Fire Roasted Salsa

Although this is not a main dish, many of you have asked for this recipe. I would love to take credit for this one, but I must give props to Top Chef Master Rick Bayless. No doubt I am in love with him...let's be honest here, so is Steve :)

Ingred.
1 large Jalapeno
3 cloves garlic with the skin on
1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1/2 of a lime (juice only)
1/2 c. diced onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Salt

In a skillet, pan roast the whole jalapeno and garlic until they are blackened. about 10 minutes. Cut the stem off the jalapeno and remove the skin from the garlic and drop both into a food processor or blender and pulse until nice and finely chopped. Then add the whole can of tomatoes (with juices) and blend until desired consistancy of salsa. Remove mixture and place into a bowl. Add the onion, cilantro, lime juice & salt. Mix well and serve.

*note* this can be made ahead of time. Just dont mix in the onion and cilantro until you are ready to serve.

Beef Chow Mein

It really dosen't get any easier than this! If you dont have a wok, use your widest skillet. The kids love the noodles as well. Dont be afraid of the black bean sauce. You will be suprised how good it is. It taste like a rich stir fry sauce from PF Changs. YUM! Special thanks to Sam the cooking guy for this reciepe too! This is for sure a family staple in our house now!


Ingredients
1 pound steak, (you choose, but I like a New York for this)
1 tablespoon peanut oil
4 ripe medium sized ripe tomatoes, cut into 8 wedges each
One 7-ounce package Asian stir fry noodles (from the refrigerator section at the market). But don't use the sauce mix.
2 tablespoons black bean sauce (also found in the Asian aisle of most supermarkets)

Trim excess fat from the steak and slice into very thin slices.

Preheat a pan or wok on stovetop and heat really well over high heat, then add oil. When the oil is smoking, and not until, add beef and stir fry for a couple minutes until beef changes color and is cooked through. Remove and set aside
With the pan back on the heat and smoking again, add a teaspoon of oil and the tomatoes. Stir-fry about a minute.
Add the beef, noodles and black bean sauce to the tomatoes. Stir the whole business until the flavor is through everything and all is heated.
Serves 6.

Chorizo Stuffed Jalapenos

These are rediculous! Soo Yummy and fairly easy. Perfect for Monday night football or weekend get togethers. These are a favorite amoung the men in my life!!

Ingred.
2 links Mexican chorizo, casings removed
1/2 pound smoked gouda, shredded
1/4 cup finely chopped red onions
1 egg
1/2 cup cream cheese
3 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon hot sauce (recommended: Frank's Red Hot)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
15 - 20 large jalapeno peppers, stemmed, seeded and halved

Directions
Special Equipment: parchment paper
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Brown chorizo in a skillet over medium-high heat, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and place into a large mixing bowl. Add the cheese, red onion, egg, cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, and salt and pepper, to taste. Press into jalapeno halves and assemble on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Potato Bacon Torte

So this is a great side dish to make with steak or pork. Delicious!!

Ingred.
3 Russet potatoes cut into 1/4 inch slices.
2/3 cup heavy cream
3 sprigs of fresh Thyme
1 c. Gruyere Cheese
Salt and pepper.
2 pieces of premade pie crust
6 slices of crisp bacon, crumbled (approx 2 pieces per layer)
1 egg white w/1/2 tsp. water mixed together (egg wash)

In a pie plate, place on of the pie crusts on the bottom. Arrange a layer of potatoes on the bottom and season with salt and pepper. Next add some bacon on top. Continue this process until you are at the top of the plate. On the final layer, add the grated cheese.

bring the heavy cream to a SOFT simmer with the Thyme and let it rest for 5 minutes. Pull out the Thyme after it rests

Pour the cream on top of all the layers and cover with the additional pie crust. Bruch on a layer of egg wash to the top and put into the preheated over. Dont forget to salt and pepper each layer as you go!

Bake at 375 for 50 minutes or until nice and brown on top. If the edges of the pie are getting too brown, cover them with foil and continue to bake.

Newcastle Tri-tip

Yes, this is the second Tri-tip recipe I have posted. We love this cut of meat, especially from costco. The following is my newest creation!

Ingred.
2 lbs Tri-Tip steaks
1 c. Newcastle Beer
1/2 cup apple cider
Season salt

Pat the season salt into the meat and place into a ziploc bag. Add the beer and cider and marinate for at least 2 hours. Grill on Med- High Heat until desired doneness.

Could it be any easier???

Artichokes

Artichokes are probably my most favorite Veggie! Thankfully Samantha loves them too so they never go to waste in our house. This is a super simple recipe that I created and I hope you try if you are intimidated by this veggie!

Ingred.
2 Artichockes - anysize, cut in half, scoop out the hair and the purple leaves, if any
1 tbls. black peppercorns - whole
1 lemon cut in half
4-5 sprigs fresh Thyme
3 Cloves garlic peeled and cut in half
Salt

In a large stock pot fill with salted water and boil. Once boiling, add all the ingred. and return to a boil. Reduce to med heat and let cook for approx 20 minutes. Remove from water and set aside.

Dipping Sauce ~
In a sauce pot, add 1/2 a stick of unsalted butter and melt. Once melted turn the heat off and add....
1/2 tsp. salt
half of a lemon - juice only
minced fresh Thyme
1 tsp. dried Dill (secret ingred)
~place in a small bowl and you are ready to dig in!!!

Anniversary Dinner

We resisted the temptation to go out for diner tonight (even though it was our 5 year anniversary), and grilled with the kids instead. I love when they actually eat what we make!

Menu ~ Malafronte Marinated Tri-Tip, Grilled Onions & Asparagus, Bistro Salad - Yum

Tri Tip ~ In our opinion, nothing comes close to Costco meat. Get yours there for a superior cut of meat. Marinate the Tri Tip in the following ingred. for at least 3 hours or over night.

1 cup of soy sauce
1/2 Worschestire Sauce
1 tbls. minced garlic
1 tbls lemon pepper
Grill on high heat for approx 7 minutes per side.

Bistro Salad - This is the yummiest salad we make.
Mixed Greens or Romaine salad cut into bite size pieces
Pecans -Raw
Dried Cranberries
Fresh Parm
Newmans Italian Light Dressing

This is a SERIOUSLY GOOD SALAD!!!