Simple Steak Sandwiches!

This is a great simple meal that ends up on our dinner schedule more often than not! Jennifer bought us a grill pan as an engagement gift and it works perfectly when we don't want to turn on the grill!


Ingredients:

1 lb steak (~1/2 lb per person)
Sandwich rolls (sub rolls)
Mozzarella cheese
Lettuce (optional)
Mayonnaise (optional)


Instructions:

1. Grill steak to desired doneness. Cut steak into thin strips (this can be done prior to cooking).
2. Place steak into sandwich rolls. Cover meat with desired amount of mozzarella cheese.
3. Toast sandwiches in toaster oven until cheese has melted.
4. Add optional toppings. Enjoy!

Velvet Roasted Asparagus Soup

This recipe came from a fabulous book Allison gave Nate for Christmas. We have loved everything we have made - thanks Allie! Here is another one of our favorites!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 lbs thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2" pieces
2 leeks, white and light green parts only, cleaned and finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1/4 cup sour cream for garnish
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives for garnish


Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a heavy roasting pan, combine the asparagus pieces, leeks, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
2. Roast, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 35 mins or until the leeks are golden brown and the asparagus are tender.
3. Transfer the vegetables to a blender and add the broth. Process on high until completely pureed. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
4. Pour into soup bowls and garnish with sour cream and chives. Serve immediately.

Advance Preparation:
May be prepared up to one day ahead, covered and refrigerated. Reheat gently.

Apple-Glazed Lamb Chops

Welcome back, Grill!!! Woo hoo! That's right, it was so warm this weekend (mid 70s - yes!), that we did the only acceptable thing... fired up the grill! Following is one of our most favorite grill meals. Lamb chops can make this meal pricier, so buy them when they are on sale! Also, this meal recommends that you make a side dish of couscous - do this!! It makes the meal extra delicious!

Extra bonus: This meal is listed as low fat AND fast to make in our recipe book!!!


Ingredients:

3 tbsp apple jelly
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp lemon juice
1/8 tsp curry powder
Dash ground cinnamon
Dash ground red pepper
2 small red and/or green apples, cut crosswise in 1/4" slices
Lemon juice
8 lamb loin chops, cut 1" thick (~2 lbs)
Hot cooked couscous (optional)
1 tbsp snipped fresh mint


Instructions:

1. For glaze, in a small saucepan cook and stir apple jelly, green onion, soy sauce, lemon juice, curry powder, cinnamon, and red pepper over medium heat until bubbly; remove from heat.
2. Remove seeds from apple slices; brush slices with lemon juice. Set aside.
3. Trim fat from chops. For gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place chops on grill rack over heat.
4. Cover and grill to desired doneness, turning and brushing once halfway through grilling. Allow 12-14 mins for medium rare (145 degrees) and 15 - 17 for medium (160 degrees).
5. Place apple slices on grill rack next to chops for the last 5 mins of grilling, turning and brushing once with glaze halfway through grilling.
6. Serve chops with grilled apples and, if desired, couscous. Sprinkle with mint.

Grilling for some people (like us) is not easy. We have definitely had some chops end up on our deck and have nearly lost a couple of apple slices through the grill rack; however, this meal is worth practicing your grill-skills! Opening and drinking a bottle of red wine as you cook helps (just keep it away from the open flame)! I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!!

Nutrition facts per serving: 248 cal, 7 g total fat (2 g sat fat), 80 mg chol, 306 mg sodium, 19 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 26 g pro
Daily Values: 1% vit A, 11% vit C, 2% calcium, 15% iron
Exchanges: 1/2 other carbs, 3 1/2 very lean meat, 1 fat

Sauteed Chicken With Five Easy Sauces

This is a recipe that we have fallen in love with! We have tried all of the different sauces except one. We put the chicken/sauce mixture on top of rice. For extra goodness, pair this with a salad - YUM!


Chicken with Pan Sauce

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
5 tbsp cold butter*
2/3 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup finely chopped shallot (2) or onion
2 tbsp whipping cream

*read the recipe all the way through if you are concerned about adding this much butter. I am sure there are other replacements you can make. I would love to know what other people try!

Instructions:

1. Place each chicken breast half between two pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, pound the chicken lightly to about 1/4" thick. Remove plastic wrap. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. In a large skillet melt 1 tbsp of the butter of med-high heat. Reduce to medium. Cook chicken for 6 - 8 mins or until no longer pink, turning once. Transfer chicken to a platter; keep warm.
3. Add wine, broth, and shallot to hot skillet. Cook and stir, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
4. Bring to boiling. Boil gently for 10 - 15 mins or until liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup.* Reduce heat to med-low
5. Stir in cream. Add the remaining 4 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp at a time, stirring after each addition until butter is melted. Sauce should be slightly thickened. Season with additional salt and pepper. To serve, spoon sauce over chicken.**

*Note: It is important to reduce the liquid to 1/4 cup or the sauce will be too thin.

**For the last step, I usually return the chicken to the pan and coat them with the sauce there. This gives them a minute to soak up some of the sauce.


Sauce #2: Balsamic-Caper Sauce

Prepare as above, except stir 2 tsp balsamic vinegar and 2 tsp drained capers into finished sauce.


Sauce #3: Lemon-Herb Sauce

Prepare as above, except stir 2 tsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tsp snipped fresh thyme, chervil, or parsley into finished sauce.


Sauce #4: Mushroom-Tomato Sauce

Prepare as above through Step 1.

In a large skillet, cook 1 cup sliced fresh shiitake, porcini, or button mushrooms in 1 tbsp of butter over med heat until tender. Remove mushrooms from skillet.

Continue as directed in Step 2, using the same skillet.

Along with the cream, add cooked mushrooms, and 2 tbsp snipped, drained, oil-packed dried tomatoes. There will only be 3 tbsp of butter to add in Step 4.

Stir 2 tsp snipped fresh basil or parsley into finished sauce.


Sauce #5: Mustard Sauce

Prepare as above, except stir 1 tbsp snipped Italian parsley and 2 tsp Dijon-style mustard into finished sauce.


Nutrition Info: Per breast half + 2 tbsp sauce all variations: 325 cal, 20 g total fat (10 g sat fat), 117 mg chol, 444 mg sodium, 2 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 27 g pro
Daily Values: 14% vit A, 1% vit C, 3% calcium, 6% iron
Exchanges: 4 very lean meat, 4 fat

Rosemary Pork Chop Skillet

This recipe is really light and yummy! We usually eat this as a one dish meal (plus it is listed as "low fat" in the cookbook - yay!). We have only made this with the fresh herbs that it lists; however, if anyone tries this and replaces them with dried, I would love to know how it turns out!


Ingredients:

1 pound boneless pork chops, cut 1/2" thick
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups peeled and cubed (1") winter squash (butternut, banana, spaghetti, and/or acorn)
1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges
2 tsp snipped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
2 med zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1" pieces
1 tsp snipped fresh sage

1. Sprinkle cops with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. In a 12" skillet heat oil over med-high heat.
2. Brown chops ~4 mins, turning once.
3. Combine squash, onion, and rosemary; spoon squash mixture over chops.
4. Pour broth and juice over squash mixture and chops. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 10 mins.
5. Add zucchini and sage. Cook, covered, ~5 mins more or until chops are done (160 degrees).
6. Using slottled spoon, transfer chops and vegetables to a serving platter. Cover, keep warm.
7. Bring reserved juiced in skillet to boiling; reduce heat.
8. Simmer, uncovered, ~5 mins or until liquidf is reduced to ~1/4 cup. Spoon over chops and vegetables.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 220 cal, 8 g total fat (2 g sat. fat), 63 mg chol, 411 mg sodium, 15 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 24 g protien)
Daily Values: 111% vit A, 49% vit C, 7% calcium, 11% iron
Exchanges: 1 starch, 3 very lean meat, 1 fat

Bistro Beef & Mushrooms

This is a yummy dish that goes great with a plain baked potato and sauteed asparagus. This is relatively easy to make and is great for those nights when you don't want to do too much cooking!


Ingredients:

4 beef tenderloin steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick (1 pound)
1 tbsp Dijon-style mustard or coarse-grain brown mustard
2 tbsp olive oil
2 four-ounce packages sliced crimini, shitake, or portobello mushrooms (3 cups)
1/3 cup dry red wine or sherry
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp snipped fresh thyme or (approx) 3/4 tsp dried thyme


Instructions:

1. Trim fat from steaks.
2. Spread mustard evenly over both sides of steaks.
3. In a large skillet heat 1 tbsp olive oil over med-high heat.
4. Add steaks; reduce heat to medium. Cook to desired doneness, turning once. Allow 7 - 9 minutes for medium rare (145 degrees) to medium (160 degrees). Transfer steaks to a serving platter; keep warm.
5. Add remaining 1 tbsp oil to drippings in skillet.
6. Add mushrooms; cook and stir for 4 mins. Stir in wine, Worchestershire sauce, and thyme.
7. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 mins. Spoon over steaks.


Nutrition Facts per serving: 231 cal, 13 g total fat (3 g sat. fat), 52 mg chol, 115 mg sodium, 3 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 21 g pro
Daily Values: 2% vit C, 2% calcium, 17% iron
Exchanges: 1/2 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 1 fat

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I think Brussels sprouts have gotten a bad rap over the years (though they are a little stinky while you cook them). The most important thing to remember is use FRESH ones. Thanks to Jennifer for giving us another great way to make these!!


Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
3 tablespoons good olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves.
3. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
4. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly.
5. Sprinkle with more kosher salt (I like these salty like French fries), and serve immediately.