Classic BLT

Classic BLT

Makes 4 sandwiches

lb bacon

8 T mayo

Lettuce

2 Tomato, sliced

8 slices bread, toasted

Pretty much everyone knows how to make a BLT. But if you haven't baked bacon before....try cooking it this way! Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, lay bacon on sheet in single layer. Place in NON preheated oven, set to 350 degrees, and cook for about 15 minutes. Clean up is a snap, just throw away the parchment paper, and wash the pan! The bacon is crispy and not soggy with grease! Then assemble your BLTs!

Blt Sandwich

Flank Steak with Spicy Lemon Sauce

Flank Steak with Spicy Lemon Sauce, adapted from Cooking Light May 2011

My changes-I was out of chives, so I omitted!

1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon canola or olive oil mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Preparation
1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of steak with salt and pepper. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add steak to pan; cook 5 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Place steak on a cutting board; let stand 5 minutes. Cut steak diagonally across grain into thin slices.

2. While steak cooks, combine sour cream and next 5 ingredients (through juice) in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Stir in parsley. Serve with steak.

I thought this made a great contrast with the flank steak, and made it a bit more interesting than usual. It was super quick to make! This sauce is SPICY. I am not a big fan of horseradish, so I would use 2 T next time instead. Sauce would be great on roast beef or steak sandwiches too!

Yum!

Flank Steak

Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint Buttercream

These do not count towards my challenge to avoid making ugly cakes. I don't usually have a problem with cupcakes! I was quite pleased with the frosting on these, a nice light mint flavor. P is not a huge fan of mint, but still thought they were "good for what they are". Whatever that means. These are worth a try!

Chocolate buttermilk cupcakes, adapted from Honey and Jam (lovely pictures of her cupcakes!)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
7 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
7 tablespoons buttermilk
1 large egg
1 large egg white

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

With an electric mixer, combine cocoa and 5 tablespoons hot water until a thick paste forms. Add butter, buttermilk, egg, and egg white; beat until combined. Whisk in flour mixture until smooth.

Scoop batter into prepared tin. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.

Mint Infused Buttercream

4-5 fresh mint leaves

4 T light cream

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened

4 c powdered sugar, sifted

Combine cream and mint in small saucepan. Heat over medium (not boiling) for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cool. Once cool, remove mint leaves from cream. Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add mint cream, beat until combined.

Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating after each addition, about 5 minutes. 

Yum!

Quote of the Day

Saw this on Joy Of Desserts, and had to post it. Love it!

'Shroom and Swiss Burgers

Everyone seems to be making burgers now! It is that time of year...

We don't have a grill right now, so I made this with my grill pan indoors. We always add a bit of diced red pepper to our burgers. It's good stuff!

For the burgers:
1 lb ground beef
2 T diced red bell pepper
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 egg
1/4 c breadcrumbs

For the toppings:
1 T butter
1/2 onion, sliced
1/2 c sliced mushrooms
1 c swiss cheese, shredded
4 rolls, I used ciabatta rolls

Saute mushrooms and onions over medium heat in melted butter for 10-15 minutes until mushrooms are soft and liquid is absorbed.

Mix up the burgers!

Cook over medium heat approximately 6 minutes on each side until no longer pink.

Top with shredded cheese and cover to melt. (cheddar chz on left because P doesn't like Swiss!)

Yum!

What I Want Wednesday

Not really a food blog appropriate post. But What Do I Want Wednesday?

These:

Oh. My. Gosh.

But they are sold out. And expensive. Sad day.

Cobb Salad

I have been really craving greens recently. I had greens at all three meals today! I baked a ham last week, so was trying to come up with a different way to use it up! Cobb Salad it is! This dressing is really yummy.

Salad:
2 eggs, hardboiled, cut into 1/4ths
1/2 lb deli turkey or fresh cooked turkey, cut into 2" julienne strips
1/2 lb deli or fresh cooked ham, cut into 2" julienne strips
1/2 cup swiss or Jarlsberg cheese, cut into strips
Head lettuce, red leaf or iceberg torn into strips
Handful grape tomatos, halved
Croutons

Dressing
2 t dried oregano
1/2 c olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c white wine vinegar

To make dressing: Whisk oregano, oil, and garlic until foamy. Then add vinegar and whisk until combined. Or, if you are like me, use your Magic Bullet (or boring blender....) and blend first 3 ingredients, then add vinegar and blend until combined.

Mix greens, egg, meats, cheese, and tomato. Toss with dressing to taste, a little goes a long way! Top with croutons. Quick and easy dinner!