Recipes for Special Occasions

I don’t know about you, but it’s a rare night that I get to dine on steak. Most people shy away from preparing the mouth-watering meat on a nightly basis because it cost more than chicken or hamburger. However, when it comes to celebrating special occasions, studies show that steak is the number one choice for diners. With that said, you don’t have to go into debt or spend hours in the kitchen to create a succulent steak dinner. Whether you are celebrating a graduation, birthday or anniversary, the following easy, yet delicious steak recipe can’t be beat. I’ve also … Continue reading →

Great Grilling Recipes

This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season, and what better way to celebrate than to get grilling. Grilled dishes can turn an ordinary meal into a gourmet feast. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a top chef to create the following scrumptious recipes. Simply dust off your grills, grab some basic ingredients and get cooking: RED HOT PEPPER BURGERS Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef 1/4 cup your favorite chunky salsa 4 jalapeno peppers 4 hamburger buns, split 1/4 cup chopped fresh tomatoes 2 tablespoons sliced pitted ripe olives Directions: Combine ground beef and 1/4-cup salsa in large … Continue reading →

Bargain Beef Eats

Who says you have to drain your wallet to dine on beefy meals? There are hundreds of simple and delicious beef-based entrees that can be made in less than 30 minutes and for less than $20. Take a look: SIMPLE BEEF STROGANOFF Ingredients: 1 pound beef stir fry strips 2 tablespoons oil 1 medium onion, sliced 2 clove garlic, crushed 1 can Cream of mushroom soup 1 cup sour cream 1 (3oz.) can sliced mushrooms 2 tablespoons ketchup 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce Directions: Heat oil in skillet, brown beef strips. Add onion slices, crushed garlic and mushrooms. Continue cooking for … Continue reading →

Steak and Cream

If it seems like an odd coupling, then you haven’t tried the following recipes. I’m an A-1 gal myself, but after dining on a New York strip steak bathed in peppercorn cream sauce I may never go back to the black bottle again. Another one of my steak and cream favorites combines hearty beef tenderloin with tender mushrooms in a thick cream sauce. Simply divine. Try out the recipes and judge for yourself: STEAK WITH PEPPERCORN CREAM SAUCE Ingredients: 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns, crushed 2 teaspoons garlic salt 2 New York strip steaks 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon Worcestershire … Continue reading →

Meaty Menu Options

I didn’t grow up in a meat and potatoes household, though I have friends who can’t survive a day without dining on the classic combo. They require having meat and potatoes at least once a day, be it sausage and hashbrowns at breakfast, a hamburger and fries at lunch or steak and potatoes at dinner. If you are a die-hard meat and potatoes fan, then consider the following hearty recipes. They don’t feature potatoes as the starch option, but I guarantee you won’t miss them. NOT YOUR MAMA’S BEEF STROGANOFF Ingredients: 2 pounds beef tenderloin or sirloin, cut 1-inch pieces … Continue reading →

Beef Up Sunday Dinner

Growing up I never dined on beef stew unless it was Sunday night. Beef stew was one of my dad’s specialties and since he worked during the week, and the dish takes a while to cook, he’d always wait until Sunday to make it. Sundays are an ideal time to make warm, homey meals to share with family and friends. If you are looking for a hearty, beefed up dish to serve this Sunday, consider the following recipes: BAKED BEEF STEW Ingredients: 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/2 cup flour 1 tablespoon garlic salt 2 teaspoons … Continue reading →

Random Recipes

Besides inheriting my dad’s wispy hair, I also picked up his habit of grocery shopping on Sunday. My mom and dad split cooking duties, but he did the bulk shopping each Sunday. As a result, Saturdays were dubbed “Smorgasbord Saturdays” in our home as my dad purged leftovers from the refrigerator and served them that night for dinner. The following recipes remind me of “Smorgasbord Saturday” as they can be made from leftovers (beef, bacon and shrimp) or from scratch. Either way you are left with mouthwatering dishes that don’t require a ton of time or skill to prepare. BEEF … Continue reading →

Comfort Foods: Meat and Potatoes

Continuing with our “Comfort Foods” theme, today I am focusing on the classic combination of meat and potatoes. There are some people who don’t go a single day without ingesting at least one meal that features a hearty helping of meat and potatoes. For these individuals the combo screams comfort. While I make a concerted effort not to serve meat and potatoes for dinner every night, I do admit that the combo brings back fond memories of my childhood. The following recipes were some of my favorites: CLASSIC MEATLOAF Ingredients: 2 pounds ground chuck 1 envelope dry onion soup mix … Continue reading →

Dinner on a Stick

Make dinner fun tonight by adding a stick. If you’ve ever been to a state fair, then you know kids will eat just about anything off of a skewer (my 4-year-old tried fried alligator once because it was hanging off a wooden stick). The following recipes are not only kid-friendly, but they also make fantastic finger foods for a family potluck or small dinner party: SPICY CHICKEN SKEWERS Ingredients: 1-pound chicken breasts, trimmed of fat and cut in 2-inch wide strips 4 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated 4 cups chicken stock 4 tablespoons soy sauce 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 each … Continue reading →

Meaty Monday

It’s a meaty Monday here thanks to my favorite grocery store selling chuck roast at an unbelievably low price. Whereas I usually stock up on white meat, I couldn’t resist the sale, and now I am the proud owner of a 5-pound chuck roast. In addition to the red meat that is sitting in my refrigerator I also have leftover roast pork that needs to be eaten before Ash Wednesday. Fortunately, I have devised two simple and delicious ways to prepare (and subsequently devour) said meat products. Take a look: PERFECT POT ROAST Ingredients: 1 3 to 5 lb. Chuck … Continue reading →