One of my favorite restaurants has a dish that I love to get. I am always trying to "copy" dishes that I eat in restaurants. This one was fairly simple.
I still haven't cracked open the secret to the sauce in Chicken Volcano that my favorite Chinese restaurant serves. It ain't soy sauce - made that mistake ! Anyway, back to my Bacon Cheese Steak
Use tenderized round steak - whatever qty. you want (I buy the ones already cut for laziness and time sake !)
Marinate steak in your favorite marinade. I used onion gravy this time - it was good but I almost waited too long. The meat was actually turning mushy.
Broil until meat done (you might want to turn it over near the end so both side are equal). Use a pan where the "bad" juices can run off. I poured the juices off once while cooking. Then I will occasionally pour it back on the meat to keep the meat juicy. I also poured the marinade back over the meat late in the broiling.
Then sprinkle some grated cheese and bacon pieces on top. (I used the precooked bacon this time and it worked really well). Put back in oven until cheese melts.
Very simple, looks classy and like you worked really hard on it - and it got the stamp of approval from the man in my life.
Experiment (as any good cook knows to do !)with other toppings. I'm thinking of Ro-tel tomatoes, maybe onions, mmmmmmm ! Onions cooked down into gravy, mmmmm !
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Neglect, Landscaping Starter Kits, And Other Stuff !
I have been neglecting my blog so much lately. My goodness, time has flown by. It has been July since I have written anything. I am ready for cool weather so I can get outside and do some yard work. My favorite saying is "I Don't Do Hot ! It drains me really bad. But, enough complaining.
I found a nursery around here - it is a big chain so I guess I can mention it - Houston Garden Centers - especially since I am promoting them. Anyway, they have all their summer plants(I guess that is the term) all on sale 70% off. We, AH and I, "racked up". We got the majority of our starter landscaping needs for less than $100.00. I thought that was great. Of course, I will spend more eventually - but I called it the starter kit. My favorite flower is the magnolia (I think you would call it a bloom). Anyway, we got a magnolia tree for $8.00. I am talking about a 6' tree. I got all the shrubs I wanted to cover the foundation and some more cactus to add to my cactus farm. I love it ! Anyway, I want it to get cool so I can get out there and plant, plant, plant. I am doing it anyway - but it is hot ! Oops, complaining again. As my family says: "If she ain't compainin - she ain't breathin ! They love me !
I am following the blog of a friend about simple living - Simple Life on Hacienda Hill. I have been following some of her tips in addition to making up a few of my own. Check it out at haciendahill.blogspot.com. I hope this is the right way to direct you to it. But what I am trying to do most is live uncluttered. We actually downsized our living space when we built our house. So everything in our old house would not fit in the new one. Which is a good thing. I cut loose several trailer loads of furniture, knickknacks and other JUNK. Gave it to my favorite charity and a family I have adopted that needed things. I have done simple things that have made a world of difference. I keep my trash can in the laundry room now instead of under the sink or in the pantry. You would not believe how much cleaner things are. We no longer have a dirty clothes hamper in our bathroom or closet. We take everything out and put them in the clothes divider that I bought - whites, colored clothes and towels of all sorts/linens. It takes a few extra steps to do all this but we all could use the exercise. I also bought a 4 shelf unit which holds plastic bins. In one goes clean paper/newspaper/etc., one holds plastics. Recycle is the way to go now folks. Most of the schools and charities have big bins on their property to take all that stuff. I wish I could find a glass recycler in our area. Any financial stuff is kept separate in a "burn" tub and gets burned when we don't have a burn ban in effect in our area. I wish everyone could have that. It is great. I don't even trust a shredder. Anyone who wants to will take the time to put shredded stuff back together. After all, that is all they have to do. Hard to do that with ashes !
Well I will go now. I do have to work at my "paying" job. I hope to not be so neglectful in the future.
Later gaters !
I found a nursery around here - it is a big chain so I guess I can mention it - Houston Garden Centers - especially since I am promoting them. Anyway, they have all their summer plants(I guess that is the term) all on sale 70% off. We, AH and I, "racked up". We got the majority of our starter landscaping needs for less than $100.00. I thought that was great. Of course, I will spend more eventually - but I called it the starter kit. My favorite flower is the magnolia (I think you would call it a bloom). Anyway, we got a magnolia tree for $8.00. I am talking about a 6' tree. I got all the shrubs I wanted to cover the foundation and some more cactus to add to my cactus farm. I love it ! Anyway, I want it to get cool so I can get out there and plant, plant, plant. I am doing it anyway - but it is hot ! Oops, complaining again. As my family says: "If she ain't compainin - she ain't breathin ! They love me !
I am following the blog of a friend about simple living - Simple Life on Hacienda Hill. I have been following some of her tips in addition to making up a few of my own. Check it out at haciendahill.blogspot.com. I hope this is the right way to direct you to it. But what I am trying to do most is live uncluttered. We actually downsized our living space when we built our house. So everything in our old house would not fit in the new one. Which is a good thing. I cut loose several trailer loads of furniture, knickknacks and other JUNK. Gave it to my favorite charity and a family I have adopted that needed things. I have done simple things that have made a world of difference. I keep my trash can in the laundry room now instead of under the sink or in the pantry. You would not believe how much cleaner things are. We no longer have a dirty clothes hamper in our bathroom or closet. We take everything out and put them in the clothes divider that I bought - whites, colored clothes and towels of all sorts/linens. It takes a few extra steps to do all this but we all could use the exercise. I also bought a 4 shelf unit which holds plastic bins. In one goes clean paper/newspaper/etc., one holds plastics. Recycle is the way to go now folks. Most of the schools and charities have big bins on their property to take all that stuff. I wish I could find a glass recycler in our area. Any financial stuff is kept separate in a "burn" tub and gets burned when we don't have a burn ban in effect in our area. I wish everyone could have that. It is great. I don't even trust a shredder. Anyone who wants to will take the time to put shredded stuff back together. After all, that is all they have to do. Hard to do that with ashes !
Well I will go now. I do have to work at my "paying" job. I hope to not be so neglectful in the future.
Later gaters !
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Skillet Corn
I love corn and look for any corn recipes I can find.
This one was created out of a mistake I made. I had put some corn in a saucepan along with some butter, turned in on and promptly forgot about it - until I started smelling burnt corn.
It had not burned to badly so I was trying to think of ways to reover fromt his mess. So I chopped up some onions and bell peppers and added some spices and continued stir frying. Well it turned out pretty good. So now I burn the corn on purpose.
Start with any kind of corn - I prefer frozen. WE have a brand down here called PictSweet. It is delicious. Anyway, sprinkle olive oil in a skillet and put whatever amount of corn you want. I do add a little butter - but not as much as I used too - now that we attempt to be healthy eaters.
Anyway - chopped up veggies - as much as you want - just make it come out with your amount of corn.
Veggies I usually use:
bell peppers (for color use red and green)
poblano peppers
jalapeno peppers
banana peppers
Use your imagination.
All kinds of seasoning.
Stir and fry till some of it is even black.
Delicious.
This one was created out of a mistake I made. I had put some corn in a saucepan along with some butter, turned in on and promptly forgot about it - until I started smelling burnt corn.
It had not burned to badly so I was trying to think of ways to reover fromt his mess. So I chopped up some onions and bell peppers and added some spices and continued stir frying. Well it turned out pretty good. So now I burn the corn on purpose.
Start with any kind of corn - I prefer frozen. WE have a brand down here called PictSweet. It is delicious. Anyway, sprinkle olive oil in a skillet and put whatever amount of corn you want. I do add a little butter - but not as much as I used too - now that we attempt to be healthy eaters.
Anyway - chopped up veggies - as much as you want - just make it come out with your amount of corn.
Veggies I usually use:
bell peppers (for color use red and green)
poblano peppers
jalapeno peppers
banana peppers
Use your imagination.
All kinds of seasoning.
Stir and fry till some of it is even black.
Delicious.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
It's Hay Season !
On the way home today I noticed that several neighbors cut their hay fields today. We have had a lot of good rain lately thanks to the tropical storms and hurricanes that have occurred so far this hurricane season. So we all are looking for a successful year.
I love the smell of fresh mowed hay. I love the feeling of living on productive land that will help our livestock and our property. We have already had our first cutting of the season. A little disappointed as our field did not yield very many bales but we had not had much rain in the months before so it was kind of expected. We got a good growing going on out there right now so the second cutting should be pretty good.
Hopefully, with a good season (and no equipment malfunctions) we can get 3 - 4 more good cuttings.
Wish us luck. The cows love it during the winter with plenty to eat as a supplement. And my sweet doggie has a nice comfortable, warm bed throughout the winter.
On the way home today I noticed that several neighbors cut their hay fields today. We have had a lot of good rain lately thanks to the tropical storms and hurricanes that have occurred so far this hurricane season. So we all are looking for a successful year.
I love the smell of fresh mowed hay. I love the feeling of living on productive land that will help our livestock and our property. We have already had our first cutting of the season. A little disappointed as our field did not yield very many bales but we had not had much rain in the months before so it was kind of expected. We got a good growing going on out there right now so the second cutting should be pretty good.
Hopefully, with a good season (and no equipment malfunctions) we can get 3 - 4 more good cuttings.
Wish us luck. The cows love it during the winter with plenty to eat as a supplement. And my sweet doggie has a nice comfortable, warm bed throughout the winter.
Vegetarian Spaghetti
For this particular batch I used the following vegetables:
Slice all veggies in long, thin strips
1 bell pepper (yellow or green)
Handful of baby carrots
1 poblano pepper
1 large onion
1 to 2 banana peppers
Cut up 1 large tomato in large chucks
Cook veggies down in olive oil until tender or almost tender (the sauce is going to simmer for a while for all the flavors to mingle so the veggies will get tender while doing that.
Stir in 1 jar spaghetti sauce (any flavor - I chose a heart healthy one)
After sauce has simmered for your desired length of time - stir in 1 package of extra wide, whole wheat noodles (prepared separately).
You can be creative and add any veggies you want - prepared the same way.
Sprinkle cheese on top, add some garlic bread and enjoy.
This got a thumbs up from the man of this house too !
For this particular batch I used the following vegetables:
Slice all veggies in long, thin strips
1 bell pepper (yellow or green)
Handful of baby carrots
1 poblano pepper
1 large onion
1 to 2 banana peppers
Cut up 1 large tomato in large chucks
Cook veggies down in olive oil until tender or almost tender (the sauce is going to simmer for a while for all the flavors to mingle so the veggies will get tender while doing that.
Stir in 1 jar spaghetti sauce (any flavor - I chose a heart healthy one)
After sauce has simmered for your desired length of time - stir in 1 package of extra wide, whole wheat noodles (prepared separately).
You can be creative and add any veggies you want - prepared the same way.
Sprinkle cheese on top, add some garlic bread and enjoy.
This got a thumbs up from the man of this house too !
Cheesy Shrimp and Rice Bake
Prepare 2 cups of white or brown rice ahead of time
Spray skillet with cooking spray and sprinkle in some olive oil if desired
Dice half of an onion and bell pepper and sauté until tender
Add 2 lbs. shrimp and cook until pink
Stir in 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes (if desired)
Stir in 2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
Heat thru, remove from heat and stir in rice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Pour half of mixture into greased glass casserole dish
Add grated cheese (any kind) on top
Pour in rest of mixture
Cover and heat till bubbly
Turn off oven and add more cheese
Keep in oven until cheese melts
You’ll notice I don’t get real particular with amounts or types of food.
Everyone has their own tastes so I leave it up to the individual cook.
Use low sodium soup and low fat cheese if desired.
This recipe was passed along to me by Tammy D., a co-worker.
This amount makes enough for one meal for two and plenty of leftovers
Prepare 2 cups of white or brown rice ahead of time
Spray skillet with cooking spray and sprinkle in some olive oil if desired
Dice half of an onion and bell pepper and sauté until tender
Add 2 lbs. shrimp and cook until pink
Stir in 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes (if desired)
Stir in 2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
Heat thru, remove from heat and stir in rice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Pour half of mixture into greased glass casserole dish
Add grated cheese (any kind) on top
Pour in rest of mixture
Cover and heat till bubbly
Turn off oven and add more cheese
Keep in oven until cheese melts
You’ll notice I don’t get real particular with amounts or types of food.
Everyone has their own tastes so I leave it up to the individual cook.
Use low sodium soup and low fat cheese if desired.
This recipe was passed along to me by Tammy D., a co-worker.
This amount makes enough for one meal for two and plenty of leftovers
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The Country Way . . . . . .
My sweet neighbor brought over some fresh vegetables from his garden the other day. We were so grateful because as I mentioned earlier we did not have a garden this year. (I keep forgetting the cherry tomato plant we did get and is on our back porch.) But he brought over BIG tomatoes. My, there is nothing like homegrown food. They were still warm from the sun when he brought them over. There were tomatoes, hot peppers of all kinds (yea !) and cukes (cucumbers).
Because he usually brings more than we can eat or cook before wasting I always bring some to share with co-workers. Alas, I have no time for canning right now (another of my favorite things to do). The veggies are usually gone within 5 minutes of putting them on the table in the break room - no joke. Every year they ask me when they can get some homegrown veggies. They were really disappointed in me this year.
One of my favorite sayings is - that is the country way. And country way is how neighbors help neighbors in my "neck of the woods." That is almost a lost art. Whether it be loaning out or helping to repair farm equipment or just bringing over extra vegetables - our small group of neighbors look out for each other. We have one neighbor, who, being a former "city fella", is rather light on knowledge of knowing how to fix his tractor (and many other farming chores). AH has helped him many times.
Just the other day on the way home from work I saw cows out on the road. That is always a BIG deal out here. They have to be gotten off the road - they get spooked and it can get very dangerous. This particular time I recognized the brand so after a couple of phone calls I had some help, grabbed my black mud boots (which I always have with me - the country way) and we herded them back to their pasture and put up a temporary barrier until their owner got home. When you don't recognize the cows or there is no brand you have to put them up in your place temporarily while you drive around inquiring whose they might be. Almost always, someone will know the owner and how to get in touch with them.
Last winter we were headed to town very early. It was very cold and we saw a neighbor's cow had just given birth. The new calf was too weak to get up - if they don't get up pretty soon they usually don't make it. While AH got out and ran to it and put a blanket (another - always must have with you item - you got it - the country way) around it - I got the owner and we got it to the barn.
There are many, many more ways neighbors help neighbors - you got it - in the country.
That is JUST the country way . . . . . .
My sweet neighbor brought over some fresh vegetables from his garden the other day. We were so grateful because as I mentioned earlier we did not have a garden this year. (I keep forgetting the cherry tomato plant we did get and is on our back porch.) But he brought over BIG tomatoes. My, there is nothing like homegrown food. They were still warm from the sun when he brought them over. There were tomatoes, hot peppers of all kinds (yea !) and cukes (cucumbers).
Because he usually brings more than we can eat or cook before wasting I always bring some to share with co-workers. Alas, I have no time for canning right now (another of my favorite things to do). The veggies are usually gone within 5 minutes of putting them on the table in the break room - no joke. Every year they ask me when they can get some homegrown veggies. They were really disappointed in me this year.
One of my favorite sayings is - that is the country way. And country way is how neighbors help neighbors in my "neck of the woods." That is almost a lost art. Whether it be loaning out or helping to repair farm equipment or just bringing over extra vegetables - our small group of neighbors look out for each other. We have one neighbor, who, being a former "city fella", is rather light on knowledge of knowing how to fix his tractor (and many other farming chores). AH has helped him many times.
Just the other day on the way home from work I saw cows out on the road. That is always a BIG deal out here. They have to be gotten off the road - they get spooked and it can get very dangerous. This particular time I recognized the brand so after a couple of phone calls I had some help, grabbed my black mud boots (which I always have with me - the country way) and we herded them back to their pasture and put up a temporary barrier until their owner got home. When you don't recognize the cows or there is no brand you have to put them up in your place temporarily while you drive around inquiring whose they might be. Almost always, someone will know the owner and how to get in touch with them.
Last winter we were headed to town very early. It was very cold and we saw a neighbor's cow had just given birth. The new calf was too weak to get up - if they don't get up pretty soon they usually don't make it. While AH got out and ran to it and put a blanket (another - always must have with you item - you got it - the country way) around it - I got the owner and we got it to the barn.
There are many, many more ways neighbors help neighbors - you got it - in the country.
That is JUST the country way . . . . . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)