Pepper Steak

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We have stir-fry. Alot. It’s such a quick and easy healthy weeknight meal, it’s rare we make it through one week without having one in one form, or another. That’s the wonderful thing about them, they’re so versatile. Chicken, beef, shrimp (whatever protein floats your boat) – any veggies you have hanging out in the fridge, and dinner is done in under 30 minutes.

One we hadn’t tried at home yet, but is a favorite of mine when we order take-out,  is Pepper Steak.  There’s something about those tender strips of beef, sweet sauteed peppers, in that rich brown sauce that I just love. Came across Martin Yan’s recipe for the dish (if Yan can cook – so can you!), and set to make it. I was super-stoked actually, because who doesn’t love Yan Can Cook? I vividly remember watching him on TV with his flaming wok when I was just a little girl, and always loved him.

The recipe was a winner, better than any version I’d had in a restaurant. And, as I mentioned before – took no time at all. Marinading the beef takes longer than it does to cook the dish. And, don’t be afraid of the heat. Bell peppers aren’t spicy at all, and the chile on top is optional. Although, I must admit – those zesty little bites of heat were just perfect sprinkled on top. Another one to add to the stir-fry rotation!

Pepper Steak

Marinade:
2 tablespoons oyster-flavored sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 pound flank steak, thinly sliced across the grain

Sauce:
1/3 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Stir-Fry:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1″ squares
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1″ squares
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon cornstarch + 2 tsp cold water
1/2 fresh Serrano chili, thinly sliced

Combine marinade ingredients in a medium bowl. Add beef and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine ingredients for sauce in a 2-cup liquid measuring cup. Set aside.

Place a wok over high heat until very hot. Add 1-1/2 tablespoons oil, swirling to coat sides. Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Add beef and stir-fry until no longer pink, 1-1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove meat from pan.

Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to wok, Add bell peppers and stir-fry for 2 minutes, until started to char around edges. Add water and stir-fry until peppers are tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Return meat to wok and add sauce; bring to a boil. Add cornstarch solution and cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens.

Serve on a bed of rice, and sprinkle on chile peppers as garnish.

Source: adapted from Martin Yan’s Feast via The Global Gourmet

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

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Now that the cooler weather has settled in, I’m going to try to make a conscious effort to use my slow cooker more often. It’s so wonderful to put something in, switch it to “on” – and then hours later, a meal is hot and ready for you after a long day. My problem seems to be that I get in a rut with the recipes I make with it.

When Josie posted this a couple of weeks ago, I immediately put it on our menu plan for the following week. Couldn’t have been easier, and the results were phenomenal. A little bit of peeling and chopping, cooking the bacon, then sauteing the onion in some of the bacon drippings. That really helps to deepen and layer the flavors – something that’s not typically found in Crockpot recipes. Leave it to our friends at America’s Test Kitchen to share such a great recipe. I’ll definitely be adding their slow-cooker cookbook to my wishlist for Santa this year! Can’t wait to give some of the other recipes a try.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

8 slices bacon, chopped
1 large onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tsp minced fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
2 Tbs all-purpose flour
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 lbs Russet potatoes (about 6  medium), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for serving
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
salt and pepper
sliced scallions, sliced

Cook the bacon in a large over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes.  Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and refrigerate until serving.  Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of the fat.

Add the onion and cook over medium-high heat until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and thyme, and season with salt and pepper, cook for an additional minute or so.  Add the flour, and allow to cook for a minute or so, whisking constantly. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.  Cook until the mixture is starting to thicken, then transfer to the slow cooker.

Stir in the remaining 3 cups of  broth, potatoes, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper into the slow cooker.  Cover and cook until the potatoes are tender, 6-8 hours on low (or 4 hours on high).

Transfer 3 cups of cooked potatoes to a medium bowl with the cream and mash until smooth using a potato masher.  Return the potatoes to the slow cooker, along with the shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.  Stir to combine and let the soup sit until heated through, about 10 minutes.

When ready to serve, microwave the bacon on the plate until hot and crispy, about 30 seconds.  Season the soup with salt and pepper.  Ladle into bowls and top with bacon, shredded cheese, and scallions.

Source: adapted from Slow Cooker Revolution via Pink Parsley

Blackberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

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There are few things in this world that are better than a slice of cake for your breakfast. Especially one like this – a moist yellow cake,  studded with plump blackberries, and topped off with a delicious buttery crumble infused with lime zest? You had me at cake.

Coffee cakes are a great option for any gathering really, be it brunch or as a dessert after dinner. I love the fact that it only uses a couple of bowls, making for super easy cleanup. It’s been a busy week around here; cupcake orders to fill, doctors appointments, field trips – but I was craving something sweet.

Happened across some gorgeous blackberries at the store, and remembered a coffee cake that the lovely Annie had posted a while back. Modified it a little using the blackberries, and it turned out gorgeous! If you’re looking for something special for your breakfast table this weekend, look no further. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Blackberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

For the crumb topping:
½ cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp lime zest
4 tbsp. (2 oz.) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1/2 cup sliced almonds

For the cake:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups fresh blackberries

Preheat the oven to 350? F.  Lightly grease and flour and 10-inch springform pan.  To make the crumb topping, combine the flour, sugar and lime zest in a small bowl and mix to combine. Pour in the melted butter and mash with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.

To make the cake, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  In a 2-cup measuring cupl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream and vanilla until well blended. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the liquid ingredients.  Fold together gently until evenly combined and no streaks remain, being careful not to over mix.  Pour the  the batter into the prepared pan in an even layer.  Dot the top of the batter with the blackberries. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the berries. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the crumble.

Bake until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 38-42 minutes.  Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes.  Remove the sides of the springform pan.  Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges.

Source: adapted from Williams-Sonoma, via Annie’s Eats

Cuban Panini

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It’s tough to beat a good Cuban sandwich. Sure, some might say it’s just a glorified ham & cheese – but, I beg to differ. Roasted pork and thinly sliced ham, crisp dill pickles, and spicy mustard? All between toasted, crusty bread? Positively heavenly.

Whenever I have pork tenderloin on the menu, I always cook two of them – just to ensure there’s enough leftovers to make these for dinner the next night. With a couple of items from the deli counter, it’s a quick and easy dinner to throw together on a weeknight.

Cuban Sandwiches

4 ciabatta rolls or sub rolls
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
1/4 pound baked ham, thinly sliced
1/4 pound roast pork, thinly sliced
1/4 pound Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
10 thin dill pickle slices, approximately 2 whole pickles
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature

Slice the bread in half, horizontally. Spread mustard onto each side of the bread. Divide the ingredients evenly among the slices bread, starting with the pork followed by the ham, cheese, and dill pickles. Top with the other half of bread.

Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium high heat (or a panini press). Butter the outer sides of the rolls. Place the sandwiches in the skillet, placing a heavy skillet on top of the sandwiches to “press” onto the grill, until the cheese is melted and the bread is flat and browned, about 4 minutes per side.