Steaks Topped with a Sweet and Spicy Salad

Are you more of a chicken eater or a beef eater?

I grew up in a meat and potatoes household, but these days I eat chicken most days.  Every now and then I break down and pull out the BEEF.  YUM,  love me some beef.  Always will.  It really is my favorite thing.  Steak. Yup. Steak.

But I'm particular about my beef and like to choose lean cuts of meat.  Sorry, but Rib Eyes and Tri Tip aren't my thing.  Every time I bite in to either of these I get fat in my mouth. YUK! Sorry, but I hate that.  My favorite is Filet Mignon.  LOVE IT!

MGG is a big fish eater.  Steak is a rarity for him but he does love it too.  Since we don't eat beef that often when I'm cooking steak, it better be good!  I'm mean if you going to all the trouble of getting a good cut, checking the marbling etc.etc...you want it to come out juicy and tasty!

So let's make some healthy steak, along with a healthy salad.  Sounds good huh?
So how about putting the salad on top of the steak?  The presentation is nice, and some of the dressing runs down on the the steak giving it some good flavor.  Sounds like a good way to eat your beef and vegetables without much hassle.

I found this recipe of Rachael Ray's and gave it a little tweak.  It came out moist, juicy, and tasty just as promised.  This recipe is really all about the dressing.  Sweet and spicy.  It totally makes this dish.  Make sure...make sure to get some on the steak, it's really the only flavoring for the steak.  Also, make sure to keep any leftovers in a small jar...it's that good!

So here's how you do it.  

You will want to take some restaurant cut sirloins (lean meat) and let them sit out on the counter to take off the chill.  In the meantime you can heat the grill pan and make the dressing.

In a small bowl add minced garlic, ketchup, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and white wine vinegar.  

Pour extra virgin olive oil into the bowl and whisk until emulsified.

love these cute jars!

Salt and pepper your steaks and drizzle with some olive oil on both sides.  Place in the hot grill pan.  Cook on each side about 6 min for medium, less for rare.

While this was cooking I chopped my lettuce and sliced my tomato.

Remove from pan and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

Slice steaks against the grain and on an angle to create nice long strips.

Place strips on each plate.  Top with lettuce and tomato.  Drizzle with dressing, making sure to get some on the steak as well.

Serve and enjoy!  A healthy dinner in no time at all.

Steaks Topped with a Sweet and Spicy Salad

Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray

Serves:4 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 sirloin steaks, restaurant cut
• Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling, plus 1/3 cup
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 large heart romaine, chopped
• 1 tomato, cut into slices

Directions:

Let the steaks sit at room temperature, to take the chill off, while you heat a grill pan to medium high.

In a small bowl combine the garlic, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar.  Whisk in 1/3 cup of olive oil.   Season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle steaks with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Place in a hot grill pan. Cook the steaks about 6 minutes on each side for medium.  You can do less time for rare.  Remove the steaks to a cutting board and let rest about 5 minutes before slicing. (I chopped my lettuce and tomato while the steak was cooking.)

Slice the steaks on an angle, against the grain.  Arrange on serving plates.  Top with the lettuce and tomatoes.  Drizzle on the dressing.

Garlicky Lima Bean Spread

Need a good game day dip?

I've got the perfect one!  This dip is not your ordinary dip.  It's made of fresh and healthy ingredients so you don't get all the fat calories from it.

It's along the line of a hummus, but different in texture a little.  I found the Garlicky Lima Bean Spread in one of my favorite recipe books, "Cooking Light's Cooking through the Seasons".  This is a gem of a book.  You can see a picture of it in my sidebar under the Cookbook Corner.

This dip is a winner!  Garlicky in flavor, great with vegetables and crackers alike. You can even use it as a spread in a wrap.  Even your husband and children will love this.  It's that good!

Everyone needs a handful of great game day treats, but this would fit just as well at a nice brunch, or a holiday dinner.

I didn't take step by step pictures on this one, but I promise it is super easy to make.  You're gonna LOVE it!

Look at the wonderful green color!

Garlicky Lima Bean Spread

adapted from Cooking Light

2 cups fresh lima beans

1/3 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic paste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce

Sort and wash beans; drain and place in a medium saucepan. Cover with water to 2 inches above beans; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Place beans and remaining ingredients in a food processor.  Process until smooth.

 

Linguine with Sausage and Sicilian Sauce

I just saw on the weather channel that the fall leaves are already turning in Vermont.  They look beautiful.  I've always wanted to go somewhere during this time of year to see the leaves change in to the vibrant golds and reds.  We don't get much in the way of color here in LA. 

Also, being that we are having an Indian Summer, cause it HOT outside...it doesn't even feel like fall!

But I'm longing for it.

So as promised here is a great recipe using the Sicilian Sauce I posted a few days ago.  This is a quick weeknight dish that you can just throw together.  I certainly suggest making the sauce in advance and using it in different ways during the week, pizza, calzones, stuffed shells, and this great Linguine with Sausage and Sicilian Sauce. 

This is a hearty dish...great for fall.  The sauce is fresh with tomatoes and a kick of heat.  The sausage gives it the meaty flavor and great seasoning.  So I'm just going to sit her and pretend that it's cool outside while I eat my pasta!

Here's the recipe for the Sicilian Sauce, and the Sicilian Seasoning.  You will need those on hand, already made to make this super quick dish.

First up, boil a large pot of water.  Add salt for seasoning once it's boiled.  Then add your linguine.

Cook for about 11 minutes until al dente.

Meanwhile take your Italian sausage and place it in a hot skillet on medium and cook, turning until sausage is brown and cooked through.  About 6-8 minutes.  I chose a hot Italian turkey sausage for this dish, cause I wanted it spicy to compliment the sauce.  Chicken or pork sausage is a great choice as well.

Remove the sausage to a cutting board.  Cut the sausage on the bias in bite sized pieces.

Return the sausage to the skillet and add the Sicilian Sauce.  Stir and simmer for 2 min.

Drain your pasta and reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water.  Place the pasta in the skillet and toss to coat.  If the sauce is too thick for you this is where you can add a little of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up a bit.  Use your judgement and go slowly with the water.

Serve the pasta along with the sausage and the sauce.  Here you have it... a warm, hearty meal!



Looks tasty!

Warm, and comforting...

Sigh...fall is coming...

Linguine with Sausage and Sicilian Sauce

Serves 4

1 lb linguine

4 Italian sausage links, hot or sweet

2 ½ c. Sicilian Sauce
1 T parsley, for garnish

Bring a large pot of water to boil.  Add salt to season the water.  Add linguine and cook until al dente, about 11 minutes. 

Meanwhile, in a large skillet of medium heat, cook sausage links until brown on all sides and cooked through.  About 6 – 8 minutes total.  Remove from skillet to a cutting board.

Slice sausage on a bias in to bite sized pieces.

Add sausage back to the skillet, add your Sicilian sauce. Simmer for 2-3 min.

Drain your pasta, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.  Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and stir around to cover with sauce and mix sausage in.  Cook until everything is heated through, about 2 min.  Add a little pasta water if the Sicilian sauce is thick. 

Serve pasta with sauce and sausage.  Sprinkle parsley over the top for garnish.