Beef

Pot Roast Recipes Times Two

Cranberry Pomegranate Oatmeal Squares

I am in Napa this week attending the First Annual Napa Film Festival.  I am so excited.  Huge movie buff and I love going to film festivals, place it in the wine country and it’s double the fun. Here are a few of my new recipes over at Betty Crocker and Pillsbury. I have been waiting to be able to share these Cranberry Pomegranate Oatmeal Squares.  They are so easy using the Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookie mix.  The cranberry pomegranate filling paired with the oatmeal bars is warm and delicious. I cooked up a Pot Roast and then served it [...]

Table Talk: Peaks, Pits and Burritos

burrito

On the show we talk about traditions with family and friends.  Table Talk is a new feature that where some of my fellow bloggers and friends share stories of their meal time traditions or “adventures in the kitchen.”.  My friend Samantha blogs over at  Scrappy Sam.  I have known her for over ten years.  We met at MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers.  As a working mom she needs quick meals to serve her family.  She shares a quick meal and a mealtime tradition from their family. See the end for her adorable kitchen helpers! “It’s now,” my son Kyle blurted out [...]

Grilled Ribeye Steak with Mesa Steak Sauce

ribeye steak with mesa steak sauce

Lately a group of my friends have gathered for Sunday suppers.  Last night it was my turn to cook so I made Grilled Ribeye Steaks with Steak Sauce. It is a fun way to wind down the weekend.  We sit around sipping a glass of wine and nibbling on cheese and crackers.  Being single we have created our own weekly family meal in a way. My friend has a beautiful barbecue that we have been putting to good use.  I used a spice mixture from Bobby Flay and then adapted his steak sauce.  I am a huge Bobby Flay fan, [...]

Sunday Suppers: Pot Roast

Pot Roast Dinner

Pot Roast is the quintessential family meal.  What a better dish to serve in honor of   Mother’s Day.  My sister-in-law helped me out by popping it in the oven before we went to church.  The aroma greeted me when I opened the front door two hours later.  The smell brought back memories of meals as a child. All that had to be done was the gravy. My nephew who is a little foodie in the making ran over to check out what we were eating.  Livi pulled up a stool and started helping her mom skewer strawberries and watermelons.  A [...]

Cooking With Kids: Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd's Pie ready to eat

Shepherd’s pie is an English dish and with St. Patrick’s Day this week I thought it would be a fun recipe to make with the kids.  Also known as Cottage Pie, it was a means of using leftover meat and creating a meal with mashed potatoes and vegetables.  Our version is based on my mom’s which they love.  I even used Trader Joe’s mashed potatoes.  Those are a great thing to have in your freezer.  In two minutes you have about as close to home made taste as you will ever find, especially when you mix in a bit of [...]

Mexican Tortilla Lasagna & a Winner

It was a rainy fall weekend here in Southern California and I enjoyed every moment of it.  I made a Mexican Tortilla Lasagna for my family.  It is a great make ahead dish.  There are many versions of this dish on the internet and in old cookbooks.  I ended up making mine on the mild side because of the kids but you could spice it up a bit. Most of my family enjoyed it but one of them suggested it would be better with noodles instead of tortillas, so I just might have to give that a try. The winner [...]

Sunday Dinners: Apple Cider Beef with Mashed Potatoes

Coming home from New York I was greeted with rain and the feeling that fall might be in the air.  It was a quick trip for a Social Media Conference.  That is the crazy thing about our OC weather; last week it was 115 and this week it is raining.  I was going over to spend Sunday evening with my family so I decided to finally make the Apple Cider Beef I had clipped a few years ago.  Sunday dinners are a great way to end the weekend.  There is more time so you can make those meals you don’t [...]

Flank Steak with Balsamic Soy Glaze

Years ago I took a cooking class at the Mondavi Food and Wine Center in town.  The instructor, Hugh Carpenter, made 5 amazing dishes. Each one was bursting with flavor.  I had forgotten about them until I went looking for a quick and easy marinade for flank steak.  I pulled out his Fast Entrees cookbook and found a tasty glaze to try out. I was putting together a dinner for friends at another friends house.  That is sort of my story, I cook on the road.  My personal chef days prepared me and I usually end of cooking at someone [...]

Sloppy Joe Casserole

One of my niece and nephews favorite dishes is my mom’s Sloppy Joe’s.  A few weeks ago I decided to turn it into a casserole.  The kids liked it and even my brother thought it was great. His compliment meant a lot because my brother was the guinea pig for my early cooking.  During his senior year he was forced to endure a few home cooked meals.  One memorable meal was my first attempt at spaghetti and meatballs.  My boyfriend at the time joined us and I proudly dished it up.  After taking the first bite Rob proclaimed it awful.  [...]

Grilled Rib-Eye Steaks with Mediterranean Rub

During the week any cooking I do must be easy and quick.  After working all day I am not  inspired to spend hours in the kitchen.  This time of year there are so many recipes that are simple but tasty. Last week I cooked dinner for a friend and tried this easy new recipe for grilled rib eye steak that fits the weekday requirement.  You make the rub, put it on the steaks and refrigerate until you are ready to cook.  How easy is that!