Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Eating Whole Foods: Grilled Hanger Steak with Horseradish Potatoes, Creamed Spinach & Sauce Bordelaise

Here's something you may not know about me....I'm not a big fan of mashed potatoes.  I want to like them; but there's just something about mashed potatoes that has never really appealed to me. Until recently, when I gave horseradish mashed potatoes a try, and fell head over heels for them. I think it's the kick from the horseradish that did it...I like the kick.

Most potatoes pair well with beef and these are no exception. I like buying my meat from Whole Foods Market because the cattle they use are never given any growth hormones or antibiotics.  Not only is this better for health reasons but I think it makes for a much tastier piece of beef.

See below for details on how you can win a Whole Foods Market gift card to check out their meat for yourself. 





Grilled Hanger Steak with Horseradish Potatoes, Creamed Spinach & Sauce Bordelaise

(adapted from the New Brooklyn Cookbook)

For the sauce bordelaise
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 small carrot, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice (about ¼ cup)
4 celery stalks, cut into 1/4 inch dice (about 1½ cups)
1 Spanish onion, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice (about 2 cups)
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 cups dry red wine
4 cups low sodium beef stock
1 fresh thyme sprig
1 bay leaf
6 whole black peppercorns
Kosher salt

In a saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add in the carrot, celery, onion, and garlic. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the wine and cook down until almost all is gone. This will take about 20 minutes. Add in the stock, thyme, bay leaf, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat down so that it’s simmering. Cook it for about an hour, until it’s thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Turn off the heat.

Place a fine-mesh strainer on top another sauce pan and pour the mixture into the strainer. Mash the vegetables up with the back of a spoon.

For the potatoes
1½ pounds russet or Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup whole milk
1 tablespoon creme fraiche
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper


Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water and some salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for about 12 mins until potatoes are fork tender.

Add butter, cream, and milk in a small sauce pan and cook over medium-low heat.

Drain the potatoes. Pass them through a ricer if you have one and into a bowl that you can eventually place over hot water on the stove (metal or ceramic will work). If you don’t have a ricer, get out the mixer. Slowly add the warm butter/cream/milk into the potatoes. Stir happily but not aggressively. Slap in the creme fraiche and horseradish. Stir lightly. Salt and pepper until you’re pleased with yourself.

Get out another saucepan (the one that you cooked the bordelaise in will work here, even if you don’t want to clean it). Add in a couple of inches of water. Place it over the heat to simmer, placing the mashed potato bowl on top to keep them warm.


For the creamed spinach
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 shallot, peeled and finely diced
1 pound fresh baby spinach, washed and drained
½ cup milk
⅓ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
Pinch of cayenne
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg



Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large saute pan, over medium heat. Add the shallot. Stir until they become soft and translucent, 2 or 3 minutes. Turn the heat up to high and add the spinach. Stir and cook for 3 minutes. Drain spinach into a colander, set it over a bowl, and let it stand for 10 minutes.

In a small pot add milk and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and keep it warm.

Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the flour. Whisk it for about 4 minutes. In a slow stream, whisk in the warm milk & cream. Keep whisking for about one minute until it’s thickened. Add in salt, cayenne, and nutmeg according to taste. Add in the spinach. Stir.

For the steak
2 hanger steaks, trimmed
 
In a cast iron skillet, over high heat, cook for about 10 minutes total, flipping once. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes. Slicing against the grain, cut the meat in ½-inch-thick pieces.

Reheat the bordelaise over low heat while you plate everything else.

Place a serving of potatoes on your plate. Add some creamed spinach on top. Then some steak slices. Drizzle with bordelaise.



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Friday, May 17, 2013

There's A New Granola In Town Called My Favorite Indulgence And I'm Giving Some Away

My Favorite Indulgence was started by a fellow foodie friend Vicki Schrimmer; a self-taught/family-taught/taste-buds-taught baker.  For 10 years she was on a quest to make granola and after lots of experimenting and testing several different flavor arrangements My Favorite Indulgence was born.


The product line features four varieties: Nut-Free Granola, Chocolate-Mocha Granola Granola with Nuts, and Pumpkin-Spiced Granola. I've tried all three and would say the Granola with Nuts is my favorite.


All of the granola is slow roasted in small batches giving it a nice crunch. They are all trans-fat free and vegan; perfect for those wanting a healthier snack option. Try it mixed with yogurt, sprinkled over fresh fruit or by the handfuls right from the bag...it's that good.



Now for the fun part
 *** 2 lucky readers will have a chance to win a bag of the Granola with Nuts enter below*** Contests runs through 5/21/2013


  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, May 10, 2013

Healthy Eating on a Budget

I'm not saying it's easy but it's not impossible to eat healthy on a budget. Eating healthy should not be a hardship but often times it can be if you don't know the basics. Below are just a few ideas I put together to help you get started.

1. Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season.  They will not only cost less, because they don't have to be shipped, but they will also taste better. If you can't buy them fresh frozen is a great option. But be sure you are getting just veggies and not added sugar or salt.  (read packages carefully)

2. Grow your own.  This may not be practical for everything, but even just growing the few herbs you use most can save you money.  And since you've grown it yourself you know that it has't been treated with any harmful chemicals.

3. Cut out processed food. The sugar and salt they contain will only leave you hungry for real food; which means you end up eating more. You may need to "condition" your taste buds for this one but once you do it becomes routine and easy.

4. Use leftovers wisely. One meal can often be spread out into several others during the week.  Leftover chicken from tonight's dinner can be tossed in a salad for tomorrow's lunch. Veggies can be sauteed and added to eggs to make a nice hearty omelet.

5. Prioritize. What's important to you when it comes to food? Most people have no qualms spending upwards of $5 at Starbucks on a daily basis but think it's outrageous to spend that much on fresh veggies. If you decide that you want to eat healthy then spending a little extra for good food will become less of an issue for you.





Monday, May 6, 2013

Chickpea & Zucchini Salad: Brown Bag Series #13

By: The Food Hunter

In my Brown Bag this week: Chickpea & Zucchini Salad.  I grow my own lettuce and even though I use several different varieties in any given salad I still tend to get bored.  So I am always trying to switch things up; either with a new dressing or a cool mix in.

This week I decided to do a basic chickpeas and zucchini mix with a light lemon drizzle. Placed over your favorite salad greens this makes a great lunch.



Chickpea & Zucchini Salad




1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
2 small zucchini, quartered
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
lettuce of your choice
salt and pepper to taste

In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and zest until thickened.  Season with salt and pepper. Combine your zucchini, chickpeas and feta.  Place on bed of lettuce and lightly dress with lemon and oil mixture.



Monday, April 29, 2013

Zinio Online Magazine Subscription Giveaway




Have you heard of Zinio? It's an app that allows you to get digital access to magazine subscriptions on your iPad, iPhone, Android mobile phones and tablets, laptop or desktop.

You can now browse thousands of top magazines from around the world and purchase subscriptions or single issues instantly from your computer or mobile device to be read wherever and whenever you like. For someone like me that peruses several magazines a day this is great news.

Zinio is currently offering some great deals including:



2 for 1
2 years subscription for the price of 1 on 48 participating titles
Ends April 23
and
 Earth Day
save an extra 50% off over 100 participating titles
Ends April 30



****Now for the fun part 9 lucky readers (plus myself) will get  1 free subscription to the magazine of your choice.   All you have to do to enter is leave a comment and let me know what your favorite magazine is by the end of the day on May 3rd.****