts were only confirmed when I read all the wonderful reviews about it. I did things a little differenly than the original recipe, but I think it turned out wonderfully. I loved the strong flavor of the tangerine coming through.

For the marinade:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pound flank steak or tri-tip, cut in thin strips on the bias

For the sauce:
2 tablespoons cooking sherry
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons soy sauce
juice of 1 tangerine

For the stir-fry:
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
zest of 1 tangerine, divided
1/2 onion, cut in wedges
1 red pepper, julienned

For the garnish:
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
half of the tangerine zest

In a bowl or resealable plastic bag combine the soy sauce and cornstarch and mix well. Add beef, cover, and let marinate for 20 minutes in the.

Whisk together the sherry, hoisin, honey, soy sauce, and tangerine juice until completely combined.

In large pan or wok, heat about half the oil on high heat. Add the onion and pepper and saute until tender; about 3-4 minutes. Remove to a bowl and set aside. Heat remaining oil and add the ginger, half of the zest and beef and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Return veggies to pan and add sauce mixture and cook for another 2 minutes on medium heat until sauce thickens. Serve on warm platter, garnish with remaining tangerine zest and sesame seeds.

1 serving=1/4 of recipe with 1/2 cup rice
4 servings
Calories per serving:455

NOTES:If you'd like to add some heat, just add some chili sauce or red pepper flakes into the sauce when you mix it together.

SOURCE:Adapted from Guy Fieri

Italian Meat Loaf with Basil and Provolone

Oh! Right now I am kicking myself for not keeping my basil plants going indoors this winter. I LOVE fresh basil, but if you try to buy "fresh" basil in the grocery store, it's not really that fresh, rather wilty, packaged in plastic and too expensive for a quick weeknight meal if you ask me. I miss my Logan Albertson's that had REAL fresh basil, packaged in bunches with big bright leaves and only cost a little over a buck.

Even though I had to substitute dried basil for fresh, this meatloaf is sure to knock your socks off; as much as meatloaf can. The ketchup adds a nice sweet flavor and the provolone, oh the provolone is so yummy and gooey. My kids even ate this and they can be picky sometimes. I made this a few years ago and don't remember it being this good. This will be sure to show up a little more on our monthly menu in the coming months. Serve with oven fries*.

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil
1/2 cup ketchup
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup fresh basil, or 2-3 Tbsp. dried basil
1/2 (2 oz.) shredded provolone cheese
1 large egg
2 garlic cloves
1 lb. ground round
Cooking spray
1/3 cup ketchup

Finely chop tomatoes and set aside. Preheat oven to 350.

Combine chopped tomatoes, 1/2 cup ketchup and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Press meat mixture into a loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Spread 1/3 cup ketchup over meatloaf. Bake for 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Cut into 12 slices.

6 Servings
Calories per serving: 294

*Oven Fries
Quarter 4 medium potatoes (I prefer reds) and slice about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Put them in a bowl and drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle generously with seasoned salt. Toss to coat evenly. Spread them on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes.

SOURCE:Adapted from Cooking Light

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

I got this recipe from my sister. This is great for crowds and very easy to make. My sister also simmers hers in a crock pot, which makes it portable for any potluck or family party. It's also a kid-pleaser. The meatballs are very soft, so I just mash them up with the rice and they eat it great. Since you only use 1/3 cup of tomato sauce in the meatballs, I just use the rest of the can as part of the ketchup and then add enough ketchup to make 1 1/2 cups.


for the meatballs:
½ lb ground pork
1 lb ground beef
½ t pepper
½ t garlic powder
2/3 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
½ cup chopped onion
2 eggs
1 T flour
1/3 cup tomato sauce
3/4 t salt
3/4 t soy sauce

Place meat and the rest of the ingredients in a bowl. Mix together and form 1-1 1/2 inch balls. Place on a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.

for the sauce:

2 cups pineapple juice
1/3 cup water
1 ½ cups ketchup
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 t soy sauce

Bring to a boil. Thicken sauce with about 1/4 cup cornstarch mixed with just enough water. Then add 9 oz pineapple tidbits.

Simmer meatballs in sauce for 20-30 minutes. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Szechuan Beef

1 lb. flank steak, sliced very thinly
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp cooking wine
2 tsp cornstarch
4 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. sliced fresh garlic
1 tsp. sliced jalapeno pepper
6 1-inch sections green onion

Sauce:
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp sesame oil

Mix the sliced beef with soy sauce, cooking wine and cornstarch and set aside. Heat the wok and 4 Tbsp of vegetable oil. Stir-fry the garlic and jalapeno pepper until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beef and the sauce ingredients and stir-fry over high heat just until the beef is no longer pink on the outside, about 2-3 minutes. Add the green onions during the last 1 minute of cooking.

NOTES: I got this recipe off the food network website a few years ago so I don't know if it's still there but we really love this stir-fry.

Sliced Steak with Roasted Poblano Gravy, Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle and Green Onion Green Beans

This dish packs some heat! But I like it and it's different. I love the smokey heat from the chipotles in the sweet potatoes and the firey heat from the poblanos in the gravy. The gravy is probably my favorite part of this meal. It is so tasty and goes wonderfully with the steak. This is a Rachel Ray recipe so it comes together relatively quickly, as long as you can run all your burners at the same time! I love to cook the steaks on an outdoor grill because of the flavor, but whatever you have available will work.

3 large or 4 to 5 small poblano peppers
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
6 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 cup chicken stock (eyeball it)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 chipotle pepper from a can of chipotles packed in adobo, seeded and finely chopped, plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 New York Strip steaks (about 1 1/2” thick and 6 to 8 ounces each)
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed and cut in thirds
4 scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups beef stock (eyeball it), divided
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (eyeball it)
1 teaspoon (about 1/3 of a palmful) ground cumin

Preheat a broiler or turn a gas burner on high heat and roast the poblano peppers until they're soft and the skin of each pepper has charred. Place the roasted peppers in a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let cool.

While the peppers are cooling, place the sweet potatoes in a pot of cold water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add some salt and cook until tender, about 10 minutes, drain and return the potatoes to the pot they were boiled in. Add 2 tablespoons butter, chicken stock, brown sugar, chipotle pepper and adobo to the potatoes and mash until well-combined. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and reserve.

While the potatoes are boiling, season the steaks with salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook under the broiler to medium, about 5-6 minutes per side. Once cooked, transfer the steaks to a platter and cover with aluminum foil, allowing them to rest for about 5 minutes.

While the steak and potatoes are cooking, fill a straight-sided sauté pan or saucepot with about 1 inch of water and bring it to a boil along with a large pinch of salt. Add the green beans to the boiling salted water and cook until tender and bright green, about 3 minutes. Drain the cooked green beans and return them to their cooking pot. Add 2 tablespoons butter and the scallions to the green beans, toss them to coat, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and reserve.

Once the poblanos are cool enough to handle, unwrap them and peel the skin off from each pepper (it should come off very easily), then remove and discard the stem and seeds. Puree the roasted peppers in a food processor or blender with 1/4 cup of beef stock and reserve.

In a medium-size saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and add the flour. Cook flour and butter for about 1 minute then whisk in the remaining beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, cumin and pureed peppers. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

To serve, slice the steak into slices 1/4 inch thick and arrange them on a plate with a helping of the mashed sweet potatoes and green onion green beans. Top everything off with some of the poblano gravy and enjoy.

Beef Stroganoff

1 ½ lbs. beef tenderloin, top loin, or sirloin tip, well-trimmed
Season with:
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Melt in a small saucepan over medium heat:
1 ½ tablespoons butter
Add and stir with a whisk until smooth:
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Add and whisk constantly to prevent lumps for 3 to 4 minutes:
1 cup beef stock, heated to a simmer
Simmer until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Set aside and keep warm. Heat in a large skillet over medium-high heat:
2 tablespoons butter
Add the beef along with:
1 onion, thinly sliced
Cook quickly, shaking the pan and stirring, until evenly browned, 1-2 minutes. The meat should remain pink in the center. Remove the meat to a warmed platter with a slotted spoon and discard the onion. Return the sauce to medium heat, stir in, and heat briefly without boiling:
3 tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Add any accumulated juices from the cooked meat. Add the meat to the sauce and serve with hot cooked egg noodles and *sautéed mushrooms.

*Sautéed Mushrooms

Use a large skillet and give the mushrooms plenty of room so that they will brown instead of steam in their own juices.
Heat in a very large skillet over high heat:
2 ½ - 3 tablespoons butter or olive oil or a combination
Add:
1 pound any variety or combination of mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced
*TIP: Alton Brown from “Good Eats” on the Food Network suggests the following: Add the mushrooms in batches. When the first batch starts to brown, push them to the outer edges (don’t take them out) of the pan and add the second and so on. This ensures that they are all cooked well.
Cook, tossing constantly, until the mushrooms begin to color, 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste.

NOTES:I used to make this recipe, from The Joy of Cooking, a lot when we were first married. For me, it's almost just as easy as using the cream soup style stroganoff but a whole lot tastier. When everything's cooked, we just put it all in one serving dish and mix it together.