How in the heck did it get to be October? What is the deal with that?

So, now that we’re officially in fall, the weather will start to get a little crisper. I watched a bit of the White Sox game in Chicago last night and all the fans were wearing jackets.

Cold weather is upon us, people. We might as well accept it.

But some really great things come along with that cool weather. For instance, I love bulky sweaters that keep me toasty and I love hearty foods that keep my insides warm.

So in honor of nippy nights and brisk days, I give you this recipe for Steaky Casserole Pie. It’s sure to keep you and yours warm through the night!

Steaky Casserole Pie

Ingredients

1 large onion, sliced
1/3 cup shortening
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
1-1/2 pounds boneless round steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups boiling water
1-1/2 cups diced peeled potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup frozen peas
Pie pastry (9 to 10 inches)

Directions
In a Dutch oven, lightly brown onion in shortening. Meanwhile, combine flour, salt, pepper, ginger and allspice in a plastic bag.
Place meat cubes in the bag, a few pieces at a time, and shake well to coat. Remove onion and set aside. Brown beef on all sides. Add water; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until meat is tender, stirring occasionally.
Add potatoes, carrots and reserved onions; cover and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in peas and continue cooking until all vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Spoon meat mixture into a 9-in. square baking pan.
Roll pastry out to a 10-in. square; place over meat mixture and seal edges to pan. Cut several small steam vents in crust.
Bake at 450° for 25-30 minutes or until pastry is browned.

Recipe and photo courtesy of grouprecipes.com.

This is a new one on me. But my philosophy is, hey, whatever floats your boat.

Some football fans in Kansas City have a ritual involving steak, football greats and a mean forward pass. You can try this on Sunday, but don’t blame me if you have to eat steak with little bits of asphalt in it. Here’s the skinny from tailgating.com . . .

STEAK OF LIFE
From Brian D. a KC Chiefs Tailgater

This is an Arrowhead tradition since 1999 and can be found at every Chiefs’ home game.

The act of tossing meat amongst friends is rumored to bring eternal life. To date hundreds have eaten the Steak of Life but not one has passed away.

Ingredients-
1 single 1.5 lbs inexpensive steak

Marinade-
1 black and white printed photo of either Jan Stenerud or Christian Okoye
Red wine vinegar to taste
Worcestershire to taste
Cheap red wine to taste
Cheap bourbon (preferable Ten High) to taste

Preparation/Cooking-
Combine liquid ingredients in Tupperware with steak. Add photo of KC Chief Legend. Allow at least 4 hours to marinade to allow the Ghosts of Chiefs’ Past to fully penetrate the meat. Once at Arrowhead (preferably lot C7), light the charcoals and allow them to heat up. Very important, do not use a gas grill. Cook the steak for approximately 4 minutes a side.

To Serve-
One Chiefs fan takes the steak off the grill and yells “Steak of Life!” followed by one large bite. The first Chiefs fan then throws the steak in the air into a large group of frenzied Chiefs fans. The steak is caught, or picked up off the ground/vehicle, another bite is taken and the steak is again thrown into the air. This routine continues until the steak is finished. One popular method of catching the steak is with the mouth. However, this requires tremendous focus. Clean up with baby wipes.

For our part of the world, school starts back today. And now that we’re back in the swing of things, nighttime gets a little hectic with homework, soccer practice, dinner and bedtime.

So here’s a great time-saving school night dinner to keep you going. Enjoy!

Steak with Garlic Sauce Dinner

Steak with garlic sauce is paired with sesame pea pods and rosemary bread for a memorable dinner. Great for any night of the week since it’s ready in 15 minutes.

How to Do it in 15 Minutes:
Put up water for the pea pods
Broil the steak
Make the garlic sauce while the steak’s cooking
Make the pea pods
Prep the bread
When the steak is finished, toast the bread

Four ingredients never tasted so good (not including oil, salt, and pepper.) You’ll find yourself using the garlic sauce for just about anything – short of drinking it straight from the pan.
Ingredients
1½ pound flank steak
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
2 cloves of garlic, minced
pinch of ground black pepper
½ teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
Cooking Instructions
Heat broiler. Season steak with salt and pepper.
Broil steak about 6-inches from heating element, turning once, about 8 to 10 mintues, or until medium rare.

Sauce: In small saucepan over medium heat melt butter. Add garlic, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and any accumulated steak juices.
Make it Faster
Two teaspoons bottled crushed garlic can be used in place of 2 minced garlic cloves
Tips & Tricks
Smash garlic cloves with the flat side of a large knife to easily remove the cloves’ skin
Nutrition Facts
Servings per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving: 6 ounces Flank Steak and 1 tablespoon Garlic Sauce
Preparation Time: 2 minutes
Cooking Time: About 10 minutes
Ready In: 12 minutes
Servings: 4

Photo courtesy of recipes.kaboose.com.

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