March 28th, 2014

Tips for Setting a Winning Easter Table

Easter Table

Your meal is prepped. Your Easter guests are due to arrive.

But what about the table? Presentation is half the battle, right?

Setting a delightful Easter table doesn’t have to be difficult.

Take these Easter table setting tips and make them your own – and the holiday will be a smash!

Use fresh greenery, items that recall the season and beautiful colors and you can’t go wrong.

Read on here for more tips for setting a table that reflects you and impresses your guests!

Photo courtesy of Chris Astley via Epicurious.com.


December 20th, 2013

Holiday Time Means Feedin’ Time!

The guests are coming! The guests are coming!

Overnight guests = lotsa cooking.

And it’s not just the holiday meal we have to prepare for, it’s multiple breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, appetizers, desserts – it’s non-stop eating!

I KNOW it’s not just my family.

So I like to try to be kind to myself and get a game plan ahead of time.

My go-to dinners? Burgers (always easy and always a hit) and Bake & Serve meals like the Roast Chicken with Apple and Tart Cherry you see above.

So tasty – and you just pop them in the oven! Voila! Gourmet!

Check out other tasty Bake & Serve ideas here like Beef Wellington and Chicken Cordon Bleu.

And have a merrier holiday without all the stress!

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.


December 9th, 2013

12 Steaks of Christmas

It’s the holiday season and food is central to all the joyful gatherings at this time of year. That makes it the perfect time to try 12 new steak recipes in the spirit of the 12 days of Christmas!

Here’s one I know will knock some socks off:

Japanese Flat Iron with White Soy and Ginger sauce

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

Asian BBQ Flank steaks               4

Togarashi* spice mix                   3 T

Sauce:

Lime juice                                  1/3 C.

Ginger, peeled and minced                        2 T

White Soy                                 2 T

Garlic, minced                            2 t

Brown Sugar                              1 t

Dijon Mustard                            1 T

Canola Oil                                 3 T

Method:

1.  Sprinkle steaks With Togarashi spice mix, and sprinkle with salt. Grill or sear in a pan until desired doneness is achieved.

2. While the steaks are resting combine the lime juice, ginger, soy, garlic, brown sugar, and Dijon in a blender, or combine with a whisk. While the blender is blending or you are whisking slowly add in oil until sauce is emulsified.

3. Slice beef and served drizzled with white soy ginger sauce.

*Togarashi is a Japanese spice mix, and can usually be found in the Japanese or Asian section of the grocery store or a Japanese market.

 

And here’s another:

Flat Iron Steaks with Herbed Butter

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

Butter                                        4 oz

Fresh Parsley, chopped                 1 T

Lemon Juice                               1 T

Fresh thyme, chopped                  1 t

Flat Iron steaks,  6oz                    4

Butter                                        2 T

Vegetable oil,                             2 T

Shallots, minced                         2 T

Salt and pepper               as needed

Method:

1. In a mixer combine butter, parsley, lemon juice, and thyme. Mix until well combined. Roll up in a piece of waxed paper, and place in the fridge to harden.

2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

3. In a preheated skillet, add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan, and then add the 2 T of butter. 

4. Just when you see the first wisps of smoke, add the steaks to the pan, making sure to not overcrowd the pan. When the steak is properly seared flip and let sear for one more minute.

5. Add the shallots to the pan, and then put the pan in the oven. When the steaks are cooked to their desired temperature, pull them out and put them on a plate to rest, while they are resting. Divide the herbed butter into 4 and place one piece on tope of each steak. Serve after 5 minutes of resting.

 

I mean, how much more YUM can it get? Visit here for another 10 steak recipes that you like (that equals 12 folks). These steaks are sure to bring smiles this holiday season.

Happy gatherings, everybody!

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.


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