Cooking SOS #2: it takes a village - steak

In the quest for the perfect steak, I sent out a djrr SOS and received a response from my new BFF "Craig Mac from the west coast". I could tell by his excited phone presentation that

this was a proven recipe and he did not disappoint. Thanks CM for a great steak dinner.

A+

Ingredients:

Steaks, olive oil, butter, paprika,

worchestershire, salt, pepper and garlic

Using a heavy frying pan, heat olive oil and a pat of butter

season steak liberally

Once the pan in hot, place meat (season side down) Cooked about 4 minutes

to sear the meat (sealing in the juices) Using tongs to flip and repeat

In a pre heated oven (400 degrees)  transfer steak to a pan, place pats of butter on top

Bake for 7-10 minutes each side (using tongs to flip)

 

Resting is important  ( @ 5 minutes)

Served with white rice and sliced mushrooms sauted with garlic

Buffalo Shrimp

Ingredients:

25 shrimp
2 eggs (beaten)
1 cup milk
2 cups all purpose flour
Garlic powder
Pepper
Salt




Combine egg and milk in bowl, Place flour and seasoning in a large zip lock bag.
Place a few shrimp with egg mixture then place in bag and toss, shake and coat well. Leave the
shrimp in bag while adding as many as you can. Repeat.


It is important that each shrimp is coated with flour.
Refrigerate for 5 or 10 minutes


For best results use a deep fryer (although, I have pan fried)


Deep fryers 3-5 minutes each batch @375


Remove, drain and toss with sauce (see below)

"Hooters" sauce

Using a small sauce pan - melt butter, hot sauce, paprika and garlic

Pour over shrimp.

Tip of the day

• The Best Way to Reheat Fried Shrimp

Even the best fried shrimp becomes soggy when reheated in the microwave. Microwaves steam food rather than heating it from the outside, resulting in damp breading, which falls off the shrimp. You can save your fried shrimp from the garbage by properly reheating it in the oven. Your secret weapon: a cooling rack used during cooking rather than after. Done right, you get crispy, crunchy shrimp heated completely through and ready for your choice of cocktail or tartar sauce. This also works for any other leftover fried foods: French fries, hushpuppies, chicken nuggets, fried fish and onion rings.

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
• Set the cooling rack across the baking pan to suspend it. 
• Lay the fried shrimp on top of the cooling rack, and place the baking pan and cooling rack combination the oven.
• Heat the fried shrimp at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.
• Remove the baking pan from the oven and leave the shrimp on the cooling rack for five minutes to cool slightly before serving

Stromboli

This used to be a staple in my youth while growing up in

 Reading, PA.

I recently came across this recipe

and decided to try and recapture the essence.

It was a hit with friends and family out of the gate and easy to make

 Ingredients:

refrigerated pizza crust dough

pizza sauce

cooked ham

salami

pepperoni

green pepper

sliced onions

mushrooms

mozzarella cheese

olive oil

italian seasoning

minced garlic

salt

pepper

egg

Saute mushrooms, onions, green peppers, garlic and seasonings

Spray baking sheet with cooking spray, roll out the pizza dough

spread pizza sauce, stack with mushroom mixture, meats and cheese

Bring all the edges of dough to the middle, covering contents

(pinching the edges to seal)

cover edges with egg wash and additonal salt and italian seasoning

Cut 4 slints in the dough for venting

Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown

Lunch idea #2 Bubba burger 2

Bubba burger atop with bacon sided with squash

Lunch idea #1: Bubba burger

Bubba burger atop texas toast with a slice of onion and tomato (pickle optional)

Food I love #1: the bubba burger

The best frozen burger I have ever tasted - it can be baked but for the best burger flava

pan fry for 7 minutes on each side with salt, pepper amd garlic powder! A+

The perfect hashbrown potato

Diced potatos for easy and even cooking

add diced onions, garlic powder, salt and peepr

Perfection - potato and onions

Cooking SOS #1: it takes a village - french baggette

I came across some french bread on sale. The first thought was to just rip it with my hands and spread butter on it. I decided to use social media to get some decent ideas.

from Ms Boyd:
you some great ideas here. one mo: chopped parsley, dice tomatos, dash of garlic powder and onion powder, about a table-spoon of extra-virgin olive oil and balsomic vingar - if you like (depending on how much ingredients you use)...toast bread - spread on toast and enjoy.

from Ms Kate:
Soften some butter or margarine (don't melt completely), add your favorite spice--i.e., cinnamon (and brown sugar if you like), curry, italian, garlic powder, poultry seasoning--blend well. Slice bread to whatever thickness you decide or slice lengthwise for two halves of the loaf. Spread the butter mixture on the slices and put in the oven until toasted or put under the broiler for a quick toast. Serve

from Ms Mac:
French toast:

1 loaf French or Texas toast bread
5 eggs
3/4 c. milk
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 (20 oz.) bag frozen whole strawberries
4 ripe-sliced bananas
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp. apple pie spice or 1 tsp. each cinnamon & nutmeg
Combine eggs, milk, baking powder and vanilla in mixing bowl. Place sliced bread (about 8 slices) into greased baking dish. Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, combine strawberries, bananas, sugar and spices. Put into greased baking dish and top with prepared bread. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes

Dinner idea #1 Tbone steak, sauted mushrooms and tomato

Steak:

 add butter to frying pan and fry for 7 minutes on each side

first season with worchestershire sauce, garlic pepper and salt both sides

Mushrooms:

 saute fresh mushroom slices with olive oil and salt and pepper

Sugar candy cane cookies

Shrimp deviled eggs

Chicken and peppers

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Squash medley

Squash Medley
Ingredients:

Squash/Zucchinni
Red onion
mushroom
minced garlic
butter
olive oil
red pepper flakes
salt
pepper

The key to this success is a good non stick skillet and a wooden spoon. Melt butter/olive oil
add red pepper flakes. Add diced onions, sliced mushrooms and bitesize pieces of squash, season.
stir constantly. Saute for @ 20 minutes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients:
 2 cups peanut butter
1 cup butter/margarine (2 sticks)
5 cups confectioners sugar
2 packages of chocolate chips

In a medium bowl combine peanut butter and butter until evenly mixed. Add confectioners sugar, mix well.

roll mixture into 1 inch balls and place on baking sheet. Place baking sheet in freezer to chill/shape balls
(@ 10 minutes)

In a microwave bowl melt chocolate chips ( 1 or 2 minutes)

using 2 spoons dip each ball in chocolate, covering in melted chocolate, place on cookie sheet.

Place in refrigerator for chilling

Pork wontons (fried)

Pork wontons (fried)

ingredients:

Wonton wrappers

ground pork

oil

mushroom

scallions

garlic (minced)

egg

soy sauce

cream cheese

garlic powder

salt

pepper

In large frying, brown sausage with minced garlic, sliced mushrooms, season with salt, pepper and garlic powder

drain. In large mixing bowls add meat mixture, half block of cream cheese, (1) egg and 3 diced scallions - mix well.

Place a small amount of mixture in middle of wonton, close wrapper (using water to wet the edges) Place wonton in hot oil for 3 minutes, flip and fry other side - drain on paper towel

Happy New Years Dinner Menu