Beef and Broccoli

This is an easy beef and broccoli recipe using flank steak.  Serve with rice to complete the meal.

Beef and Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 1 pound broccoli florets
• 1 T. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 2 tsp. cornstarch, divided
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 pound flank steak
• 1/3 cup beef or chicken stock
• 2 tsp. rice wine (Mirin or sake will work)*
• 1/4 cup oyster sauce
• 2 T. vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Microwave the broccoli in glass bowl covered with plastic wrap (holes poked for ventilation), about 1-2 minutes. 
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, 1 tsp. cornstarch and baking soda. 
3. Slice the beef across the grain into thin strips and add to your marinade.  Let it sit for at least 20 minutes, or as long as over night in the refrigerator. 
4. In a small bowl, stir together the stock, rice wine, oyster sauce and remaining 1 tsp cornstarch until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.
5. Heat a wok or large skillet on high heat and add the oil.  When a wisp of white smoke appears, toss the marinated beef and garlic in the pan.  Cook for about 1 minutes, continually moving the beef so it browns on all sides but is still rare.  Once the beef is seared, add the broccoli and cook for an additional minute. Stir in the sauce and keep it all moving.  Don't be afraid to scrap any bits off the bottom of the pan before they start to burn.  Once the sauce has turned into a nice thick glaze, about 1 minute it is ready to serve.

Serve with rice.

*non-alcoholic substitutes are white grape juice, rice wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, apple cider,

Quick Caramel Frosting

 Here is a recipe for caramel frosting.  Great on banana cake.

Caramel Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar  (I am sure 1 cup of either would work)
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Place butter and brown sugars in saucepan over medium heat.  Stir and cook until mixture boils, about 2 minutes. 
2. Add milk, stir and bring back to boil. Remove from heat.
3. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat with wooden spoon until frosting is smooth.
4. Use immediately to frost cake or it will become hard. If it does just put the pan back over low heat and stir until it softens up.

Banana Cake

This is an easy cake to put together using a yellow cake mix and ripe bananas.

Banana Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 medium size bananas, peeled and mashed (1 cup)
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9 inch round pans.
2. Place cake mix, brown sugar and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. 
3. Add mashed bananas, water, oil and eggs.
4. Blend with mixer for 1 minute.  Scrape bowl.  Beat 2 more minutes.
5. Divide in pans.
6. Bake about 30 minutes, until done.
7. Cool 10 minutes on a cooling rack.  Invert out on cooling racks.
8. When cool cake can be frosted with a caramel frosting and 1 cup chopped pecans. 

Mom's Rhubarb Pie

 Found this recipe in the newspaper, so it is not my mom's pie recipe.  But it is still one to try!

Mom's Rhubarb Pie

Ingredients:

Pie Crust

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1 tsp. salt
• 4-5 T. ice water

Directions:

1. Cut shortening into flour with a pastry blender or two forks until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. 
2.  Sprinkle ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time over pastry mixture, tossing lightly with fork after each addition and pushing dampened portion to side of bowl, sprinkle only dry portion remaining. (Pastry should be just dry enough to hold together, not sticky.) 
3. Shape dough into 2 balls and refrigerate until ready to use.

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 T. butter, cut into pieces
• 3 T. flour
• 3-4 cups rhubarb, cut up
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees 
2. Mix together sugar, flour, and nutmeg. 
3. Mix with cut up rhubarb.
4. Roll out bottom pie crust, in a 9 inch pie pan.
5. Place filling in pie crust and dot with butter.
6. Beat the 2 eggs well and pour over filling.
7. Roll out the other pie crust and cut in strips; place in lattice design on top.
8. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes and then at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Parmesan Garlic Bread

 I was going through cookbooks to get rid of and found this recipe for Garlic Bread.  It is so different, and really good.

Parmesan - Garlic Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise 
• 9 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup plus 2 T. grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 loaf French bread, sliced
• Paprika to taste

Directions:

1. Whip whipping cream until thick; blend in mayonnaise.
2. Add garlic and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese; stir well.
3. Slice French bread in half lengthwise.  Generously spread garlic mixture on each half.
4. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and paprika.
5. Place loaf halves on an ungreased baking sheet.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until topping turns golden.
7. Cut into one-inch slices.

Copycat Chick fil A Superfood Salad

Here is a salad we love that is similar to the one they serve at Chick fil A. 

Copycat Chick fil A Superfood Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 cups kale, loosely chopped or torn
• 1 bunch broccolini, chopped (we sometimes use broccoli)
• 1/2 cup dried cherries (can use dried cranberries)
• Roasted nuts to your taste, walnuts, pecans, almonds
• Maple vinaigrette to your taste

Directions:

1. Combine the kale, broccolini, dried cherries and nuts in a large bowl.
2. Add vinaigrette to the salad, and toss well. Can mix with the vinaigrette 15-30 minutes before you serve.

Maple Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 T. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
• 2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together.