Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Steak Tacos


Ingredients:
2 steaks(I use top sirloin or new york) cut into bite size chunks
1/4c. taco seasoning(homemade or packaged)
1/4c. water
1 lime
14 corn tortillas, fried
Toppings-finely chopped cilantro, diced onion, sriracha thai chili sauce or salsa, avocado, grated cheese

Make It:
Heat a large skillet to medium high, toss steak with taco seasoning. Spray pan and add steak. Cook about 3 minutes until browned, stirring to get an even brown. Add water bring to a low simmer and reduce heat to low, stir occasionally, cook 5-10 minutes until sauce thickens. Meanwhile in a small sauce pan heat oil and fry tortillas. Prep toppings. Squeeze lime on steak and stir. Take a taco shell add meat, cheese, sriracha, cilantro, onion, one piece of sliced avocado. Enjoy!

A little info about sriracha, its a thai chili sauce you find in the asian food section at the market. It is spicy and a little sweet. Start with a little. After a couple trys you will love it! I put it on tacos, mix it in soy sauce to pour on rice, add to stir fry sauce, dip steak in it, and put it on my sushi.


Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Abundant Harvest Box

I decided to add a new feature to the blog! I want to show you guys what yummy veggies and fruits I get in my box. I really think its a great deal. I switched my subscription from a small box to a large box. The plan was to take everything out and take a picture. I got so excited about how much good stuff was in it that I forgot to take the picture! So here is a list:
25-30 october sun plums(I didn't count but it was alot)
4 pomegranates, 1 bag dark grapes
4 zucchini, 3 lg tomatoes, a container of cherry tomatoes
1 lg head cauliflower, 1 eggplant, 6 carrots
12-14 sml potatoes, 1 head of romaine, 1 head of green leaf, sage
1 cantaloupe, 6 sml bell peppers, 1 basket green figs
All organic! When you make the decision to eat seasonal, local and mostly organic you have to think ahead! I used the tomatoes, 2 carrots, and 1 zucchini to make a pasta sauce that I froze. I also shredded 2 of the zucchini and froze them to use in cakes, breads, and other stuff in the winter. I will be freezing some bell peppers and onions the next time I get them. At some point I will have to learn to can things but i'm not quite there yet.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Basic Cooking Tip of The Week

How to make mashed potatoes:
You will need one good size russet potato per person. In a large pot boil enough water to cover potatoes. Peel potatoes, if you like the skin you can leave a little on. Chop into about 2 inch pieces. Add to water, boil until tender enough for a fork to pierce potato easily. Drain, put potatoes in a stand up mixer, back in pan or a large bowl. Now the rest you do by your taste. Add butter, milk, salt and pepper. If using a stand up mixer, use the paddle, and turn on low. If you don't have a stand up mixer you can mash potatoes in a large bowl with a potato masher. Or you can use a hand held mixer. Beat or mash potatoes and other ingredients until smooth. Taste them once smooth and add extra butter, milk, salt or pepper as needed. Enjoy!

Cheesy Tot Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces and cooked
2 carrots peeled and diced
1/2 onion diced
1/2 head broccoli cut into small pieces
2tblsp flour
2c milk
2tblsp butter
4oz velveeta
1c cheddar cheese
25 frozen tater tots
2teas thyme

Make It:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat a small saute pan to medium heat, spray in some pam, add carrots and onions. Cook over medium low heat until softened. Add chicken stir to combine, keep over heat until chicken is warm. Meanwhile heat a saucepan over medium heat add butter, once butter is melted, add flour stir for 30 seconds to cook flour a little. Add milk whisking constantly, once combined cook over medium low heat until slightly thickened(about 5 minutes). Add velveeta stir until velveeta is melted. Pour chicken mixture into a 9x9 casserole dish, sprinkle thyme over it, add broccoli. Pour cheese sauce over chicken mixture, stir to combine. Sprinkle cheese on top. Then cover with tater tots. Bake for 20-25 minutes until tots are golden brown. Enjoy!

Menu for September 14th -20th

Monday- Shake and Bake drumsticks, Mashed potatoes, Summer squash saute
Tuesday- Pizza(homemade or take out), Green salad
Wednesday- Steak tacos, Red pepper strips
Thursday- Cheesy tot chicken casserole, Fruit salad
Friday- Steak stir fry, Rice
Saturday- Birthday party
Sunday- Patty melt, Sliced tomatoes, Corn on the cob

Dessert of the week: Ice Cream Sundaes

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Basic Cooking Tip of The Week

How to make a pork loin chop

Preheat oven to 375. Preheat an iron skillet or basic saute pan to medium high heat. Season chop with kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, and granulated garlic to taste(feel free to experiment with the seasoning to get them the way you like it). Put in pan and brown, 4 minutes per side. Put on an oven safe dish, place in oven and cook for 20 minutes. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Guacamole Burgers

Ingredients:
1lb ground beef to make 4 patties or 2 depending on how big you like them
1 avocado pitted and mashed in a bowl
4 slices swiss cheese
Sliced red onion
Hamburger buns
Condiments of choice

Make It:
Form patties and put back in refrigerator until time to cook. Preheat bbq or cast iron skillet to medium high. Slice onion and mash avocado, prep any other veggie or condiment you choose to use. Put patties in pan or on grill, cook 4 minutes per side(for medium) cook longer for more well done, add cheese turn off heat and cover till cheese is melted. Grill buns a minute or until lightly toasted. Serve with onion and avocado. Enjoy!