Steak Enthusiast

There is an “I Like Steaks” forum on the Web I like to check out every once in a while. It’s a place where like-minded people (steak lovers) go to talk about, well, STEAK.

Here’s what “Valentine” had to say over at ExperienceProject.com:

Steak is great!  My favorite is Delmonico.  I marinate them overnight with my homemade marinade and then grill them.  Mine is cooked medium rare.  Yum!

Wanna get in on the discussion? Tell me your favorite ways to cook steak — just send them to me in the comments section, and join the discussion over at “I Like Steaks” too!

Photo courtesy of ExperienceProject.com.

Wanna be like the Biggest Loser?

You know, that show on NBC?

I do. Those folks are focused, driven and they know their stuff.

That’s partly because they have the help of some very talented trainers . . . and chefs.

That’s where we come in. Chef Rocco DiSpirito created this amazing pepper steak as a healthy, tasty meal for Season 5’s Biggest Loser contestants.

Hey, if it’s good enough for them, it’s perfect for me.

See what YOU think!

Rocco’s Pepper Steak

Serves 4

3 -1/2 cups Free-Range Chicken Broth, low sodium
fresh ground pepper and NuSalt
1 cup short-grain brown rice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
12 Anaheim peppers
Pam spray
4 5-ounce portions lean beef tenderloin
1 vidalia onion, slice thinly
5 cloves chopped garlic
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup Trader Joe’s Fat Free Salt-Free Marinara
1/2 cup Evaporated Fat Free Milk
1/2 cup chopped fines herbs (parsley, chives, tarragon and chervil)
pinch cayenne

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring 2 cups chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepot. Season with NuSalt and add rice. Cover, turn down heat to a very low simmer and cook for about 1 hour or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Fuff rice with fork and toss with olive oil. Keep warm.

2. Char Anaheim peppers over an open flame, turning to cook evenly, until skins are mostly burnt. Place peppers in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap for about 7 minutes to steam off skin. Remove as much charred skin as possible with a paper towel. Seed peppers and cut into rings about 1/2 inch thick.

3. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season steaks with pepper and NuSalt and spray pan with Pam. Sauté until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove steaks from pan and keep warm.

4. Spray pan with Pam again and add onions. Sauté until onions are starting to become tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for another minute. Deglaze with balsamic vinegar. Add 1 cup chicken stock to the pan and bring to a simmer. Mix remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock with cornstarch to make a slurry and whisk into pan. Stir in marinara and evaporated milk and bring to a simmer. Add peppers, cayenne and simmer until vegetables are tender. Return beef to the pan to reheat, for about 2 minutes. Stir in fines herbs. Serve with rice.

Recipe and logo courtesy of NBC.com.

Oh, the flavors!

The colors!

Isn’t that what we all like about a great meal? A total sensory experience?

Presentation counts, man. And this one does it up right!

Check it out . . .

Teriyaki Flank Steak With Green Onions

Ingredients

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated or minced

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 flank steak (about 1 1/2 pounds)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

12 green onions, cut into 1-inch lengths

2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

1. Whisk soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, ginger, pepper flakes, and cornstarch in medium bowl.  (Or use a handheld blender to blend.)

2. Pat steak dry with paper towels. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook steak until well browned and cooked to desired doneness, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to cutting board and tent with foil.

3. Add remaining oil and green onions to empty skillet and cook until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes; transfer to bowl. Stir soy sauce mixture and any accumulated beef juices into skillet and simmer, scraping up any browned bits, until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Slice beef thin on bias against grain. Transfer to bowl (or serving platter) and toss with sauce, green onions, and sesame seeds. Serve with rice.

Note: To toast sesame seeds, cook them in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Mangeratrois.net.