March 25, 2013

Perfect London Broil


This wonderful piece of meat was used recently to make  a traditional Steakhouse Dinner.  The Flank steak is sometimes labeled London Broil.  The preparation of London broil typically involves marinating the meat for several hours followed by high heat searing in an oven broiler or outdoor grill.   I would typically grill London Broil but its about 22 degrees outside and my grill is still covered with snow.  EVEN THOUGH TECHNICALLY IT IS  SPRING HERE IN MICHIGAN.  It has become our "second Winter". I actually used a cast iron skillet on the stove top this time. Cooking it stove-top, rather than in the broiler, enables you to have more direct control. After cooking, the meat is served in thin slices, cut on a horizontal diagonal across the grain. Because the muscle fibers run the entire length of this cut, the meat can be tough if not tenderized marinating and massaging. Scoring, stabbing, cutting, penetrating, or otherwise mutilating the cut before sending it into the broiler results in a tougher finished product as it allows desirable juices to run out of the meat into the pan. 

Ingredients
2 lbs. flank steak or London Broil
Marinade:
1/2 cup olive  oil
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup red wine
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper


Directions
  1. In a large plastic bag, place meat and marinade ingredients.  
  2. Massage marinade into meat and place bag in the refrigerator.  
  3. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
  4. Prior to cooking, drain meat and pat dry.  Let it sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes prior to cooking.  This ensures a even internal temperature of the meat.  
  5. Grill or cook the meat on medium high heat, searing both sides and turning several times throughout the cooking process to reach desired temperature and doneness:

Rare:120° - 125°
Medium-rare:130° - 135°
Medium:140° - 145°
Medium-well:150° - 155°
Well-done: 160° and above

March 22, 2013

Gluten Free-er & Cleaner Day 4

 In  preparing for #marchmadnesssnacks, dinner and making a meal for a family in our community, I was in the kitchen most of the day. For the family,  I made my Island Pork Tenderloin, Rice Pilaf and White Wine Cream Sauce; Quiche, Salad and individual mini french toast casseroles.   For our dinner/snacks I made this Cheese Terrine, Fountain Avenue's Parmesan Crusted Potatoes, and  another corned beef to make Reuben sandwiches.  I also wanted to use leftover mushrooms from so I made a risotto to go with a TBD weekend side dish. As I was preparing all this food, I found time to put together a salad for lunch. I used leftover steak from the previous night's dinner, leftover bacon from a quiche, and salad ingredients I always have on  hand.  I whipped it up in just a few minutes and it was AH-MAY-Zing.  All those flavors together made my afternoon.  I ate standing up as I cooked the rest of the afternoon.  The steak and bacon with the red onion and tomatoes popped in my mouth.  I know that all sounds corny, but it was true. Trying to keep up with a gluten free-er and cleaner way of eating has been pretty easy so far.  I have indulged a little on the dark side, but not as much as I normally would. My great epiphany has been, and my son agrees...food tastes so much better!  I feel like a vail has been lifted from my palate and I can really TASTE the beauty of the food.  Especially vegetables.  I think the key has been to keep the fridge full, and keeping up my journal entries and knowing that, even if no one reads them...somebody might!  And I don't want to fail.  Yes, I have given into temptation but I have not felt guilty...except for the day I ate all those Good & Plenty candies. 




Recipes, Summary & Highlights:
Breakfast
Oatmeal with brown sugar...I was in a hurry and ate standing up.

Lunch
BLT Steak Salad...Ah-May-Zing...I ate standing up.

Dinner & #marchmadnesssnacks
Cheese Terrine with Herbs de Provence, Maple Balsamic and Toasted Pecans
Reubans..I ate the rye bread

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