Valentine's Day
Our past 3 Valentine's Days together have been simple and quiet, nothing fancy, but good. This year I tried to keep in mind some of my favorite's favorites for the menu. Here goes! Bacon wrapped filet with sauteed mushrooms (those are for me!), gratin potatoes, and creamed kale. Hope he likes it!
I happened to turn on the Cooking Channel yesterday and the Pioneer Woman was making bacon wrapped filets (fate!), and it looked really simple so I decided to give it a try. After the filet is removed from the pan I add a touch more oil and saute the mushrooms, adding a little red wine that I chose to go with dinner. On to side dishes: I've made this potato recipe before, and it's unbelievably good (also has a ton of calories which is why I don't make it too often). I had lots of kale in the fridge, and I thought it would go great with everything else, so I decided to make that as well. Gotta have a little green. No dessert this time! (I know!) Alex decided to give up sweets for lent. Oh well, maybe I'll make some chocolate covered strawberries just for me :) Have a very happy Valentine's day everyone!
Bacon Wrapped Filet:
1 petite filet
1 strip bacon
Salt and pepper
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp olive oil
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Pat the filet with a paper towel to remove any extra moisture. Secure bacon strip around filet with a toothpick. Add butter and oil to the HOT pan. Sear filet on both sides 1 to 2 minutes, then place in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, rest the filet for 5 minutes before serving to seal in the juices.
Suzie's version of steak: In the same cast iron skillet, add a touch more olive oil over medium heat, then add mushrooms (and onions or shallots if you like) saute until browned, add about a tablespoon or two of red wine (then pour yourself a glass) to deglaze the pan. Continue to cook until the liquid begins to reduce, about 10 minutes or so.
Gratin Potatoes
4 or 5 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (you could use russet)
~ 1 cup half and half or heavy cream
2 to 3 garlic cloves
Salt and pepper
~2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Parmesan cheese, shredded.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a casserole dish with cooking spray. Heat cream, garlic, thyme, and nutmeg in a small saucepan. Slice the potatoes very thin, about 1/8th of an inch. Layer bottom of casserole dish with half of the potatoes, season with salt and pepper, pour some of the cream mixture over the potatoes, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Add the rest of the potatoes, cover with the remaining cream mixture, bake for about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, top with Parmesan cheese, broil until the cheese browns.
Creamed Kale
1 bunch of kale
~1/4 cup cream
Salt and pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
Butter or olive oil
Heat butter over medium heat, add kale, salt and pepper. Continue to toss until the kale begins to wilt, add cream and nutmeg. Lower to low-medium heat, continue to cook until the mixture begins to thicken. Serve immediately.
I happened to turn on the Cooking Channel yesterday and the Pioneer Woman was making bacon wrapped filets (fate!), and it looked really simple so I decided to give it a try. After the filet is removed from the pan I add a touch more oil and saute the mushrooms, adding a little red wine that I chose to go with dinner. On to side dishes: I've made this potato recipe before, and it's unbelievably good (also has a ton of calories which is why I don't make it too often). I had lots of kale in the fridge, and I thought it would go great with everything else, so I decided to make that as well. Gotta have a little green. No dessert this time! (I know!) Alex decided to give up sweets for lent. Oh well, maybe I'll make some chocolate covered strawberries just for me :) Have a very happy Valentine's day everyone!
Bacon Wrapped Filet:
1 petite filet
1 strip bacon
Salt and pepper
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp olive oil
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Pat the filet with a paper towel to remove any extra moisture. Secure bacon strip around filet with a toothpick. Add butter and oil to the HOT pan. Sear filet on both sides 1 to 2 minutes, then place in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, rest the filet for 5 minutes before serving to seal in the juices.
Suzie's version of steak: In the same cast iron skillet, add a touch more olive oil over medium heat, then add mushrooms (and onions or shallots if you like) saute until browned, add about a tablespoon or two of red wine (then pour yourself a glass) to deglaze the pan. Continue to cook until the liquid begins to reduce, about 10 minutes or so.
Gratin Potatoes
4 or 5 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (you could use russet)
~ 1 cup half and half or heavy cream
2 to 3 garlic cloves
Salt and pepper
~2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Parmesan cheese, shredded.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a casserole dish with cooking spray. Heat cream, garlic, thyme, and nutmeg in a small saucepan. Slice the potatoes very thin, about 1/8th of an inch. Layer bottom of casserole dish with half of the potatoes, season with salt and pepper, pour some of the cream mixture over the potatoes, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Add the rest of the potatoes, cover with the remaining cream mixture, bake for about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, top with Parmesan cheese, broil until the cheese browns.
Creamed Kale
1 bunch of kale
~1/4 cup cream
Salt and pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
Butter or olive oil
Heat butter over medium heat, add kale, salt and pepper. Continue to toss until the kale begins to wilt, add cream and nutmeg. Lower to low-medium heat, continue to cook until the mixture begins to thicken. Serve immediately.
Comments
Post a Comment