Deep Dish Cheeseburger Pizza

pizza dough
1 lb beef
1 lb bacon
1 onion; chopped
1/2 cup mustard
1/2-1/3 cup ketchup
1 cup tomatoes; diced
Fresh cheddar cheese
salt and pepper


Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Cook bacon on cookie sheets.  15-20 minutes, flipping once half way though.  Cook until crispy (or fry in pan).  Chop.

In a skillet, heat oil and onions.  When cooked though add beef season with salt and pepper.  Remove when cooked through.  Add ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper and tomatoes.  Cook though once tomatoes soften, remove.

In a cast iron skillet, spread out dough.  Using this type of skillet will make a deep dish pizza!  Remember to oil the pan before putting the dough in!  Begin the layering.  the ketchup and mustard is the sauce, then top with ground beef, bacon and cheese. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Enjoy!

Stuffed Peppers

Here is  a new take on stuffed peppers...

2 red peppers
1/2 cup couscous
1 16oz can tomato paste or sauce

1/4-1/2 cup water (if use paste)
1/2 pound ground beef
1 small onion; chopped
2 cloves garlic; finely minced
olive oil
1 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp oregano
1 cup ricotta cheese
mozzarella cheese

In a pan heat olive oil garlic and onions.  Once they are cooked though add ground beef.   Cook through.  Add tomato paste, basil, parsley, oregano and 1/4 cup water.  May need more water, may also use  pasta sauce.  Once all mixed together, add ricotta cheese.  

Cook couscous as directed.  Add to beef and ricotta mixture.  

Cut tops of of the peppers, fill with beef filling.  Top with mozzarella cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until cheese is bubbling and peppers are soft to touch.  Serve with a side of sauce.

Enjoy:)

Pot Roast

I think I am getting the hang of the crock pot....the pot roast turned out great!

• 1 chuck roast
• 1 tsp salt, divided
• 1 onion, sliced
• carrots
• celery
• 3 cloves of garlic, peeled
• 2 cups of drinkable red wine, divided 
• 1 bay leaf
• fresh ground pepper

Season the chuck roast with salt and pepper.  Sear all sides in a skillet.  Place all ingredients in  the crock pot.  Set on low for 6-7 hours.   When ready, remove the roast, bay leaf and half of the veggies.  use a emulsion blender to thicken the gravy and  pour over meat and veggies.  YUM!

Valentine's Dinner!

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Nothin' says love like a full and happy belly! 

Prime Steak, Sauteed Spinach & Crispy Onion Rings

PRIME STEAK:

2 prime tenderloins

fresh cracked pepper

sea salt

butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Generously season all sides of steak with salt and pepper.  In a cast iron skillet, heat (on high) until hot and add butter.    When butter is melted, sear steak on all sides.  About 2 minuets on each side.  Place in oven for 6 minutes, flip steaks and bake for another 6 minutes.  Let steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving.  

SAUTEED SPINACH:

1 package of baby spinach

2 cloves of garlic; minced

1tb olive oil

Salt and pepper

Heat olive oil and garlic in a pan.  Add spinach and saute in pan until bright green and wilted.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve hot!

CRISPY ONION RINGS

Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

2 tablespoons instant mashed potatoes

big pinch of cayenne

1 cup cold club soda

2-3 cups Panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs), or as needed

salt to taste

vegetable oil for frying

2-3 yellow onions, cut into 1/4-inch rings

Mix flour, corn starch, instant mashed potato and cayenne pepper.  Add cold club soda, mix and let it thicken up.  Put panko in a separate dish.  Heat the vegetable oil in a pot about 2 inches worth of oil.  Dredge the onions in the batter then in the panko.  When the oil is hot fry the onions in the oil for at least 3 minutes.  Season the onion rings with sea salt when hot.  

Enjoy :)

Philly Cheesesteak Calzone

My favorite red meat is probably flank steak, which is why this recipe is veryyyy tasty! 

• 1 pizza crust, cut slices in edges to wrap over...

• 1 medium onions, sliced thinly
• 1 medium green pepper, sliced thinly

• 3-4 oz steak, sliced thinly (I used flank steak) 

marinate steak in 2 cloves of garlic sliced thinly, Worcestershire sauce, teriyaki sauce, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil.  (grill or bake)
• 1/2 C shredded mozzarella cheese and provolone cheese mixture

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Meanwhile, slowly caramelize the onions and green pepper over medium heat.
Top with the caramelized onion, peppers, cheese and steak.  Finish off with a sprinkle of cheese, and a little salt and pepper. 

 

 Make an egg wash (1 egg and a splash of milk) and lightly brush over dough.  This will give the dough the golden color!

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the crust is golden!

Beef Stroganoff

• 1 pound stir fry beef/sirloin, cut into bite size strips
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  
  
• 1/2 cups fat free sour cream
• 1 package of baby portabella mushrooms
• 1 (8 ounce) package egg noodles

1. Coat beef with flour.  Brown the beef strips in a large skillet over medium high heat and drain excess fat. Remove from pan. Add the onion and mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes, or until tender. Stir in the salt, paprika and ground black pepper.
2. Add the beef broth, reduce heat to medium low and let simmer for 8-10 minutes. Add the sour cream, stirring well.  Put the beef back into pan and let cook together for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Prepare egg noodles according to package directions. Serve beef mixture over the egg noodles.

ENJOY :)

Grilled Steak and Romaine Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

• 2 Prime Steaks
• 1 head of Romaine Lettuce
• 1 large tomato
• Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper

Dressing:

• 4 ounces Gorgonzola
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

This salad was so delicious I am still thinking about it!  Hope you love it too!  ENJOY :)

Blue Cheese Burgers

Our first grilling of the season!  Simple and Delicious!

Hamburger meat

St. Pete's Blue Cheese

salt and pepper

Season hamburger with salt and pepper.  Grill hamburger until done to your liking.  Add blue cheese and enjoy :)

Sides:

Caprese Salad

Grilled Zucchini

Steak with Smashed Parsnips

A tasty meal for my Valentine!  I think we have perfected cooking steak in a cast iron pan!  It has come out  juicy, and full of flavor every time!  

Appetizer's First of Course!! 

Marinated Goat/Sheep Cheese with rosemary baguette (SO GOOD!)
Paired with Charles King 2007 Cabernet Sauvingon - Napa Valley

Steak:

The perfect portioned steak of your choice.  

Freshly ground pepper

Kosher salt

Bring steak to room temperature.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Salt and pepper both sides of steak and pat down.  Heat cast iron pan on stove top.  When hot put about 1-2 Tb. of butter in pan.  Place steak in skillet.  Sear on all sides for 2 minutes each.  Once all that delicious flavor is locked in, place cast iron in oven oven.  After 3 minutes, flip steaks so they cook evenly.  Bake another 3 minutes.  Let steak sit for 5 minutes before cutting into it.  ENJOY!!

Smashed Parsnips for two:

1 parsnip; peeled/shaved and cut into 1 inch chunks

1/2 cup mascarpone cheese

parsley

salt 

pepper

1 small onion chopped into small pieces

2 tb. sugar

2 tb. butter

Boil parsnips for 15 minutes.  Drain once they are tender, just like cooking potatoes.   In the same pan, on low, melt butter.  Add sugar.  Let brown up and bubble.  Add onion, saute until browned and cooked through.  Add parsnips, mash.  Add mascarpone cheese (this acts as milk agent).  Add parsley, salt and pepper.  Enjoy!

Chili

1 lb ground beef

1/2 onion chopped

2 cans dark kidney beans (drained and washed)

1 can whole tomatoes

1/2 cup dry red wine

salt and pepper

chili powder

garlic powder

cheddar cheese

In a large pot, saute onions in a tablespoon of butter and a dash of seasoning salt.  When browned remove and save in a bowl for later.  Add ground beef, cook until browned and cooked through.  Ladle out grease. Add sauteed onions, tomatoes, kidney beans, red wine, salt and pepper to taste.  Add 1 thin layer about 2 tsp. of garlic powder and chili powder about 3 tsp.  (add more to taste)  this will make a mild chili.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Serve with cheddar cheese on top! ENJOY :)