Warm Steak and Potato Salad

I made this yummy dish for supper tonight.  Perfect meal because it is all you need!

Warm Steak and Potato Salad

8 oz. lean steak sliced

3 strips bacon sliced into strips

1 small onion diced

3-4 red potatoes cut in bite sized pieces (cook in water until tender and drain)

5 Tablespoons honey

5 Tablespoons cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 bag baby spinach

1 cup halved grape tomatoes

Combine the honey, vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl.  Set aside.  In a large skillet cook bacon until browned.  Take out of pan and save bacon drippings.  Next cook the steak and onions until onions are almost done.  Add the cooked potatoes and cook another 30 seconds or so.  Pour honey sauce over mixture.  Turn off heat.  On a large platter put out the spinach and tomatoes.  Pour the hot meat mixture over the spinach and top with bacon.  Serve warm.  Enjoy!  Serves 3-4

Ginger Crinkles

To me this is the perfect cookie.  I love crunchy cookies!  My husband likes soft or chewy cookies.  Oh what am I saying, he loves all cookies! these cookies always look like a pro made them!  :0)

Ginger Crinkles

3/4 cup shortening (I used butter flavored Crisco sticks)

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

2 1/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Cream shortening with sugar and molasses.  Add brown sugar.  Next add the egg and vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients and add to mixer.  Roll into 1 inch balls and then roll in raw sugar.  Bake on a lined cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Enjoy these yummy cookies!

Texas snowballs :0)

We rarely get snow in our part of Texas, so we have to settle for cookies shaped like snowballs.  They are one of my favorite Christmas cookies.  I love almost anything with powdered sugar! Merry Christmas one and all!

Snow ball cookies

1 cup butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons water

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

1 cup finely chopped pecans

1/2 cup powdered sugar (or more if needed)

Cream butter, add sugar, vanilla, and water.  Next add flour, salt, and pecans.  Form into 1 inch balls. Bake @ 325 degrees on a lined cookie sheet for about 20 minutes.  When completely cooled, roll in powdered sugar.

Cheez-it Butterfingers!

Yes, you read the title correctly…Cheez-it Butterfingers!  I was unsure at first, but they are pretty good.  A bit messy, but that can be fun!

Cheez-it Butterfingers

You start by melting a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave or double boiler.   Next you spread a generous amount of peanut butter between two Cheez-its.  Dip each sandwich in chocolate and place on a rack to dry and the refrigerate until chocolate is set.  They taste good, not sure they taste exactly like Butterfingers, but they are close.  Enjoy!  Happy holidays!

Roasted asparagus with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes

I made this side for dinner tonight.  It was as beautiful as it was delicious.

Roasted Asparagus with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes

Start by roasting some asparagus.  Just put asparagus on a roasting pan, spray with olive oil, sprinkle on some coarse salt and bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Next sauté a small shallot in 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Add a few sliced mushrooms, and after they are almost done, a few cherry tomatoes sliced in half.  Season with salt, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme.

Pour over cooked asparagus, and finish dish with some grated parmesan cheese.  Enjoy!

Milder Jerk Chicken

I like spicy food, but not so hot that it burns my mouth.  This recipe is easy and spicy, but not nuclear!

Milder Jerk Chicken

8 boneless chicken breast tenders

Marinade:

In a food processor whiz:

1 teaspoon allspice

2 teaspoons dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 cup rum (I used sherry, I don’t have rum)

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 small onion

1 large clove garlic

Pour over chicken and let set for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with sides with foil.  Pour chicken and all of marinate into pan.  Bake for 15 minutes.

Pour off marinate (reserve in a bowl) and return chicken to oven for another 5 minutes.  Serve chicken with rice and reserved reheated marinate and slices of lime on the side.  If it is too spicy, add less cayenne next time.

Glazed Lemon Cookies

I made these yummy shortbread cookies today.  The Lemon glaze is easy and so fresh!

Glazed Lemon Cookies

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 large egg yolks

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs yolks and vanilla.  Next add salt and flour.

I used a wrap that is parchment on foil.  Worked great for this

Divide dough in two rolls wrapped in parchment or wax paper.  Chill for at lease 30 minutes.  Slice and bake on a silpad lined cookies sheet @ 350 degrees for 16-20 minutes, or until cookies get a tiny brown edge.  Cool and dip top down in lemon glaze.  Allow to dry on a cookie sheet. These freeze well. Don’t eat too many!

Lemon Glaze

Combine in a medium bowl:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon vanilla