Korean Beef

I'm embarrassed that I've been absent for this long. I've been cooking, but the new job has taken some getting used to in terms of setting our routine (but it's great!) and of course my new little kitchen helper is still figuring out all the tools and how they work. But at 5 months old, he has a lot more to learn, not the least of which is don't put all the tools in your mouth. I've got a backlog of birthday baking to share with you, a few more tasty quick breads and some other goodies I'd like to get to you before this time next month. Because I while I super excited that today is Secret Recipe Club reveal day, I'm disappointed that the last time I posted something delicious was for last month's Secret Recipe Club. But we all hit these ruts and I'm thrilled with this recipe and the nudge to get back in gear with posting. We've actually had this a few times already because it's super easy to make during the week after work and daycare, between feeding the little guy and getting him ready for bed. Plus it tastes awesome. I love my crock pot Beef and Broccoli, but this stove top Korean Beef is equally delicious with a slight twist in the flavor, texture and presentation. I've never been to a Korean restaurant, so I can't vouch for authenticity. Authentic or not, it's still delicious and is definitely in our rotation. The first time I made this, I didn't have any broccoli, so I substituted green beans and it was equally good. thank goodness for Secret Recipe Club for helping me get back on track and find this awesome recipe.

Leek & Potato Soup

When Dave and I went to Ireland, one of my favorite meals included a delicious bowl of leek and potato soup. It was fresh, creamy and the perfect consistency. Ever since I've wanted to make a version at home and I've finally gotten around to it. And the timing is great for a beautiful and healthy green dish for St. Patrick's Day next week. This soup is simple to make and has very few ingredients but tons of flavor. I love the flavor leeks give to dishes, so a soup that celebrates the leek itself makes me very happy. This soup seems fancy but uses just a few ingredients and is ready in less than 30 minutes.

Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

We ate all the pretty pieces of this before I remembered to take a photo on the plate. But trust me when I say it was worth the sacrifice. We eat pork tenderloin fairly regularly and this is another super simple recipe for the versatile protein. This crock pot version combines just a few ingredients for a sauce that offers a lot of flavor. And you can probably pull this together in under 5 minutes before work on morning and come home to a delicious dinner that definitely taste like more than a 5 minute time investment. All of the ingredients are pantry staples, so you'll be able to make this a last minute addition to your meal plan without any issues and end up with a tender, juicy pork tenderloin begging to be paired with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies.

Honey Glazed Pork Tenderloin

We love a pork tenderloin--juicy, tender and so easy to load up with all kinds of flavor. Plus you can cook them up pretty quickly in a variety of ways--grill it (if your grill isn't covered in 2 feet of snow), roast it, or use the slow cooker. Which is good because with a baby I find myself making the best intentions to cook dinner (i.e., taking a pork tenderloin out of the freezer for dinner) but then getting a bit distracted and realizing at 4 pm I forgot to prep the crock pot or think about how to cook said tenderloin. So this recipe requiring less than 5 minutes to get ready and about a half hour to cook is perfect for those nights when you realize when you're hungry that you haven't made any food yet. The pork is juicy and flavorful, definitely good enough that we would even plan to make this again. Assuming I remember to take the pork out of the freezer.

Simple Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

While I spent some time in the last few weeks of my pregnancy preparing freezer meals so that Dave and I could eat well without having to cook every night, I also started looking for simple recipes Dave could throw together quickly. We're fans of meatloaf, but sometimes the recipes can get pretty extensive--or at least require more work or ingredients than we want to engage in with an infant to care for. Enter this recipe with only four (4!) ingredients for a really delicious and quick meatloaf. Seriously, I could not get over how tasty this meal was and in fact we've had it twice already. So what's the secret? Stuffing mix. It's used as both your binding ingredients (breadcrumbs) and your seasoning and the result is a perfect meatloaf.

Chicken in Mushroom Sauce

In and amongst all these holiday treats, I realize that we all still need to eat dinner. And maybe that dinner should be relatively healthy, in addition to tasty and perhaps a little comforting. And wouldn't it be nice if it didn't take that long to make since we're all busy this time of year? I think this chicken and mushroom dinner covers those bases. Whipped up on a weeknight, this chicken and sauteed vegetables has a nice sauce that goes well with pasta (and would with rice) and really makes you feel all warm and cozy--perfect as these temperatures drop. It's a good thing I have my monthly Secret Recipe Club match, because otherwise I might not have found such a great dish!

Beef and Barley Soup

It's definitely turned to fall this week. The leaves started to turn, then the cool weather, then the rain. Which means we're in one of my favorite cooking seasons! Bring on the crock pots and soup pots and fill them to the bring with chilis, stews and soups for hearty, heart-warming and deliciously cozy suppers. And this soup is one of our favorites for this season. It's wholesome, super tasty and can really fill you up without feeling heavy. The fresh vegetables are perfect and I must tell you--this recipe is what made me understand why good soup taste the way it does. The secret is leeks. Regular onion is great (and also in this recipe) but leeks just bring a whole other element and really set this dish apart from other homemade beef soups. Dave and I have been enjoying this recipe for five years and I've just become accustomed to doubling it. And we still fight over the leftovers.

Mushroom Smothered Pork Chops

Pork is a pretty frequent occurrence for dinner in our house. Pulled pork, tenderloin, kebabs, pork chops--they all work for us. And while I love a good pork chop, sometimes I struggle with how to prepare them. Sure we just season them up and throw them on the grill, but that can get old so I'm always looking for something different. Enter these mushroom and gravy smothered chops that come together super quick--definitely a weeknight meal. The chops stay tender and juicy and the mushrooms and sauce provide a ton of extra flavor that you just want to lick off the plate--or at least sop up with some crusty bread or mashed potatoes. Dave declared this dish amazing and it's definitely going to be in our regular rotation.

Turkey Parm Meatball Subs

Between football season and my pregnancy cravings, meatball subs are exactly what I need this time of year. And these meatball subs are easy, delicious and hit all the right spots of what you want in a meatball sub: toasty, cheesy, saucy goodness. Perfect with a beer (Dave let me borrow his for the picture), or a root beer, and watching the game. I also love that these subs are quick to make (I can even just use my toaster oven for these guys), so they're perfect for Monday night football as well. Or a tasty weeknight meal any day of the week.

Coca-Cola Marinated Beef Tips

Beef is what's for dinner a lot around here. We just like it--a good steak, some beef tips, or a pot roast. All good things. And even better when I can take a break from the cooking and let Dave grill it to perfection outside. We usually come together and choose a tasty marinade then I let him doing the heavy lifting while preparing some simple sides. It works out pretty well, actually. And this marinade is sweet, but not overly so, with just a hint of spice and a lot of flavor. Perfect for beef, chicken or poultry, this is one simple way to add a tone of tastiness to an otherwise ho-hum piece of grilled meat. Plus, we don't usually drink "full octane" Coke (Coke Zero is usually around our fridge), so this was a great way to use up some leftovers from a party. Win-win!

Cheesy Enchilada Dip

Sometimes it's acceptable to have nachos for dinner. Even if it wasn't what you intended. In fact, I walked into the kitchen expecting to make a nice meaty casserole with enchilada flavor, lots of cheese and to dish it up for a hearty meal. Problem was, it never got thick enough to keep the structure of a casserole like I wanted. No matter, Because when life hands you cheese, seasoned ground turkey and lots of Mexican flavor, add some tortilla chips and grab a margarita--it's time for nachos.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

The last few weeks have been busy--lots of busy evenings, traffic was a bear getting home on many nights and sometimes I just wasn't interested in making dinner. Of course we still needed to eat, so I looked for some quick but also delicious dinners that I could make in a hurry. This casserole, filled with chunks of juicy chicken, lots of broccoli and a cheesy sauce all over a layer of fluffy rice, fits the bill perfectly. Plus it when from fridge to table in less than a half hour--exactly the kind of tasty and easy meal I've needed lately. Dave and I both had two servings (it was also a hungry night) and then I stole the leftovers for lunch the next day--perfect and kept me filled throughout the afternoon. If anything about this dish appeals to you, it absolutely needs to be made in your kitchen.

 

 

Caribbean-Style Marinated Pork Kebabs

As I've mentioned, Dave and I get a CSA share from a local farm, Springdell Farms. Not only do they have excellent produce and wonderful staff, but they also raise some mighty tasty meat.  Recently, we picked up some pork kebab meat which we knew immediately would end up on the grill. Dave picked out an amazing marinade that I'll look forward to using again. I mean, you can't go wrong if your meat is going to take a bath in some dark rum and spices, right? The pork turned out slightly sweeter than I expected, but in a good way. It was well flavored and definitely delicious--as it should be.

Turkey Pot Pie Stew

We're finally getting to some reasonable, spring-like weather around here but not before a slew of chilly, rainy days this past week. So I'm still pulling out the crock pot from time to time for a hearty meal that will warm you from the inside out. And I can't believe I haven't shared this recipe with you sooner. I've been making it for over 3 years and it's a big hit. Big chunks of turkey and vegetables are the highlight of a lovely seasoned bechamel sauce, offering all the gooey goodness inside a pot pie. The crust is replaced by quick biscuits or crescent rolls making this the easiest version of a pot pie outside the freezer aisle.  I love the mix of vegetables, and that you can swap out what you like for the ones you don't care for, as well as the comforting smell you come home to after this has been cooking along all day. Smells like warm love on a cold rainy day, but will still be delicious if the sun is shining.

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix

Here it is--a homemade seasoning mix that you can keep on hand for last minute dinners. No more store bought mixes--in a package or a can. And the result is a thick and delicious beefy sandwich with a slight kick. We had friends over one night and not sure I'd have enough food, I quickly added sloppy joes to the menu, to great success. Everyone loved them and Dave enjoyed the slight difference in flavor from my regular crock pot version. This seasoning mix stores easily in the cupboard for a quick weeknight meal, and you could make it with beef, turkey or chicken, probably even meatless crumbles. So I put together a jar and sent out for this month's Foodie Pen Pal.

BBQ Beef Chili

We love a good twist on chili--chicken enchilada, pizza, butternut squash, buffalo chicken, you name it. So of course this BBQ beef chili needed to be tested. And it is definitely approved. Onions, tomato and corn pair up with barbeque baked beans and seasonings for a hearty and flavorful chili. What I like about this chili is that the flavors are strong, but since it's barbeque they aren't the typical "hot" spice that it normally associated with chili. Just a nice, strong smoky flavor that always goes really well with beef. Plus the beer makes things that much richer. Top with cheese, serve with chips and dig in.

Enchilada Meatballs

You know how much we love Mexican food here, and I loved the idea of a twist on traditional meatballs. These enchilada meatballs at made with a mix of beef and turkey, combined with cornbread crumbles, and flavored lightly with cilantro, onion, seasonings and lots of enchilada sauce. They come together quickly and are baked, so they are a bit healthier than a pan fried version. We enjoyed these with noodles, a little extra enchilada sauce and a sprinkling of cheese. Not too shabby for a quick weeknight dinner.

Sausage, Butternut and Spinach Pasta

We loved this pasta. It was full of flavor and texture and yes, you can make a delicious sauce from winter squash! Which is awesome because we still have squash leftover from the fall farm shares and got a few in the beginning of the winter shares as well. I'd pureed a bunch and put it in the freezer,but still had some others whole. Just a little sage brings a lot of extra flavor. Spinach bulks up this dish already brimming with good for you stuff like chicken sausage and squash. I thought I would like it, one of those eh, try it once kind of recipes. But I really enjoyed. More surprising, however, was how much Dave liked it. So much that I made it again a shortly after we polished off the leftovers. If you enjoy pasta but want an alternative to tomato based or heavy cheese sauces, this could be your new favorite.

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf Cups

I spent some of these snowy weekends recently filling our freezer with portioned meals that would be easy to pull together on a week night after work, particularly since the drives home have been a little rough lately between the rough weather and the standard commuter traffic. While I've made Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf before, I like this version because it was portioned out (so I could freeze it in meal sized packages to defrost as needed) and that it was stuffed with cheese, which was just plain awesome. Cheese, a crispy topping and a nice saucy flavor make this a delicious dish and great for a crowd, or for freezer-packing like I did. Serve with pasta or potatoes and make dinner easy.

Chicken Fried Rice

Homemade take-out time! And I promise, with a little prep you can have this from fridge to table is about 15 minutes--faster than calling for take out and running to pick it up. Loaded with veggies and flavor, this is a simple dish that's sure to please. We get take nearly every time we order from the local Chinese restaurant, but I think we might have found a replacement. Make your rice a day or so before to chill and toss the chicken in the crock pot early in the day or in advance and this dish practically puts itself together. The key flavor comes from the sesame oil, which is now a pantry staple in our house (hello, beef with broccoli). Add in more veggies or swap in your favorites, use white or brown rice, even substitute pork if you have it on hand. This is an easy, customizable, super quick dinner that will have you tossing the take out menu in the trash.