Chinese Pepper Steak

This recipe was given to me by my grandmother, Meme, when Lindsey and I were married.  It has evolved a little, but is basically the same as she used to make and it has become a staple of our house over the past 2 years.  She always served this on toasted hamburger buns, but it can be served over rice or even noodles.

1lbs Ground Turkey (or ground chuck)
1 Green Bell Pepper Chopped
1 Red Onion Chopped
1 Can Diced Italian Tomatoes (With Juice)
1 T Soy Sauce
S&P
2 tsp Sugar

3 Hamburger Buns
EVOO

Brown Turkey in skillet.
Add Soy Sauce, Pepper, & Onion.  Cook Until Tender but Crisp
Add Tomatoes.  Cook on Medium Heat until blended.
Add salt and pepper to taste and Sugar.

Add EVOO to pan and heat over Med-High Heat.
Cook Buns in oil until browned and crisp

Serve Pepper Steak over buns.

Even Ellison Loves it!

Al Gore...Shut Your Face!

I have never really bought into what ole' Al had to say.  Save the environment and bla bla bla...yea we get it, we are killing the blue and green blob known as Earth, but come on, we all know it is the oncoming ice age that will drive us into extinction!

Welcome to a mini-ice age Southerners!  Unlike those New Yorkers who just never get around to buying an AC unit for the record breaking heat wave that happens every year, I am prepared for the cold...do I like it?  Hell no, but having a 2 year old to go sledding with makes it a lot more enjoyable!
Word to the wise, when Lowe's puts the sleds out in September, its a smart move to pick one up.  You will not regret it IF it snows!

Sledding at the Elk's Lodge

The house after the first snow before Christmas!

After 3 tries, I have finally finished the Kitchen!!!

For Christmas I received a box of tile.  Now most of you would be like, "Why the hell would you want a box of tile for Christmas?"  Well, If you have not figured it out yet, I kinda like to pretend I am a handyman and can do most anything around the house, don't tell that to the electric fuse I blew when trying to change the plugs from white to black...BUT I did manage to change my first fuse in the fuse box!

So when we moved into the house, this was what the kitchen looked like...

Then my first attempt at the kitchen.  It turned out nice, but in the end was just not my taste..

Then we did the counter tops...(see post on this too)

And then we repainted the walls and cabinets AGAIN...Green...(I accidentally deleted these pics)

So, over Christmas break I installed back splash.  It looks AMAZING!  I am now done with the kitchen!

Until I decide to strip the popcorn ceilings and add crown molding!!!

Not Your College Romen Noodles!

Cheap and Yummy...it's like college, but with kids...

3 Packs Ramen Noodles (Toss the packets)
2 tsp. Olive Oil
2 tsp Sesame Oil
2T Flour
0.5 lbs Top Round Steak cut into Strips
1/2 Spanish Onion (finely Chopped)
2 T Soy Sauce
S&P
1/2C -1 C Chopped Fresh Cilantro

Cook Noodles in Boiling Water for 3min.  Drain and rinse under Cold Water.  Add S&P.
Season Steak with S&P and coat with flour
Heat oils in skillet and add steak.  Cook 3 min.
Add onion saute until soft, 3 Min.
Deglaze skillet with soy sauce.
Add noodles and toss to combine.
Season with S&P and stir in Cilantro and Serve.

Now that's some fancy Ramen Noodles!

Poor Man's Beef Wellington

This is not anything you would find in one of Chef Gordon Ramsay's Kitchens, but when on a tight budget, this is the next best thing!

The lowly Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup fennel, chopped
2 Garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp fennel seed
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 eggs
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
S&P
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls

Preparing fennel...I have never actually used Fennel, so I had to look up what part to use.  It's kind of like celery.  You can use the stem, root, seed, and leaves.  For this dish, I chopped up the stem and part of the root.  It really tastes like black liquorish!...
 
The pitiful Instructions:
Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.

2.Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, fennel, and garlic. Cook and stir until the fennel is tender, and the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fennel seed and red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute more. Meanwhile, beat one egg in a bowl, then mix in the ground beef, bread crumbs, and S&P. Add the cooked vegetable mixture, and stir until combined.

3.Separate the crescent roll dough into two squares. Divide the meat mixture among the crescent roll squares, then seal the dough around the meat. Place seam-side-down onto the prepared baking sheet.
Beat the other egg and brush the dough with egg.

4.Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry has turned golden-brown, and the center of the pastries registers 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) on a kitchen thermometer, about 45 minutes. Slice and serve.

Mushroom, Leek, Chicken Sausage and Tortellini Soup

The Goods:
Ingredients


2 T olive oil
2 packs assorted mushrooms
2 large leeks, cleaned, and cut into 1/4 inch thick rounds
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups Vegetable Stock
4 chicken sausages, sliced in 1/3-inch rounds
1 (9 ounce) package cheese tortellini
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Cook It:
1.Place the olive oil in a skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Stir in the mushrooms and leeks; cook and stir until they soften, about 5 minutes. Set aside until needed.

2.Meanwhile, pour the chicken broth and vegi stock into a large pan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, garlic, and hot sauce. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in the mushrooms and leeks. Cover, and simmer soup mixture for 30 minutes.

3.  Add tortellini and cook 4-5 min (or as directed on back of package)

Umm...Bailey's!

Need I say more?