Uncategorized

What’s Cookin’ in the Country?

Hi friends!  I’m home and getting back into the “normal” mode once again.  Cooking, blogging and ministry life will be back in full swing this week.  It was a great time away!  I thank the Lord for time to rest!  

Hope you’re ready for a great meat and potatoes menu, because that’s what’s in store for today!

Brazilian Steak with Artichoke Salsa
Hot Crash Potatoes
Steamed Mixed Vegetables
5-Grain Bread
We love a good steak at our house. My favorite way to eat it is Grilled, Medium Rare, please.  That’s goooood!  Then when you take a good steak and top it off with an Artichoke Salsa, you have a FANTASTIC steak!  This recipe for Brazilian Steak is so simple, and is a great man’s appetite pleaser!

I’ve shared the recipe for the Hot Crash Potatoes I fixed to accompany the steak, but I’m going to share it again, in the case that you haven’t tried them yet.  They have a great crunchy edge over a baked potato and are so perfect with beef.  New potatoes are small, so you will probably want to have two, or maybe three!  I’m serious, they’re that good!

Brazilian Steak With Artichoke Salsa

Ingredients

Meat:
1 flank steak
2 tablespoons oil
6 garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, seeded and very finely chopped
Steak seasoning [such as Montreal Steak Seasoning]

For the Salsa:
4 fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced [I used cherry tomatoes, quartered or halved]
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup jarred artichoke hearts, diced [I used canned]
1 to 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Rub the steak all over with olive oil. Rub the steak with minced garlic and jalapeno and season it with steak seasoning. Place it in a resealable plastic food bag or in a flat glass container and seal well. Refrigerate it for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Brazilian Steak

For the Salsa:

Place all salsa ingredients in a medium sized bowl and toss gently to mix well. Set aside.

On a hot grill, preferably outdoor grill (you can use indoor grill if that is more convenient for you), grill the flank steak until the meat is cooked the way you like it.

Slice the meat thinly to serve. Serve with salsa on the side or on top of the meat.

Hot Crash Potatoes

Hot Crash Potatoes ~ Pioneer Woman
Ingredients
12 whole New Potatoes (or Other Small Round Potatoes)
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Kosher Salt To Taste
Black Pepper To Taste
Rosemary (or Other Herbs Of Choice) To Taste

Preparation Instructions
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make and cook them until they are fork-tender.
On a sheet pan, generously drizzle olive oil. Place tender potatoes on the cookie sheet leaving plenty of room between each potato.
With a potato masher, gently press down each potato until it slightly mashes, rotate the potato masher 90 degrees and mash again. Brush the tops of each crushed potato generously with more olive oil.
Sprinkle potatoes with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper and fresh chopped rosemary (or chives or thyme or whatever herb you have available.)
Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

What’s your favorite way to eat a steak?  Do you have a new side dish that you make to go along with the meat?

With love from my country kitchen,

Uncategorized

Friday Favorite Photos

Okay, to end the week, I made a collage of my favorite Bride and Dad photos.  These touched my heart because I know how much my husband loves his girls.  Enjoy:

The small picture on top is the night before the wedding – a few “I’m leaving home” tears and hugs.

The second picture was Dad’s first look at his daughter bride.  Hugs always follow!

The next is a quick kiss on the cheek before she went to let Andrew have his first look.

The large picture was prayer in the church library minutes before the wedding.  I know I should’ve had my eyes closed, but I had to capture the moment first!

Hope you enjoyed these peeks into the wedding.  Have a great weekend. See you Monday with a great recipe!

Stay refreshed,

Uncategorized

Wedding Photos

A couple more “while I rest” wedding pictures for your enjoyment:

My mom and dad are walking up the aisle here.  
What a striking couple they make!
Alli chose to have a “Program” chalkboard, rather than have one printed:

Another chalkboard was placed in the reception area for those who post pictures on Instagram – 
you do, don’t you?  It’s so much fun!

Here’s a group shot of the wedding party.  I love this – they were supposed to strike a silly pose:

 Here’s my front door on the day of the wedding:

Hope you’re having a great week!

Uncategorized

Wedding Hydrangeas

While I’m resting, enjoy a few more pictures from our daughter’s wedding last weekend:

The flowers for the wedding were really important to Alli.  She has always dreamed of having hydrangeas, and so she looked into finding some at a great price.  Sam’s Club was very reasonable and they shipped them right to our door on the day she requested!  They arrived on Thursday so a dear lady at church could make up the arrangements and bouquets.  The bride’s bouquet was hydrangeas and baby’s breath.  The bridesmaids carried only baby’s breath.  The reception tables had arrangements with the lovely yellow blooms. It was very simple and elegant!

Ready for a peek?

Here are the flowers, sitting in water, ready to be arranged for the wedding.

Gorgeous, huh?!