BBQ Beef

This is a combo I learned from my mom. It's a nice to way to spice up an old standby. I think she uses store bought bbq sauce. I tried making my own, and it was pretty darn tasty. And produced three meals for Mark and me.

1 beef pot roast
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup dijon mustard
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 onion-diced
4 tsp. garlic-minced
chili powder
cayenne pepper
salt & pepper

Heat some cooking oil in a shallow pan and brown the outside of the pot roast. Place meat in a slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high for 3 hours. Switch to low for 3 hours. Shred and serve on rolls.

Ground Beef Curry (trust me)

I know it sounds weird, considering that Indians don't eat cows and all, but this was delightful and quite easy. I made this based on several recipes I found online at recipezaar.com. I didn't have everything any one of the recipes called for, so I made up my own. As always, measurements are not exact.

1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 onion-chopped
2 cloves garlic-minced
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp flour
1 cup beef stock
1/2 cup carrot-chopped
1/2 can (the little ones) tomato paste
1/4 cup water
1 tsp tumeric
2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
dash of cayenne pepper (depends on how spicy you like it)
1 Tbsp brown sugar
splash vinegar
3 handfulls frozen peas
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Brown beef with onions. Add garlic & butter. Add flour and stir. Add stock and wait for for the sauce to thicken. Add the rest of the ingredients except the peas and yogurt. Simmer for 30 minutes or until carrots are cooked through. Add more water if it starts to look too thick. Add yogurt and peas and simmer until heated through.

Garnish with a dollop of yogurt and serve with basmatti rice.

A Halloween Tradition!

Dinner in a Pumpkin

1 medium (4 lb.) pumpkin
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 medium onion-diced
1 green pepper-diced
1 cup chopped celery
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
small can of mushrooms
2 cups cooked rice

Cut off top of pumpkin and clean out seeds and goo.

Brown beef. Add chopped onion, green pepper, and celery. Cook until vegetables are soft.

Combine the remaining ingredients with the beef/vegetable mixture.

Pour mixture into pumpkin.

Bake at 350 for 1-1 1/2 hours.

Beef Fajitas (the "j" is not silent)

Tired of feeling bound to McCormick when it comes to fajitas? Try these babies:

12 oz package stir fry beef

Marinade:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp lime or lemon juice
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flake
1/4 tsp season salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
dash cayenne pepper

1 Tbsp cooking oil
red onion
1/2 green bell pepper
1/2 red bell pepper

1 Tbsp corn starch
2 Tbsp water

tortillas
black beans
cheese
lettuce
salsa

Place beef in zipper bag and pound with meat tenderizer or rolling pin. Mix marinade in small bowl and add to beef in bag. Let stand for at least an hour and up to 24 hours.

Heat oil in 10 inch skillet over med-high. Add onions and peppers and saute for 3 minutes. Add marinaded beef and saute for 3-5 minutes. Combine water and corn starch and add to pan. Cook until sauce is slightly thickened.

serve in tortillas with the fixins of your choice.

June Cleaver Called; She Wants Her Dinner Back

Yes, that's right, I made meatloaf. My husband was raised on the stuff, and, well, I wanted to impress him. I got the slightly updated recipe from Food Network star, Bobby Flay. I made it my way of course, mostly because I didn't have all the ingredients it called for. It was a success and my husband still loves me.


Here's the exact recipe I used tonight. It made enough to feed 3-4. (leftover loaf, here we come!)

Balsamic Glazed Meatloaf

1 Tbsp olive oil
¼ medium onion, finely diced
1 celery rib, finely diced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 large or 2 small cloves garlic
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
1 egg
1 Tbsp parsley
1 tsp thyme or savory
1 lb ground beef
½ cup plain bread crumbs
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ cup ketchup, divided
¼ cup balsamic vinegar, divided

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Heat oil in a small skillet over med-heat. Add onion, celery, and salt and pepper; cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove from heat and cool.

In large bowl, beat egg with parsley and savory, and more salt and pepper to taste. Add beef, bread crumbs, cheese, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, and vegetable mixture. Gently mix with hands until combined. Form into loaf shape and place on baking dish. In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup ketchup and remaining balsamic vinegar. Brush glaze over loaf. Bake for 45 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes and peas.