Friday the 13th... Steak Bites with Bloddy Mary Dipping Sauce

I wanted to be a little festive today after all it is Friday the 13th. Ooohhh Scary! I searched for freaky foods and scary foods. Of course the majority was for Halloween. I didn't want pumpkin or bat type stuff but I did find this recipe here. It's from Rachel Ray, I don't love her like most people do. I think she's OK, but I hate how she says EVOO and when she says sammie, my husband turns the channel. Dumb I know, but I think she's obnoxious. She does make some tasty stuff though. Enough of my opinions, moving to the recipe already!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup vodka (We don't drink and I don't have vodka. I hope it will work without if my friend doesn't have any. If you don't drink either but have access, the alcohol will burn off. I guess it's for the flavor.)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1 cup tomato sauce
1 rounded tablespoon prepared horseradish
Salt and pepper
1 1/3 pounds beef sirloin cut into large bite-sized pieces, 1 by 2 inches
Steak seasoning blend or coarse salt and black pepper
6 to 8 inch bamboo skewers

Heat a small saucepan over medium heat.
Add oil and onions and saute 5 minutes.
Add vodka and reduce by 1/2.
Add Worcestershire, hot sauce, tomato sauce and horseradish.
Stir to combine the dipping sauce and return the sauce to a bubble.
Add salt and pepper and adjust seasonings.

Heat nonstick skillet over high heat.
Coat meat bites lightly in oil.
Season with steak seasoning blend or salt and pepper, to taste.
Cook the meat until caramelized all over, about 2 minutes on each side.

Transfer dipping sauce to a small dish and place at the center of a serving platter.
Surround the dip with meat bites and set several bamboo "stakes" or skewers along side meat.

Now here's the deal. I really like steak cooked on the BBQ. I like that flavor...a lot! So, that's how I am going to cook mine. I will cut the steak first and put a piece of foil down on the grill to put the meat on so it won't fall through.

Taco Tuesday

Cheesy Tacos

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup taco seasoning
1/2 lb. (8 oz.) Velveeta Mild Mexican Cheese with Jalapeno Peppers, cut up
1 pkg. hard taco shells, warmed
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 chopped tomato
1 cup salsa

Brown meat in large skillet, drain
Stir in water and seasoning mix
Add Mexican Velveeta
Cook on low heat until Velveeta is completely melted, stirring frequently.
Spoon evenly into the taco shells
Top with lettuce, tomato and salsa

Another Sloppy Joe

In my new love for sloppy joes, I've found another way to enjoy them. Don't roll your eyes if you've been doing this for years, this was a first for me! My friend Amy made these for dinner Wednesday night and I love them! This would make a good snack too.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 can Manwich
1 tube Pilsbury Grands Rolls
Grated cheese

Brown the ground beef
Mix in Manwich
Put one roll per hole in a muffin pan
Press the roll to the bottom and sides
Fill with beef
Cook according to directions on roll package
Sprinkle with cheese right at the end so it will melt

We had spaghetti salad with this. So easy and so good.

Fix it and Forget it Friday: Spanish Style Beef

This recipe comes from my friend Rhonda. She makes this super easy two ingredient dish.

Ingredients:
1-2 pounds stew meat, cubed
1 jar Pace Picante Salsa

Put meat in crock pot
Add salsa
Mix together
Cover
Cook on high 6-8 hours

That's it! You gotta love this one!

She serves it over rice with salad and green beans.

Taco Tuesday

This variation is for taco salad

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
Taco Seasoning (1 packet or 1/4 cup bulk seasoning)
3/4 cup water
1 Bag of salad
1 Bag of grated Mexican cheese
1 Tomato
1 can pinto beans
1 Bag of tortilla chips
Sour Cream or salad dressing
Sliced Olives

Brown the beef in a skillet
Drain fat
Add taco seasoning and 3/4 cup water
Mix well and heat through
Microwave pinto beans until warm in a microwave safe bowl
Put chips on plate
Layer with salad, meat, cheese, beans and tomato
Top with sour cream or salad dressing and sliced olives

Taco Tuesday

I have said before that I really don't like to make dinner. I don't like to decide what the eat. I created Taco Tuesday at our house after reading that Christina Aguilera has it at her house. It's not that I want to be her, I just thought she was onto something. So at least one day a week I know for sure what we are eating. I also like tacos because you can buy everything ready to go like shredded lettuce. So, for the next few weeks, Tuesdays will be dedicated to the different ways we enjoy Taco Tuesday. This first one is the traditional taco.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
Taco Seasoning (1 packet or 1/4 cup bulk seasoning)
3/4 cup water
Taco shells soft or crunchy
1 Bag of shredded lettuce
1 Bag of grated Mexican cheese
1 Tomato

Brown the beef in a skillet
Drain fat
Add taco seasoning and 3/4 cup water
Mix well and heat through

I'm sure everyone knows how to put a taco together, if not email me and I'll walk you through it!

Sides we like with this: 1 can of refried beans, chips and salsa, and olives. It's the end of the season now, but watermelon and cantaloupe are a good addition to this meal.

Swedish Meatballs

Why I love this: Prep time 10 minutes, cook time 15!!! This makes 6 servings.

Ingredients:
1 Packet of McCormick Swedish Meatballs seasoning and sauce mix
1 lb. ground beef
1/3 cup water
2 Tbs. oil 2 cups milk

I follow the recipe on the back of the packet (You can buy the packet at any grocery store)

mix beef, water and seasoning mix in large bowl until well blended
Shape into 1 1/2 inch meatballs (You can make them bigger or smaller depending on how many you want and how much time you have for them to cook)
Heat oil in skillet
Add meatballs
Cook about 8 minutes or until cooked through
Remove meatballs and drain fat
In the same skillet stir milk and sauce packet
Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently until sauce comes to a boil
I put the meatballs back in at this point and let them simmer with the sauce while it thickens
Serve over cooked rice or egg noodles

There is also a method to baking the meatballs on back of the package if you are going for less fat.

I prefer the rice to the egg noodles, but both are good. I love to eat green beans with this. Salad also goes good with it. If you have leftovers, they reheat really well the next day for lunch.

Easy Meatloaf

This recipe comes from my old college room mate, Carissa, I don't think I'll use last names. Anyway, she's a good friend who is getting married, Congrats!!! Thanks for the recipe!

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef (we've also used elk, deer, and whatever else we've found in my dad's freezer and it tastes great)
1 cup Water
1 box Stove Top Stuffing


Mix them all together and place in greased cupcake pan.
Cook for 25 mins at 350.
Everyone gets their own little loaf or two... and can put whatever sauce they like on it.

Carbon County Sloppy Joes

Growing up I hated sloppy joes. Ryan still does. I went to a party a few months ago and there was a fantastic tiny little twist that gave me a whole new love for this sloppy little sandwich!

Ingredients: There is only one way I know how to make these...Manwich
1 can Manwich
1 lb. hamburger
Hamburger Buns

Brown the hamburger
Add the Manwich and heat through
Serve on hamburger buns

Now here is the twist add a Kraft Cheese Single! It really is a tiny twist, but I love it. My mom and dad now also add a fresh slice of tomato.

Frech Dip Sandwiches

Ingredients you will need:

1 lb. of thinly sliced deli roast beef will make about 3 sandwiches
1 packet of Au Jus will give 3 people 1 cup of juice for dipping
Buy enough deli rolls for the amount of sandwiches you will need. Crusty rolls are better, they don't get super soggy
Sliced Swiss cheese, this is optional

Prepare the Au Jus according to the packet instructions
Add the roast beef to the Au Jus
It only needs a few minutes to heat up, remember the meat is already fully cooked, you are just warming it. Cooking it too long causes the meat to be tough.
My husband likes his roll toasted. I just put it in the oven and broil for a couple minutes. When it is almost finished being toasted, I add the cheese to melt it on. I like mine untoasted and plain.

Sides that go well with this: Baby carrots and ranch dip, cottage cheese with salad seasoning or even just a bag of chips.