Pepper Steak

(notice the salad with the pepper steak, mom?)

I never thought that I would ever say this, but I really love pepper steak.  All those green things used to make me squirm in my seat when I was a kid.  Somehow, I managed to break free from my carb loaded, veggie free childhood dietary habits and now I enjoy green things.

In my opinion, the best recipes are the simplest recipes.  This pepper steak recipe is very simple and very tasty.  I found this recipe in my favorite, most-frequently-used, go-to recipe book.  It's called "The Family Cookbook".  I love the cover of this cookbook.  It's covered with pictures of all of my favorite people.

Pepper Steak

• 2 green bell peppers, seeded and sliced in strips

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 1/2 pounds chuck steak fillets, blade steaks, or tenderized round steak

• 1 cup water

•  1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

 In a heavy skillet, sauté peppers in olive oil. Remove peppers; set aside. In same skillet, cook steak for about 5 minutes on each side, or until done. Slice steak and arrange on a hot platter with peppers.  Stir water, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper into the hot skillet, stirring and scraping to get the dregs (brown bits from cooking meat). Boil to reduce to about 1/3 to 1/2 cup. Pour over beef and peppers. Serve with hot cooked rice. Serves 6.

Get your rice going first then work on the peppers while it's cooking.

Six basic ingredients.  Well, seven if you count the water.

Slice the peppers into long skinny strips and saute in olive oil.

Remove peppers and set aside.  Brown the steak in the delicious, green peppery oil.

Thinly slice steak crosswise (against the grain) so the pieces are easy to eat.

Stir in water, Italian herbs, salt and pepper.  Boil to reduce to about 1/3 - 1/2 cup.  

Pour juice over beef and peppers.

Serve with hot rice and a salad to a happy husband.

Marinated Tuna Steak

I had a really great recipe to try for Tuna Steak and marinade, but, I have been really sick for the past few days. Sorry I couldn't make what I wanted to post. But, here is the recipe:
Marinated Tuna Steak
1/4 c. orange juice
1/4 c. soy sauce/ or liquid aminos
2 T. olive oil
1 T. lemon juice
2 T. chopped parsley
1 clove garlic minced
1/4 t. oregano
1/2 t. ground pepper
4- 4 ounce tuna steaks
Mix all the ingredients then pour over steaks in a glass pan, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Lightly oil the grill and cook the tuna steaks for 5-6 min. , then turn and baste with the marinade. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until desired doneness. Discard the remaining marinade. Enjoy with a large salad and brown rice.

Baby GaGa in Her Steak Onesie and Steak Gyros

The boys all call their sister 'Baby GaGa', so here she is in all her glory! Lady GaGa eat your heart out cause this girl has stolen ours!

Disclaimer-No animals were harmed in the making or production of this picture.














Steak Gyro Bites
I love Greek food especially Gyros and making them bite sized and interactive is even better!

Beef
1/4 cup extra-virgin o live oil
1/4 cup red cooking wine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 small bay leaf, crumbled
1/2 tablespoon (packed) fresh oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2-pounds beef steak

Marinade all ingredients overnight and cook in a frying pan. Set beef aside and keep juices in pan.

Purple Onion

Slice the purple onion in cross sections and saute in remaining beef juices.








Tsatsiki
Greek Yogurt
3 chopped Garlic Cloves
1 tablespoon Chopped Fresh Dill
Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and garnish with more dill.




Pitas or Flat Bread

I just bought some flat bread at the store so I heated them and cut them into four before serving on the platter.

I have made my own before and they are entirely worth the effort but for a week night meal fast is nice.



Once you have everything ready plate it all on a platter, pop in 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' and have a great night with the Greeks.


Disclaimer-A Cow was harmed in the making of this meal, and another milked.

Mom, We Want Steak

I don't know what this recipe is called, my kids usually just say they want steak and I know this is what they are talking about.

Ingredients: two 16oz. steaks (approx.)

garlic salt & pepper

one can cream of mushroom soup

one big onion

Heat the oil in pan on medium, I put just enough oil in the pan to brown both sides, then put in your steak and season with garlic salt & pepper.

Then let your meat get nice and browned, just like this.

Next, spoon on cream of mushroom soup and sliced onion (I like it sliced in rings)you can also add mushrooms, which I love. You don't have to wait for the bottom to get browned, you just put it right on and then put a lid on your pan.

You just let it simmer down till it gets all nice and saucy. This whole process usually takes about 45 min. to an hour.

I usually serve this with mashed sweet potatoes, and green beans.

I hope that at least one of you will try this recipe, it is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite yummiest recipes.

Halibut STEAK

I thought about knitting a cow, then I found a recipe for cauliflower steak--yes, the vegetable, and I just couldn't bring myself to inflict the recipe on everyone. I mean, I used to enjoy steak, and the mere thought of substituting it with cauliflower was just too much! Kelly, I'll give you the recipe if you really want it! 

Then I remembered the Halibut steak my favorite boss used to make, and I decided to re-create the recipe--halibut STEAK baked in a homemade celery soup sauce. (Back then we used canned soup, but this is so much tastier!) 

 Ingredients: 
1 bunch of celery
1 medium potato
1 medium onion
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves fresh garlic
1/2 Cup white cooking wine
1 quart vegetable stock
1 lime
salt, white pepper, thyme, cayenne and ginger
& of course, Halibut

You can slice up the onion and celery by hand, but I ran it through the food processor--it will be pureed anyway, so whatever you do is fine. Heat the olive oil and add the onions and celery. Cook over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute. Add the white cooking wine & cook for a couple of minutes--the wine will reduce by 1/2!

Dice the potato up small (so it cooks fast) and add the vegetable broth with it to the pot. Turn up the heat to a boil then, turn down to simmer for 15 minutes--don't overcook. The potatoes should be easily pierced, but not mushy.

Love that Vita-Mix! Pour the hot soup mixture into your blender, being careful to vent the top so the lid doesn't blow off and make a mess--how do I know?--been there, done that!










Pour blended mixture back into the pan and bring to a simmer again, adding the juice of the lime (reserving a slice for garnish), and thyme, cayenne, ginger, salt and white pepper to taste. Don't be afraid to use these spices, the result is amazing!


                                                              






Next, place your raw halibut into a baking dish and cover it with your wonderful homemade celery soup.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes--don't overbake.

Garnish with slice of lime and fresh mint--yes, I still have mint growing! By the way, the mint and lime are not just a garnish. The mint leaves with the lime are such a burst of flavor--love it!

STEAK!!

Every year we buy 1/4 beef from a small town in Nebraska. There's nothing like a small town cow, they just taste so much better than the local grocery store beef. Anyway, you get your regular cuts like the arm roast, rump roast, t-bone, etc. and you always get some of the less tender cuts like this sirloin in the picture. But we've found a good old family recipe that puts those less tender cuts to good use. Besides, Andrew has been asking for steak all week!

I know there are a couple of you that will have to get creative with this one (sorry 'bout that, but I'm actually really looking forward to seeing what you'll whip up!) Anyway, have fun with it.