Cooking Good Steaks

Cooking Steak how you like it. Everyone likes steak a little different, so no recipe will keep everyone always happy. Here are some good basics to learn so you can experiment and discover different ways to enjoy and try steak.

1. Prep5 minutes.

1. Cook10 minutes.

1. Resting time30 minutes.

1. Ready in: 45 minutes.

1. 
   

INGREDIENTS
2 well-trimmed beef ribeye steaks, cut 1-inch thick (about 12 ounces each)
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 medium Portobello mushrooms, stems removed (about 1 3/4 pounds)
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt
Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Combine thyme, garlic and pepper in small bowl; gently pound steak to tenderize, press evenly onto beef steaks. Set aside. Leave overnight or at least 3 hours before cooking

Heat up skillet up to 4-5 minutes before cooking

Place the steak into the skillet and cook until it’s easily moved. This takes between one and two minutes. Carefully flip the steak, placing it in a different section of the skillet. Cook for 30 seconds, and then begin moving the steak around, occasionally pressing slightly to ensure even contact with the skillet. Moving the steak around the pan helps it cook faster and more evenly.

Continue turning and flipping the steak until it’s cooked to your desired degree of doneness. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes before cutting in.

1. 
   

About halfway through cooking steaks, add mushrooms and cook in juices just a short few minutes along with steaks till choice of doneness. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

When cooking steak to your desired doneness, a meat thermometer is your best friend. A thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat should read:

• Medium-rare:135º
• Medium: 140º
• Medium-well: 145º

Keep in mind that the steak will continue to cook a little bit after it’s been removed from the pan, so aim for a few degrees shy of your desired temperature.

Cooking

Heat the pan over a medium-high flame, and add a tablespoon of oil. Choose an oil with a high smoke point, such as grapeseed or olive oil. Place the steak into the oil-coated pan, ensuring the pieces of meat do not touch (if you are making more than one steak). When the meat hits the pan, you should hear a sizzling sound, which means the pan is hot and the perfect temperature to sear the steak.

For a one-inch steak, cook the steak for about five minutes, and turn it and sear the other side for about three minutes (for medium done).

Timing Variations

Steaks come in different varieties and different thickness. Both variables make a difference in cooking length and overall flavor. The average size of a steak is one inch, though there are thinner steaks, such as New York strips, or thicker steaks with bones, such as T-bones. Make adjustments to the cooking time based on the thickness of the steak. For example, when cooking a thinner steak (approximately one-half inch thick) on the stove, cook one side for three minutes. Then turn the steak and cook the other side for two minutes (for medium done). A thicker steak will take more time, approximately six to eight minutes on the first side and five on the second side. Add a few minutes if necessary, but you cannot reverse an over-cooked steak.

Place the spike point of the meat thermometer into the center or thickest part of the meat, being careful not to poke all the way through the steak. For rare steak (red in the center, with some pink) the internal temperature of the steak should be 140 degrees. For a medium steak (some pink in the middle, no red), the internal temperature should be 160 degrees. For a well done steak (no pink, all brown), the internal temperature should be 170 degrees.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This cake smells so good when it's baking, your family will love you for making it and everyone will dive in for a piece. It's so good.

 12 Servings

Ingredients
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 can (20 oz) pineapple slices or crushed in juice, drained, juice reserved
1 jar (6 oz) maraschino cherries without stems, drained sliced
1 box *yellow cake mix(use a good brand)
*Ingredients called for on cake mix box

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). In 13x9-inch pan, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Drop the cherries in the brown sugar then arrange pineapple on brown sugar, press gently into brown sugar.

Add enough water to reserved pineapple juice to measure 1 cup. Make cake batter as directed on box, substituting pineapple juice mixture for the water. Pour batter over pineapple and cherries.

Bake 42 to 48 minutes (44 to 53 minutes for dark or nonstick pan) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Place heatproof serving plate upside down onto pan; turn plate and pan over. Leave pan over cake 5 minutes so brown sugar topping can drizzle over cake; remove pan. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or cool. Store covered in refrigerator.

Crock Pot Cheesy Sausage Nachos

The creamy cheesiness is just the best dip ever, makes the best nachos you will ever eat. Top with your favorite toppings too.

Ingredients

1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese cubed(try the white cheese)
4 oz. cream cheese
1/2 lb. pork sausage cooked and drained
1 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes and green chiles(drained)

Instructions
Spray the insert of your crock pot or use a slow cooker liner.
Add all ingredients and cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring well before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Notes

Be sure to cook and drain the pork sausage before adding it to the rest of the ingredients.

Cut the half pound of Velveeta into large chunks before adding it to the crock pot.

Watch the heat of your crock pot, everyone is different.

Just give it a good stir and serve with your favorite tortilla chips. Top with diced tomatoes, onions. red are really good, sour cream, chives, green onions, black olives, refried beans, avocados. 

To make clean up easy, use a slow cooker liner. 

Cheesy Kielbasa Hashbrown Casserole Crock Pot Style

Want a quick and easy crock pot casserole? well here you have it and it's tasty delicious. I use fresh small cut potatoes and a smoked sausage of your liking and dinner will be done in no time.

Ingredients

3-4 cups. potatoes cut small
14 oz .smoked sausage( kielbasa, cut into chunks
1 small onion, diced
1/3 cup of butter , melted
2 1/2 cups shredded cheese (I used a mix of Monterey jack and cheddar)
10.5 oz can cream of mushroom(you can use cream of chicken)
1 cup whole milk

Instructions

Combine potatoes, smoked sausage, onion, and 2 cups of the cheese in a

greased crock pot.

In a separate bowl, combine cream of soup, butter and milk. Pour over hash

brown mix.

Sprinkle remaining cheese over top.

Cook on high for 3 hours.

ENJOY! It tastes so good, I serve this up with a fresh salad 

Shepherds Pie

This is comfort food, I crave it sometimes, it's good in winter, it's good in summer, anytime really. It is everything you need in one dish. You can change up the veggies too, could also use different meats, or try it with chicken. a good sausage is awesome in it. 

What You NEED:

FOR POTATOES
1 1/2 lb. potatoes, peeled
Sea salt
4 tbsp. melted butter
1/4 c. milk or cream
1/4 c. sour cream
Freshly ground black pepper

FOR BEEF MIXTURE
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. fresh thyme
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 c. frozen peas
1 c. frozen corn
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2/3 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley, for garnish 

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 400°. Make mashed potatoes: In a large pot, cover potatoes with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until totally soft, 16 to 18 minutes. Drain and return to pot.

Use a potato masher to mash potatoes until smooth. Add melted butter, milk or cream, and sour cream. Mash together until fully incorporated, but don't over mash, then season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Make beef mixture: In a large, ovenproof skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, carrots, garlic, and thyme and cook until fragrant and softened, 5 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more. Drain fat.

Stir in frozen peas and corn and cook until warmed through, 3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle meat with flour and stir to evenly distribute. Cook 1 minute more and add chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and let mixture thicken slightly, 5 minutes.

Top beef mixture with an even layer of mashed potatoes and bake until there is very little liquid visible and mashed potatoes are golden, about 20 minutes. Broil if desired.

Garnish with parsley before serving.

Frito Pie in a Bowl

This is so easy and oh so good, the kids will like and so will grandma. Best of all it's easy and quick to make. You can top it how you like

What you need:
1 lb. lean ground beef

1/2 diced onion

2 cloves garlic minced
1 can (16 oz) chili beans
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
1 envelope low sodium taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 1/2 cups corn chips (Fritos)
1 1/4 cup fat free sour cream 

toppings: diced onions, extra tomatoes, avocados, green onions

How to make it:

Cook ground beef until meat is browned, add onions and garlic and cook till done, drain. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning mix and 1/4 c. of cheese. In a bowl I place a few Fritos first and then, top with your cooked meat mixture and top with more Fritos. Spread sour cream over this. Top with your favorite toppings how you like and enjoy. 

Egg Rolls Homemade Takeout

Better than going out for them, these are so good, you will add this recipe to your make takeout night at home.

YIELD: 12 eggrolls

INGREDIENTS
12 egg roll wraps
1⁄2-1 lb ground pork (or chicken or beef)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1⁄4 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 (16 ounce) bag shredded cabbage and carrot coleslaw mix (not quite the whole bag)
4 green onions, sliced
1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water
oil (for frying)

DIRECTIONS

Brown pork with ginger and garlic in pan; drain any grease.

Mix salt, sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil. Add to pork and mix well.

In large bowl combine cabbage mix and green onions.

Pour hot meat over vegetables and stir well. Let cool slightly.

Lay wrap in front of you so that it looks like a diamond.

Place 3 tablespoons pork filling in center of egg roll wrapper.

Fold bottom point up over filling and roll once.

Fold in right and left points.

Brush beaten egg on top point.

Finish rolling.

Set aside and repeat with remaining filling.

Heat 2-3 inches oil in large frying pan to very hot (350ºF).

Fry a few egg rolls in pan at a time, 2-3 minutes per side.

Drain on paper towels.

Serve with sweet and sour sauce, plum sauce, hoisin sauce or jalapeño pepper jelly.