steak

Steak and Brie Sandwiches

August 9, 2017

I wanted to share a ridiculously easy recipe that requires hardly any time at all to put together because I’m no monster, and I know that we don’t always have all the time in the world to spare in the kitchen, especially during the work week. Those few and far in between moments of freedom in life need to be cherished and not spent working away over a hot stove. Let’s keep that in mind from now on and for the rest of summer, deal? I’d like to think that everyone of you (myself included) has the chance to make some of the more lavish recipes on the blog, on a daily basis, but I know that isn’t always the case. Sometimes we’re too tired or just simply too busy. I totally understand that. So that’s where these Steak and Brie Sandwiches come in. They’re not only incredibly simple to whip up, but they’re also super delicious and very filling, which is my main concern half the time. No one needs an unsatisfying lackluster meal. If I told you that the only thing we have to cook for this recipe was the steak itself, would that convince you even more to give it a try? You don’t even have to answer because I know you’d say yes. I’m already saying yes for the both of us. Whenever steak and brie are involved, we don’t have to think twice about it.

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Popcorn Chicken Fried Steak

March 3, 2015

I’m a sucker for popcorn chicken. I could have a bucket filled with it and never get tired. Popcorn shrimp, let’s not even go there because I could go on and on about that snack for days and weeks and months and years. I could have two buckets of popcorn shrimp and still want more. The dilemma I face when it comes to either of those is that I just don’t know when to stop, and maybe I don’t want to stop. Is that a crime? There’s just something so addicting about bite-sized pieces of meat breaded and fried until crispy with lots of dipping sauce on the side for dunking that I find irresistible. Well, if I’m being realistic there’s something about all things breaded and fried, no matter the size. The thing about popcorn anything is that the size allows you to not feel guilty while you continue to eat and eat because you feel like, oh they’re so tiny so that means I could have more. Some people might see this as a problem but I see it as a miracle.

The other day, Julian and I were brainstorming recipe ideas over dinner—because even when we’re eating we’re still thinking about food—and we were spitballing different thoughts when all of a sudden chicken fried steak was thrown into the conversation. I can’t remember if it was him or I who got super excited and out of nowhere shouted,”POPCORN CHICKEN FRIED STEAK!” Of course if you asked Julian he would say that it was he who said it, and maybe it was, but I can’t say one hundred percent for certain that he did and I didn’t. I can’t remember, that’s all I’m saying. It isn’t important who thought of it (me), the important thing is that the idea was thrown out there and I was able to bring it to life and share it with you all.

The good news is that this dish tastes amazing, and the bad news is that this dish tastes amazing. So the way I look at it is you can do yourself a favor now by agreeing right from the start that the best idea you’ll have all year is to go to the grocery store, grab all the ingredients you’ll need and whip up a batch for yourself. Or you can live in constant regret and resentment for not trying this one out. If you’re a long time listener but first time caller and you’ve never tried any of my recipes before (shame on you) but I’ll forgive you if you let this one be the first you try. Do you really want to be that person? The person who shunned popcorn chicken fried steak and sausage gravy? No, you want to be the person who actually tried and loved it. The person who requests this as their last meal. If you plan on sharing, I recommend making two batches because you’ll want one all to yourself. I’m not saying that’s what I did, but I’m also not saying I didn’t do it. We’ll just leave it at that.

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Steak and White Cheddar Panini Sliders

February 23, 2015

Have you ever fallen in love with a dish from a restaurant, to the point where you continue to go to the same restaurant everyday for a week ordering said dish each and every time? Yeah, that hasn’t happened to me either, so I don’t know what you’re talking about. If it did happen to me, I’d probably have to come clean about the fact that I’ve been ordering the same steak and white cheddar panini everyday for lunch over the last week. Okay, last couple of weeks. That’s totally normal. I’ve been getting smarter though, I’ve started ordering the sandwich online now and picking it up in different disguises so that the workers don’t recognize me and think I have a problem. But the truth is I do have a problem. My problem is golden brown toasted ciabatta filled with sliced steak, caramelized red onions, melted white cheddar and a creamy horseradish sauce that makes this sandwich so irresistible.

Just in case you’re wondering what restaurant serves this amazing sandwich, it’s Panera. Sure, it’s not the fanciest of places and yeah okay, they are everywhere, but you’d be surprised just how great their paninis are. It’s far more than a guilty pleasure. It’s awesome and super convenient for me because it’s right down the street, making it easy for me whenever I want a quick lunch. I get the half and half lunch special. Half a panini and half a cup of soup (baked potato soup or broccoli cheddar) with a tiny bag of kettle chips. It doesn’t get much better than that. So recently I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen just how great this sandwich is. I’ve told my mom, my sisters, Julian, my cat Napoleon, the mailman, the guy next to me at the gas station. Literally everyone. I’m not ashamed to admit that I have a problem. So much so that I wanted to, no, needed to recreate this sandwich at home. I thought transforming it into sliders would be the best decision I’d ever make in my life because I could eat more than one and not feel guilty in the slightest.

I like this recipe a lot because it’s easy to whip up. It’s one of those that doesn’t require a lot of thinking in the kitchen, which is nice and sometimes much needed. I’m around food all day long, cooking, baking, photographing and of course, writing about it. It’s no surprise that sometimes I get to the end of the day and the last thing I want to do is cook. This is the type of recipe that you can turn off your brain and get it going without stressing too much about any complicated steps or ingredients. Those are the best kinds of recipes, if you ask me. Not to mention that sliders are my life and I’m always down for making any kind of slider. I’m Slider King of the World, remember?!

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Steak and Avocado Breakfast Burritos

January 2, 2015

I’m going to be completely and totally honest with you and confess, right here right now, that I’m not really much of a breakfast eater. Don’t get me wrong, I happen to love breakfast…for dinner or lunch or even brunch. I love a good brunch. It’s one of my favorite weekend meals—that is when I’m not having a love affair with lunch or dinner. I especially love the brunches that involve mimosas or Bloody Marys. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good morning cocktail, but we’re not talking about that right now. There’s always something that comes up and prevents me from eating in the morning. I know a lot of people who wake up super hungry, and the first thing they think about as soon as they open their eyes is what they’re going to eat for breakfast. I wish I could be like that, unfortunately most of the time I’m running around with so much to do that eating doesn’t even cross my mind, which is totally weird since my job is centered around food. You’d think I’d be eating all of the time!

My mom doesn’t believe me when I tell her that sometimes I completely forget to eat breakfast. It just slips my mind, cross my heart and kiss my elbow. One minute I’ve just woken up, crossing off tasks from my to-do list left and right like a boss, and all of a sudden the next minute, it’s dinner time which also happens to be my first meal of the day. That’s awful kids, don’t do that. Although, as long as I’m being honest, I feel like even if I did remember to eat in the morning, I wouldn’t be able to have a heavy meal before work. I would get so sleepy if I did, and then I’d somehow find myself back in bed for a quick catnap and I wouldn’t get anywhere and my entire day would be shot. So really, when you think about it, it’s a good thing I don’t eat breakfast most weekdays. On the rare occasion that I do, I’ll have a granola bar or a handful of almonds or a bowl of cereal or a pb&J and call it good. I know that’s not much of a breakfast but I’m sure it’s better than nothing at all, right? Just lie to me and make me feel better about my life choices.

Hey! It’s a new year so we should definitely be taking better care of ourselves. I’m saying this more for me than I am for you, but if you’re the same as I am and don’t make time for the most important meal of the day, then this goes for you as well. We’re all about making resolutions this time of year and in 2015 I’ve decided to make more of a conscious effort to slow down in the mornings and make a better attempt to eat more breakfasts. To eat all of the breakfasts. I’ll still enjoy my pancakes and hash browns for dinner every now and then, because that’s when they taste the best for some reason, but I’ll also start to incorporate them more in the morning, when they’re supposed to be eaten. One way to ensure I start eating before work is with a breakfast burrito. Nothing screams “GOOOOOOOD MORNING!!!!” more than a flour tortilla filled with potatoes, eggs, steak, avocado and cheese. Am I right ladies and gentlemen? I’m totally right.

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