French Onion Sliced Steak with Gruyere Sauce and Green Beans

This recipe was really good!!! We really enjoyed this one - once again, another winner with the leftovers! I cooked green beans and then tossed with Olive Oil and Garlic and finished the meal off with a salad. Per my husband, "When are we having this again?" Enjoy!

Receipe from Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided plus additional
5 tablespoons butter, divided
3 softball-size yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon ground dry thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 London Broil (about 2 to 3 pounds, one that is large enough for 4 people)
1 pound green beans
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded gruyere cheese

In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons EVOO and 2 tablespoons butter. When the butter is melted, add the sliced onions, bay leaf, thyme, salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook until caramelized, about 15 minutes, or until melted down, brown and sweet.

While the onions are cooking, place steak on a broiler pan and generously coat it with EVOO, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Broil under the broiler for 10 minutes or until cooked to desired doneness. When done, remove and let the steak rest to let the juices return to the center of the meat, about 5 minutes. I switched things up here. We cooked the London Broil on the grill instead. I did coast with EVOO and Salt & Pepper before grilling.

In a medium-size pot over high heat, boil water. Once at a boil, add the green beans and cook for 5 minutes, until cooked through. I steamed my Green Beans

In a medium-size skillet melt 1 tablespoon butter, add cooked green beans to the pan, juice from half a lemon, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss to coat and heat through. I omitted this part

In a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat, melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add flour to the melted butter and cook about 1 minute. Whisk in chicken stock and milk and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let it come up to a bubble and thicken then turn off the heat. Add the cheese and stir in a figure-eight motion until mixed.

Slice the steak and place on a platter. Pile the onions on top and pour the cheese sauce over the top. Serve the buttered lemon green beans alongside.

Pasta e Fagioli al Forno with Lemmon Pepper Salad

This recipe was actually pretty good. I still need to adjust a few things, otherwise it was yummy. And even better re-heated the next day!

Recipe from Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book

Pasta e Fagioli al Forno

Ingredients:
Salt
1 pound penne rigate or whole-wheat penne ( I used whole grain pasta)
1/4 pound pancetta, 3 to 4 slices thick cut like bacon (I omitted)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 ribs celery from the heart with leafy tops, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 to 3 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped
3 to 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves finely chopped
1 fresh bay leaf
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (15-ounce) can small white beans "Roman" beans, such as Goya brand or, cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
Nutmeg, to taste
1 1/2 cups grated Romano

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, cook pasta to just shy of al dente.
Chop pancetta into 1/4-inch dice.
While pasta cooks, heat a skillet with olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add pancetta, cook 2 to 3 minutes then add celery, carrot, onions, garlic, rosemary, thyme and bay leaf to the skillet, season with salt and pepper. Saute the vegetables until tender, 6 to 7 minutes. Add beans and heat them through. Stir in 1/2 cup wine, simmer 30 seconds more and turn off heat. Remove bay leaf.
While vegetables cook, place a small sauce pot over medium heat, add butter, melt butter then whisk in flour and cook 1 minute then whisk in milk. Season sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg and reduce 4 to 5 minutes, stir in half the grated cheese, turn off heat and adjust seasoning.
While sauce cooks, place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat broiler to high.
Drain pasta and return to the pot, toss with white bean mixture and sauce, stir to coat, transfer to a casserole dish, top with remaining cheese and place in oven to brown, 5 minutes.

Lemmon Pepper Salad

Ingredients:

Salt
2 lemons
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pint yellow tomatoes, halved or 2 vine ripe yellow tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 hearts romaine lettuce, shredded or chopped

Zest the lemons into a bowl. Add the juice of the lemons with the pepper, whisk in olive oil then season the dressing with salt, to taste. Toss the tomatoes and greens with dressing and adjust seasoning.

Thanksgiving LeftOver Stuffed Shells!!!!!

OMG!!! These were amazing!!! I was trying to find some new recipes to use with Thanksgiving Leftovers. I came across this recipe on Food Network for Turkey and Cranberry Raviolis. I didn't want to make my own ravioli's so i decided to use Stuffed Shells (Thanks to my mom!). And then i put my own spin on the recipe and they were AMAZING!!!! If you do decide to make the stuffed shells version, i would double the gravy recipe because there was not enough there. My husband loved them and wants them again next weekend!!!! Its really quick to make once you make that turkey and use all of your leftovers! I can't wait to make them again!

Turkey and Cranberry Ravioli
Recipe from: Food Network

Ingredients:
Ravioli
1/4 pound of turkey - I used fresh leftovers and shredded them
2 Tablespoons of cranberry sauce - I used a lot - we love cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons of grated Romano - I'm sure i used more, we love cheese
1 tablespoon of breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
20 Store bought wonton wrappers - I used stuffed shells

Gravy:
3 tablespoons of butter
1 shaollot, chopped
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper


To make the ravioli: in a medium bowl, stir together the turkey, cranberry sauce, cheese, bread crumbs, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper. I also added leftover mashed potatoes and stuffing!!! Place 10 wonton wrappers on a work surface. Brush lightly with water using a pastry brush. Place 1 tablespoon of the turkey mixture on each of the wonton wrappers. Top with another wonton wrapper. Push out any air bubbles and press the edges tightly to seal. After i mixed together all the ingredients, i put 1 1/2 tablespoons of the filling in each stuffed shell. then I topped them with the remaining gravy and mozzerella cheese on top.


To make the gravy: in a medium, heavy skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the flour and stir until cooked, about 1 minute. Slowly add the chicken broth, stirring quickly to avoid lumps. Add the cream, parley, salt, and pepper and cook, without boiling, for 2 minutes, stirring often.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the ravioli and cook until tender but still firm to the bite and the turkey is cooked, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. I omitted this section. I brought the pot to a boil and cooked the stuffed shells for 10 minutes. Then Drain. Drain the ravioli into the gravy and stir to coat. Serve immediately in individual dishes, drizzled with the remaining gravy.

Changes - Once the stuffed shells were done cooking - I added the filling to the shells and poured the sauce over them. Then i added a little mozzerlla cheese to the top of each one. I baked them at 375 degrees for about 20-25 mins. I then arranged them on a plate in a circle and added cranberry sauce in the middle. YUM!

Quick & Easy Yummy Crumb Cake!!!!

I got this recipe from my friend Michele at work!!!! Her sister makes it all the time so i'm not sure where she got this recipe from but its quick and easy when you are the mood for some crumb cake!!! The only thing i would add is to make extra crumbs ( I doubled what the recipe called for on the crumb mixture because i love the crumb part and felt it needed some more). When the cake is done and cooled off, sprinkle some powdered sugar on it and you are all set. Great for when you have company coming over that you were not prepared for!

Ingredients

1 yellow cake mix (mix as directed)

Crumbs:
½ lb. (2 sticks) butter, softened
½ cup brown sugar
2 ½ cups flour
2 tablespoons cinnamon
Dash salt

Bake cake mix in a 13 x 9 pan for approximately 25 minutes at 350 degrees until just set on top (make sure it’s not too soft or crumbs will sink into cake).

Mix crumb mixture and then form into flat balls and place on cake (each ball next to each other) until whole top of cake is covered.

Bake for another 20 minutes. Sprinkle confectioner’s sugar on top when cooled.

Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich & Quick Creamy Tomato Soup!!!!

Hi Everyone!!!! Was looking for some quick recipes for that down home comfort feeling mood. What better than grilled cheese and tomato soup! YUM! I've included a recipe from Rachael Ray for Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich's! The Tomato Soup is easy :-)

Tomato Soup Recipe

1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
1 cup heavy cream
1 quart chicken stock
salt & pepper
grated cheese

1. Mix together crushed tomatoes and chicken stock and bring to a boil.
2. When soup comes to a boil, stir in heavy cream and add salt and pepper.
3. Let soup cook for about 8 minutes.
4. When soup is done, ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese or any topping that you please


Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Recipe from Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large clove garlic, cracked away from skin
8 slices crusty Italian bread
1 pound smoked fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
2 ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced
8 basil leaves, torn

Heat a grill pan over medium low to medium heat. Heat oil and garlic in a small pot over low heat. Brush 4 slices of the bread with garlic oil on 1 side. Place garlic oil side down on the grill. Top with sliced cheese, tomato and basil. Place another slice of bread on top of each sandwich. Brush sandwiches with garlic oil. Press sandwiches with heavy skillet or a brick covered with tin foil. Toast sandwiches on both sides to melt cheese.

Stuffed Pepper Stoup

My husband and I are huge pepper fans! Especially Stuffed Peppers!!!!This was my 2nd time making this recipe and it was just as yummy as the first time! Perfect for the Fall as a Hearty Comfort Food! The recipes calls for 1 quart of chicken stock but play with the recipe to make the soup thicker or a little more watered down. The first time I made it I used the entire quart of chicken stock, now this 2nd time I only used about 3/4 of the quart to give it more of a thicker stoup like taste and it was great. The recipe also calls for 1/2 teaspoon of all-spice which i omitted the 2nd time around and I think I enjoyed it more. This time around, Instead of using just green peppers, I used red, yellow and a green pepper. It gave the soup some nice color and is also a little easier on the stomach :-) A nice cheese flavored bread is great to enjoy on the side of this - Asiago is one of my favorites. Enjoy!!!

Recipe from Rachel Ray

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)

1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin

Salt and Black Pepper

1/2 teaspoon allspice (eyeball it)

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 large onion, cut into bite-sized pieces

3 green bell peppers, seeded and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 bay leaf

1 quart chicken stock

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 cup orzo pasta

12-15 basil leaves, shredded or torn

Grated Parmigiano Reggiano, to pass at table

Preparation

Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat with the EVOO. When oil is hot, add beef and season with salt, black pepper and all spice. Brown the meat, about 5 minutes, then add garlic, onions, peppers and bay leaf, and cook 7-8 minutes, until veggies are tender.

Stir in stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil.

Then add pasta and cook to al dente, 7-8 minutes.

Turn off heat and fold in the basil.

Serve in shallow bowls with grated cheese on top.

Yields 4 Servings

Just created my Blog!

Hello All!

Just created my food blog and i'm so exicted (thanks to Kira!)!!!! I'll be making my first post today!