Father's Day Dinner: Steak!!!

I was lucky enough to spend 20 years with my father but sadly he is no longer here for me to celebrate him on Father's Day.

If he were I'd would make him a big juicy steak with all the trimmings, and we'd be sitting around having a few laughs!

You see, my father loved, loved steaks, and he loved to tell stories. Some outrageous stories for sure!  For the steaks, he loved big juicy T-Bones or nice cuts of New York steak...but truth be told he loved any kind of steak.  He sure loved the wonderful flavor of grilled beef and I'm right there with him!

I certainly would pull out all the stops and make him one of two of my favorite dishes.

Menu #1:

Teriyaki London Broil

Baked Potatoes

Steakhouse Salad

Hot Rolls

Or we would possibly make...

Menu #2

Grilled Flank Steak in Adobo Tomato Sauce

Oven Baked Steak Fries

Garden Salad

Hot Rolls

So Happy Father's Day to all! 
Here are both recipes for you to choose from:

Teriyaki London Broil

serves 6

2 1/2 - 3 lb London broil
1  bottle Organicville's Island Teriyaki sauce (or your favorite sauce)

Marinate the steak in a plastic bag using 1/2 of the bottle of sauce for 1-2 hours, turning occasionally.  Cook on a heated grill pan over medium heat for 12 minutes, turning once. Remove from pan and allow to rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes, tented with aluminum foil.

Slice steak against the grain on an angle.  Serve with your choice of side dishes.



Grilled Flank Steak in an Adobo Tomato Sauce

recipe adapted from Sandra Lee

serves 4

1 7oz. can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 t tomato paste
1 1 1/2 lb flank steak
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper

In a small bowl place 2 tablespoons adobo sauce, reserving chipotle peppers and remaining sauce for another use.  Stir in tomato paste.

Heat grill pan over medium high heat.  Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper.  Cook steak for 8 minutes on each side for medium doneness.  Brush with adobo mixture during the last two minutes of cooking.  Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.  Slice meat against the grain.

Tex-Mex Salad

Time to put a little zip in your salad!

This salad is another themed one playing on the flavors of the southwest.  I love the flavor combinations that lend a Latin flair.  The spice of the bell peppers, earthiness of the black beans, and sweetness of the jicima.  Altogether this is a wonderful tasting salad.  

I added roasted chicken to amp up the protein aspect and to make this more of a main course meal.  You could also add olive and avocado to the mix if you like.  For the dressing I left it up to you.  Mixing some ranch with some salsa is always a good idea.  Or use a Catalina dressing for a little Latin sweetness.  Most anything will do!

So I hope you enjoy mixing up your salads a little bit.  It makes them more appealing and interesting with different flavors and textures.  It will put zip in your step, or a hitch in your get-a-long!

Enjoy!


Tex-Mex Salad

serves 2

4 cups romaine lettuce
4 oz of sliced cooked chicken breast
1/3 c black beans
1/2 c chopped tomatoes
1/4 c corn
1/4 c sliced red onion
1/4 of a jicama sliced into thin strips
1/4 c yellow bell pepper, chopped
2 T cilantro, chopped
1/4 c grated cheddar cheese
Dressing of your choice

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. Drizzle with your favorite dressing.

Black and Blue Smoothie

I'm running out the door...life just got a little more busy.

Things have ramped up quite a bit lately.  Getting ready for a big move to a new house, planning a wedding, flying here and there on business.  You get the idea. 

Which is one reason I'm bringing you this quick breakfast smoothie today.  I'm ready to leave for a day full of activities and don't have time (again) for breakfast.  I miss my weekend breakfasts, let me tell you!

Another reason to share this smoothie is that I LOVE smoothies!  Summer is here and fruit is abundant. Yea! So bring on the smoothies.  

This one sounds like a bruiser...but it's really all about the fruit.  Blackberries and blueberries to be exact!  Love, love, love the combination.  I'm sure I don't need to tell you that they are packed with vitamins, or that smoothies are very filling and a good substitution for breakfast...or a snack.  Make them for the whole family, they will love you for it!

Black and Blue Smoothie

1 6 oz container vanilla lite yogurt

½  medium banana

½ c blueberries (fresh or frozen)

½ c blackberries (fresh or frozen)

¼ c milk

½ c ice cubes

Directions

Combine ingredients in a blender and mix until combined.  Serve in a tall glass and enjoy!