Steak Tips....mmmm good!

I am usually not a fan of steak. However, steak tips cannot be beat. The hubby and I love steak tips. I mean LOVE. I once begged a guy at SteakOut to tell me how they made their steak tips. (I literally sat there and begged!!!) The only thing I was able to get out of him was a good olive oil, great soy sauce and garlic. That was it. So I came up with my own marinade and we absolutely love it. Sooooo good!

Steak Tips:

• 1 1/2-2 lbs Sirloin Steak chopped into cubes (this is easier to do if the meat is slightly frozen or you can have your butcher do it)
•  1 1/2 c. soy sauce
• 1/2 c. olive oil
• 1/2  medium onion, minced
• 1 tsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Mix all of the ingredients together. Put everything in a covered bowl or a plastic bag. Marinate for 4-6 hours stirring or mixing occasionally.

Soak bamboo skewers in water for 20 min. Thread meat on skewers. Grill until cooked. Enjoy!

Spicy Sweet Pork

Yesterday, I made some pork the hubby LOVED. I just added a bit of this, a bit of that. The pork turned out delicious. It was sweet but had a kick to it. This is a keeper.

• 1 1/2 - 2 lb pork loin roast
• 1 c. apple juice
• 1/2 c. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic paste (found in produce section)
• 1 T fresh parsley finely chopped
• 1 medium sweet yellow onion sliced

Place pork loin in crock pot. Cover the pork loin with sliced onions. Mix the remain ingredients together in a separate bowl. Pour over the pork loin roast. Roast in crock pot for 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low. Shred or slice pork.

one bad dinner....

So.....a little domestic trial. I found this recipe from Southern Living or Taste of Home I wanted to try. The recipe sounded like a perfect "boy" dinner. It was chicken pieces bread with bbq potato chips. As Joey from Friends would say, Chicken "good", bbq potato chips "good". You would think it would be delicious. However, it wasn't good. I mean it was really really awful. I followed the instructions to the letter, but the combination of the soggy and now flavorless bbq chips mixed with the chicken- infused greasy potato coating made me sick. The hubby tried to be sweet, pretending this wasn't the most heinous thing he had ever put in his mouth.

This is one of the reasons why I love cooking and baking. Sometimes you find something you love, a new classic. And then sometimes....well, you just have to remember to never make it again.

Don't be fooled. While this may look appealing...it in fact is not.

Homemade Pita Bread

I made homemade Pita Bread the other night using a recipe from Anna Can Cook. I have loved all of her recipes. It was really easy and so amazing with homemade hummus. This is a keeper.

Mom G Crescent Rolls

We love homemade breads. Mom G makes the best rolls during the holidays. She shared the recipe with me. Everyone loves to eat hot homemade rolls. These are delicious and really easy!

2 c. warm water
4 1/2 tsp yeast
1/2 c. honey
2 eggs, room temp
1/2 c. oil
1 c. mashed potatoes, room temp
1 1/2 tsp salt
6-7 c. white flour (can also use wheat flour)

Mix warm water and honey together. Add yeast, let mixture proof. Add the eggs, oil and mashed potatoes. Mix. Add the salt and flour. combine and knead until mixed. Dough mixture will be sticky. Cover dough and let it rise for about 1 hour.

Put dough out on a floured surface. Divide into 3 equal parts. Roll out one part of the dough into a 13- 14 inch circle and slice into 12 equal triangles. Roll into a crescent shape. Place on a greased jelly roll pan. Let rolls rise again for about 15-20 min. Brush with butter or egg wash. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 min or until golden brown. Enjoy!!!

Thanks Mom G !!!

Apple Butter: Thanksgiving Gifts

A domestic triumph. These turned out really cute. A perfect warm inviting fall gift....picture to come shortly.

• 5 1/2 lbs, apples peeled and finely chopped (Braeburn and Granny Smith makes a great butter. You can also do half apple, half pear)
• 2 1/2- 3 cups sugar
• 2-3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl mix sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt.Pour over apples and mix well.Place in crock pot, cover and cook on high for 1 hour.Decrease heat to low; cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until thickened and dark brown.Stir occasionally. If desired, whisk until smooth. Spoon into half pint jars, leaving 1/2-inch head space. Follow hot-water jarring method to seal jars.

Beechers Macaroni and Cheese

In Seattle at Pike Place Market, I ate the most outstanding macaroni and cheese at Beecher's. Martha Stewart had the owner on her show awhile ago. The recipe is posted on her website: Beecher's Mac and Cheese. The atmosphere in the store is classic, clean and calm. You can sit with your delicious cup of macaroni and cheese and watch the cheese being made. Make sure to go to Beechers while in Seattle! I am not kidding...the BEST mac and cheese!! Will make this for the hubby when we get home.