Steak and Kale/Spinach Quinoa

- Round steak - rub with a mix of salt, pepper and thyme then pan sear
- Cook quinoa in water, when done, rinse with cold water. Add meat/deglazing juice from meat frying pan to quinoa for extra flavor
- Steam kale and spinach, chop and add to cooled quinoa (*note: make sure to sufficiently drain the steamed veggies)
- Sautée chopped red onions until translucent, add chopped garlic, then add broccolette - add an ice cube and some lemon juice to pan and cover for about 5 minutes
- Flavor/season the quinoa with extra sautéed onions and garlic from the step above, pepper, salt, vinegar (cumin: optional)

Philly Cheese Steaks

Meat: Beef chuck short rib (sliced into small pieces with the grain)

 Fry beef on griddle in Worcestershire sauce until golden brown 

 Fry chopped onions, peppers and garlic until onions are translucent and peppers are softer

 Beef ready for assembly (don't forget the Cheez Whiz!!)

Served with fresh tomato/red onion salad dressed with olive oil/lemon juice/pepper

Bearnaise Sauce (over crepes)

Slightly modified THIS recipe (thyme instead of tarragon)
- Crepes made separately
- Filling made separately, consists of cubed brisket (see this recipe) fried with peppers, onions and garlic

Cranberry Coffee Cake

Makes 1 standard springform 

1.5 stick butter (room temp, unsalted)(1stick=8tbsp=4oz)

1 cup regular flour, 1/2cup corn flour or yellow fine corn meal

1tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp fine sea salt

1/4 cup orange zest (from 2 large oranges)

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1 cup sugar

1tsp vanilla extract 

4 egg yolks

2 whole eggs

Preheat oven to 350F, butter springform, sprinkle with flour (to prevent sticking)

mix flour, corn meal, powder, salt zest

in separate bowl, mix cranberries with 2tbsp from flour bowl

load into mixer - butter, sugar, mix

add to mixer - vanilla, egg yolks, then 2 whole eggs, then the remaining flour

fold in cranberries, gently with spatula (batter will be thick)

pour batter into springform, spread evenly

bake at 350F for ~40min (test readiness with wooden toothpick)

take out, let cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar

 

French Meringues

Used THIS recipe
Only baked for about 1.5hrs - insides were soft, and stayed soft. Next time will make them smaller and bake longer.

Meat and Eggplant Lasagna

Borrowed concepts from two recipes - THIS and THIS
- meat (1lb 90%/10% beef and 1lb spicy sausage meat)- fry until done
- pasta - soak lasagna pasta strips in hot water while preparing everything else
- cheese - 16oz ricotta mixed with 1 egg and chopped parsley (not shown: 1/2lb mozzarella slices, grated parmesan)

 

- peel/slice eggplant, dip in egg and breadcrumbs with spices and bake @375F for ~5min on each side
- prepare your favorite tomato sauce

 

- assemble everything in layers

- bake for suggested amount of time from websites

- enjoy after letting cool

Beef Stew

Beef chuck (~1lb) cubed, tossed in flour and lightly fried in oil
Onions, fried lightly in oil
Chopped fresh celery, carrots, mushrooms, potato, parsley, fresh rosemary, garlic
Beef stock
Frozen peas
Spices to taste (red pepper flakes, salt, white pepper)
Worcestershire sauce
Crockpot on "high" for 5-6hrs