Erin Go Braugh!

Slainte!

St. Patrick's Day is one of my all-time favorite holidays. No muss, no fuss ... just a good time with friends.

What's not to love?!

Not a huge fan of the corned beef and cabbage, eh?

Ok ... so maybe the food can be a little off putting for some. The Irish have a particular taste ... one that may not be enjoyed by all.

I personally like corned beef and cabbage, despite the fact that it smells like a foot.

But if you're one of the majority who does not care for it, I have a recipe for you to try instead.

How about a nice peppered steak with a pomegranate glaze paired with some spicy arugula?

I know, I know, it's not very Irish.  But it's damn tasty.  And life is too short to suffer through a bad meal. (As well as a bad glass of wine or a bad book - right, mom?)

Plus, steak goes great with a pint of Guinness!

I've featured this recipe before on WhatToCookWhen.com, but it's a crowd pleasure so give it a shot if you haven't yet.

And before I run out to join my Irish friends and family at the pub -- that's right, my birth name is McEldowney! - let me leave you with a good 'ol fashioned Irish toast:

May the winds of fortune sail you,
May you sail a gentle sea.
May it always be the other guy
who says, "this drink's on me."

So the next time St. Patrick's Day rolls around, and you find yourself hating corned beef and cabbage, grab a pint of Guinness and don some green anyways.  You have the perfect meal to enjoy the holiday with your pals, and still enjoy your dinner!

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Peppered Steak with Pomegranate Glaze and Arugula

Peppered Steak with Pomegranate Glaze

This peppered steak recipe is cooked on the stove, and reduces super healthy pomegranate juice into a glaze. Pair it with peppery arugula and get ready for a fancy restaurant dinner, from the comfort of your own home.

Are you crazy!? It's smack dab in the middle of the week!

You have a full day of work ahead of you...

Which means you have about an hour to prepare once you get home.

But that's ok ...

You just need an easy main course with minimal steps and ingredients ... and properly timed sides to go with it.

Of course you also need flavor that rocks just as much as if you had more time.

Now before you turn your nose up at my recommendation, I want you to put aside any aversions you have to this dish.

Meatloaf is one of those dinner recipes that parents have abused for generations.

But give it a chance ... this recipe will make you see meatloaf in a whole new light.

Using corn chips instead of bread crumbs or crackers makes this meatloaf recipe unforgettable. And the chili sauce seals the deal, giving it enough flavor to make the “I cover all meatloaf with ketchup” eaters, say goodbye to their beloved condiment.

Just one bite will give you a whole new outlook on meatloaf ... I promise.

So the next time you're having another couple over for dinner following a full day of work, print off this recipe at work and get your game face on.  You have the perfect recipe for a flavorful meatloaf that will comfort and satisfy all of your guests.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Best Meatloaf Ever

Ingredients:

Home Run Meatloaf

• 1 Lb Ground Meat - Turkey, Pork, or Beef
• 1 Cup Crushed Corn Chips
• 1 Bottle Heinz Chili Sauce
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Green Onions
• 1 Egg
• 1/8 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Combine all ingredients, except only add 1/2 the bottle of the chili sauce.
3. Form two loaves.
4. Cover loaves with remaining chili sauce.
5. Bake 20-30 minutes, until cooked all the way through.
6. Slice into 1 inch pieces, and serve with mashed potatoes.

• Prep/Cook Time: 45 Minutes
• Serves: 4

That's the reason my friend gave about all the drama surrounding holiday travel throughout the midwest this holiday season.

Let's hope she's right and people get to where they want to go this week. (We're hoping to make it to Iowa!)

But at the sad chance that you do get snowed in and aren't able to get home for the holidays, I thought I would feature some of my favorite "I'm so glad I gave this a chance" recipes from the year. That way you'll be able to at least enjoy a few awesome meals!

I mean come on ... good food makes everything a little better, right?

This first recipe has had its share of turned up noses.  Yet everyone who has given it a shot, raved about it.  So why not you?  (Yes, I'm talking to you!)

This recipe has an amazing blend of sweet and spice, is chock full of healthy ingredients, and results in a Moroccan flavored beef stew that makes the meat so tender it melts in your mouth.

Serve it up with some couscous and you'll be good to go with very little effort.

So the next time you get snowed in and your travel plans get wrecked, pull out your crock pot and get ready for an exotic night at home.  You have the perfect recipe for a moroccan-inspired beef stew that will take a little bit of the edge off!

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Moroccan-Inspired Beef Stew

Moroccan-Inspired Beef Stew

To me they always looked too good to be true.  I mean really.  Frozen meat delivered to your door?!

But about two years ago I ordered box for my parents, as a thank you gift after my wedding.  We thought it was a clever gift because my husband is from Omaha.

Well I've been on their mailing list ever since, and finally a few months ago I broke down and ordered them for myself.

Talk about a cool gift!

Not only do I love that everything is packaged in normal single-serve sizes (which makes eating healthy super easy!), but I always have various meats on hand.  So no matter what we feel like for dinner, I'm ready to roll.

So lately I've been able to try out a lot of new recipes - thanks to my freezer full of meat!

And this latest recipe I found is perfect for a day when it's raining, scorching, (or snowing!) and you don't feel like battling the grill and the elements.

It involves cooking the steaks on the stove of all places, and includes a glaze made out of pomegranate juice.  And let me just say, the end result looks and tastes like something you'd order at a fancy restaurant.

Plus, the cooking style and sauce will make even an average quality piece of meat like top sirloin, into something extraordinary.

So the next time you have a huge box of meat from Omaha Steaks, or simply feel like a good steak dinner and don't feel like firing up the grill, pull out your good knives and get ready for a treat.  You have the perfect recipe for a delicious steak dinner that will make you feel like you're eating at a fancy restaurant, from the comfort of your own home.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Peppered Steak with Pomegranate Glaze

Ingredients:

Peppered Steak with Pomegranate Glaze

• 4 4Oz Sirloin Steaks (Or 1-Pound Sirloin Steak)
• Peppercorn Melange, Coarsely Ground (See note at bottom)
• 1 1/2 Tsp Finely Chopped Rosemary
• 2 1/2 Tsp Olive Oil, Divided
• 1 Cup Pomegranate Juice
• 4 Tsp Golden Brown Sugar (Or 3 Tsp Maple Syrup)
• 2 1/2 Tsp Balsamic Vinegar, Divided
• 4 Cups Arugula

Directions:

1. Sprinkle steak with coarsely ground pepper.
2. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add steak and cook to desired doneness. (About 5 minutes each side for medium-rare.)
4. Transfer steak to a plate and cover with tin foil.
5. Add pomegranate juice, brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar to skillet.
6. Boil until reduced to scant 1/4 cup glaze, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
7. Toss arugula with remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil and remaining 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar in medium bowl.
8. Divide arugula evenly among four plates.
9. Slice steak, divide and arrange alongside arugula.
10. Drizzle glaze generously around steak and serve.

Note: Peppercorn melange is a mix of whole black, white, pink, and green peppercorn. It is often sold in a grinder in the spice section of the supermarket.

* Original recipe appeared in Bon Appetit Magazine.

Mom is a big foodie who loves great flavor.

Dad is a meat eater who prefers standard fare, and likes his food cooked all the way through. (And perhaps microwaved for a minute or two more, just for good measure!)

You'd like to make them dinner ... something they both will REALLY enjoy.

Boy do I have the perfect recipe for you.  But you have to answer this question first ...

Are you brave enough to challenge your mom's meatloaf recipe?

I know, it's a big feat.  Your dad has been enjoying that recipe for years.  

But trust me, this recipe delivers.  We're talking home run here.

Using corn chips instead of bread crumbs or crackers makes this version unforgettable.  And the chili sauce seals the deal, giving it enough flavor to make the "I cover all meatloaf with ketchup"  eaters, say goodbye to their beloved condiment.

So the next time you're trying to please two different palates, and are feeling brave enough to challenge your mom in the kitchen,  get ready to knock it out of the park. You've got the perfect recipe that your mom will enjoy so much, she won't even care that she'll never be able to make her meatloaf again.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca
 

Home Run Meatloaf

Ingredients:

Home Run Meatloaf

• 1 Lb Ground Meat - Turkey, Pork, or Beef
• 1 Cup Crushed Corn Chips
• 1 Bottle Heinz Chili Sauce
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Green Onions
• 1 Egg
• 1/8 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

 Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Combine all ingredients, except only add 1/2 the bottle of the chili sauce. 
3. Form two loaves.
4. Cover loaves with remaining chili sauce.
5. Bake 20-30 minutes, until cooked all the way through.
6. Slice into 1 inch pieces, and serve with mashed potatoes.

• Prep/Cook Time: 45 Minutes
• Serves: 4

You're home.

It's a Sunday morning.

You don't have a big day planned, other than some light chores and maybe a walk with the dogs.

You're sipping your coffee when that domestic bug hits you...

"I want to cook today.  I want to put on my apron and really cook something today.  I want my house to smell like I've been cooking.  And I want to feel like I'm an Italian cooking goddess."

It happens.   I understand.  My husband can vouch for me.

So I'd like to share with you a recipe that will appeal to your domestic side, and thoroughly please whoever may be joining you for dinner later that evening. 

Unlike many recipes, this lasagna recipe was perfect the first time I made it.  I've made some tweaks ever since, but I've since decided you really can't screw this one up. 

The sauce takes time, so you'll have to be home and have a little extra time.  But oh my, is it ever worth it. 

And this recipe freezes beautifully.  So if it's just you (or two of you) I highly recommend slicing it up into individual servings, and storing for a day when you just don't feel like cooking.

So the next time your domestic side cries out to you, hold on to your apron strings and get ready.  You have the perfect recipe for homemade lasagna that's sure to please even the truest Italian.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Three Cheese Homemade Lasagna

Three Cheese Homemade Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 Pound Sweet Italian Sausage Links
• 3/4 Pound Lean Ground Beef
• 4 Garlic Cloves, Crushed
• 1/2 Cup Minced Onion
• 28 oz Crushed Tomatoes
• 13 oz Canned Tomato Sauce
• 12 Oz Canned Tomato Paste
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 1 Tbs Sugar
• 1/2 Tsp Pepper
• 1 1/2 Tsp Dried Basil
• 1 Tsp Italian Seasoning
• 4 Tbs Parsley, Divided
• 16 Oz Ricotta Cheese
• 1 Egg
• Lasagna Noodles
• 3/4 Pound Mozzarella Cheese (Slices if Available)
• 3/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
• Salt

Directions:

• Remove the sausage from its casing.
• Combine the sausage, beef, onion and garlic in a Dutch oven, and cook until brown.
• Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and water.
• Stir in sugar, pepper, basil, Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp pepper, and 2 tbs parsley.
• Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, 1/2 tsp salt, and 2 tbs parsley.
• Lightly coat a 9X13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Spread 1 1/2 cups of sauce in bottom of dish.
• Arrange 6 noodles over sauce.
• Spread 1/2 of the ricotta mixture over the noodles.
• Cover the ricotta with a single layer of mozzarella cheese slices.  (1/4 pound If using shredded cheese.)
• Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce, and then sprinkle with ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
• Repeat layers finishing with remaining sauce, then parmesan and then mozzarella.
• Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake 30 minutes @ 375.  Remove foil and bake 25 minutes, or until the top layer of mozzarella starts to brown. 
• Cool 15 minutes before serving.

Cooking Tip: When baking something with cheese on top, and covering  it with aluminum foil, spray the foil with cooking spray before placing on the baking dish.  It will keep the cheese from sticking to the foil, so you end up with a perfect top.

• Prep time: 30 Minutes
• Cook time: 3.5 hours including sauce

Have you tried this recipe? Do you have a question or comment for me?
I invite you to leave it as a comment below!

You want to make something full of flavor that demonstrates your culinary flare and appreciation of good food.

Yet you know you won't have the time when you get home from work to prepare, and are looking for something that requires little prep work.

Well pull out your slow cooker and plan to get up 20 minutes early, so that you can come home to the perfect meal.

This recipe has an amazing blend of sweet and spice, is chock full of healthy ingredients, and results in a Moroccan flavored beef stew that makes the meat so tender it melts in your mouth.

Serve it up with some couscous and a nice refreshing white wine to complement the spice and complex flavors of this dish and you're good to go.

Your guests will be impressed and appreciative of the hours you must have spent in the kitchen preparing this feast, and you'll be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy your company instead of slaving away all night in the kitchen.

So plan to swing by the store on your way home to pick up a nice bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, and leave the rest of the work to your slow cooker.

And tell your friends to come hungry because you have the perfect recipe for an exotic evening.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Moroccan-Inspired Beef Stew

Moroccan-Inspired Beef Stew

• 1 ½ Pounds Beef Chuck, Cut Into Chunks
• 2 Small Sweet Potatoes (About 1 Pound) Cut Into ½-inch think half-moons
• 1 28-Ounce Can Whole Peeled Tomatoes
• 1 Large Red Onion, Cut Into Wedges
• 3/4 Cup Dried Apricots
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 10-Ounce Box Couscous
• 1 15-Ounce Can Chickpeas, Rinsed
• 3 Cups Fresh Baby Spinach
• 1/2 Cup Roasted Almonds, Chopped

Directions:

1. In a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the beef, potatoes, tomatoes (and their juices), onion, apricots, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup water.
2. Cook in a slow cooker, covered, until the meat is tender, on high for 4 to 5 hours, or on low for 7 to 8 hours.
3. Ten minutes before serving, prepare the couscous according to the package directions.
4. Add the chickpeas to the slow cooker and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.  Stir in the spinach.  Serve with the couscous and sprinkle with almonds.

Have you tried this recipe? Do you have a question or comment for me?
I invite you to leave it as a comment below!

The night where men "bond" over beer, junk food, and bodily functions. 

Not quite the same as our lovely ladies night, where we share intimate stories and grow deeper friendships over a bottle of wine (or three).  But important male bonding nonetheless.

And at two in the afternoon on a Saturday, your man tells you that eight of his buddies will be coming over in just a few hours.  They had originally planned on coming around eight later that night, but thought they'd move it up, and just eat dinner at your place. 

But don't worry.  You don't have to do anything he tells you.  "They'll just figure something out."

Then he looks at you with those sweet adoring eyes and says:

"But if you'd like to make something, I'm sure all the guys would really appreciate it."

I know what you're thinking at this point: Sucker

But I can't help it.  I love to feed people -- it's a curse.  And at the same time I consider it a gift.

So I rattle off a few ideas, and then hit the perfect recipe.  .

Simply whip up a batch of meatballs, put them in a crock pot with some sauce, and serve them up with some hoagies and mozzarella slices.

They'll last all night until without needing any further attention from you.  You'll get the glory for feeding all the guys on such short notice.  And tomorrow you can make some quick pasta and have dinner ready in minutes with the extra meatballs you'll put away before the guys even arrive.

So when your man asks you to whip up something for his eight buddies, who are coming over in the next few hours, simply smile back and say "sure honey."  I have the perfect recipe.

Until our next meal,

Rebecca

Homemade Meatballs

Homemade Meatballs

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/3 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Peel and finely chop the onion. (Or use dried onions - they work just as well!) Mix the onion, beef, bread crumbs, milk, garlic powder, pepper and egg in a large bowl with your hands.  Really get in there and mix it up!   And then shape the mixture into thirty one-inch meatballs.
3. Place the meatballs in an ungreased rectangular pan.  Bake uncovered about 15 minutes or until beef in center of meatball is no longer pink and juice of the beef is clear.

At this point it's up to you how you want to serve them. 

For a guys night (or even a casual party), I recommend throwing them into a crock pot with a few jars of sauce and some fresh chopped garlic, and leaving it on low for the rest of the night.  Set some hoagie rolls, sliced mozzarella cheese, and some parmesan out with a stack of paper plates.  Your man and his friends will be good for the night.

Have you tried this recipe? Do you have a question or comment for me?
I invite you to leave it as a comment below!