Steak Pizzaiola

So one of mine and my husbands favorite shows is Everybody Loves Raymond.  We've watched it when it was on the TV, we have all the Seasons and we even watch any repeats that we catch on TV.  We like it THAT much.

One of the things that always catches my attentions in movies or shows is food, I mean I just can't ignore it, it makes me salivate and it makes me crave different dishes etc.

Such is the case with this recipe.  They kept talking about Steak Pizzaiola, eating Steak Pizzaiola and showing Steak Pizzaiola and I got a major craving but I had never made it and was thinking it was this elaborate recipe that would cook all day and would require a special cut of steak.  I was determined to make it though.

Much to my surprise I found quite a few versions online and they all looked super easy to make which then made me wonder if it would be as tasty as it sounds with such simple ingredients.

It IS and has now been added to my list of family favorites.  SO good.

Steak Pizzaiola

Adapted from different sources online

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb beef steaks, thinly sliced
3 TBS flour, for dredging
3 TBS olive oil
3 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed
1 14 oz. can of Italian plum tomatoes with their juices, hand crushed
2 TBS fresh chopped basil
salt and pepper to taste


METHOD:

Trim excess fat from the steaks and notch the edges slightly with a sharp knife to keep steaks from curling while cooking. Pat the meat dry and dredge lightly in the flour. Throw away any flour that is not used.
In a large heavy skillet heat 2 TBS of oil with garlic over medium heat. As soon as the cloves are golden, raise the heat to high and push them to the side. Place the meat in the skillet and brown quickly on both sides. Remove meat from pan and reserve.

Add the tomatoes to the pan with the remaining oil and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 10- 15 minutes until the liquid has thickened and reduced. Discard the garlic cloves and return steask to the pan. Cover them with the sauce and then with a lid and cook for 4-5 minutes more or until steaks are cooked through. Serve immediately!

Serves 4.

Note:  I didn't use frying steak, my family doesn't like those so I used Beef Tip Steaks and just cooked them a little longer.

Eggnog Pancakes!

Oh Christmas, it seems like we always wait so long for it and then within a few hours it's all over and done with.

One of the things I most look forward to during this holiday, is the food, and you can't think of Christmas in the States without thinking of Eggnog.

Truthfully I had never tried it until I moved to the USA back in 1998, the only reason I even knew it existed was from all the hollywood movies we would watch.

But, it's since become one of my favorite Christmas pleasures.

Apart from drinking it, one of my favorite ways to serve eggnog is in pancakes and these are SO fluffly and airy, they rise up beautifully.  We have it for Christmas morning breakfast or even for dinner if we're too full from the Ham or the Turkey.

It doesn't mean you're only allowed to have it at this time of the year, go ahead and try it ANY time, they are delicious.

Eggnog Pancakes

Ingredients

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 2 eggs
* 1 1/2 cups eggnog
* 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg if desired. In another bowl, beat eggs, eggnog and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle. Turn when bubbles form on top; cook until second side is golden brown.

Notes:  I use the Shamrock Farms or Southern Comfort Eggnog

8 Days of Christmas - #3 Sweet and Saltines

Well this is just crack, there's no way that you can eat just one and walk away, frankly there's no way you can eat just two or three and walk away.  They are THAT addicting.

I am not going to post the whole recipe as it's already on my blog, I'll just link you to it.  Enjoy!

8 Days of Christmas - #1  Peppermint Bark
8 Days of Christmas - #2  Homemade Caramels
8 Days of Christmas - #3  Sweet and Saltines

Sweet and Saltines 

8 Days of Christmas - #2 Homemade Caramels

These are not only easy to make but I promise you will never buy store bought caramels again.  So So good.

8 Days of Christmas - #1  Peppermint Bark
8 Days of Christmas - #2  Homemade Caramels

Credit: Southern Plate

Creamy Caramels

• 1 Cup sugar
• 1 Cup Butter or Margarine
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup dark corn syrup
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

Line an eight inch square pan with heavy aluminum foil. Butter foil and set aside. In large sauce pot, place sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil slowly for four minutes without stirring and then remove from heat. Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Return to medium heat and place candy thermometer in pot. Cook, stirring constantly, until thermometer reads Soft Ball Stage (238 degrees). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Pour into prepared pan. Allow to cool until able to handle. Cut into one inch squares and place each square (which will look like a blob at this point) in the center of a wax paper square, roll up and twist ends.

Green Chile Cheeseburger Casserole

Yum.my!

That's all I can say about it.  My kids gobbled it down and thought it was super delicious, hubby said it was really good and I said nothing because I was too busy shoving it down my throat.  So good.

I recently came across a blog named The Cooking Photographer and I fell in love, mainly because the author lives in Idaho and that's where I want to be, but also because of the great easy delicious food she graces the posts with....like this one.

Give it a try, I bet your family will love it.

Green Chile Cheeseburger Casserole

Credit:  The Cooking Photographer

Ingredients1 ½ pounds extra lean ground beef
½ an onion, diced
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 (7 ounce) can diced mild green chiles
1 (15 ounce) can Garacias Nacho Cheese Mexican Cheese Sauce, medium or mild (I used medium)
1 heaping cup shredded chipotle cheddar cheese, or cheddar cheese of your choice
About 1 pound frozen shoe string french fries
A sprinkle of salt for fries

Instructions1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Get out a 9x13 inch Pyrex pan and a large skillet.

2. Cook the ground beef, onions, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and fresh ground pepper together over medium high heat until no longer pink, Strain off the fat and place the meat mixture back in the pan.

3. Add the chiles and nacho cheese sauce to the pan and stir into the meat. Cook for about four minutes on medium low until combined and warmed through.

4. Pour the meat mixture into the 9x13 inch pan. Spread out and top with shredded cheddar. Top with frozen fries and sprinkle lightly with salt.

5. Bake for 30 minutes.