Grill Season: Marinated Flank Steak

Written by Nick - 

This past weekend was the perfect weather to have some friends over and fire up the grill. As opposed to the usual burgers and dogs, I thought some steak would fit the bill. Flank steak is the perfect choice for entertaining. It’s a flavorful cut of beef and budget friendly, but it’s not known for being tender. So, finding the perfect marinade makes all the difference.

I thought I would grill up some steak and serve it fajita style. It’s a great way to feed a group and everyone can customize to their liking. This Marinated Flank Steak recipe seemed like just the right amount of seasonings to stand on its own or work as tacos/fajitas. The recipe calls for marinating for 4 hours or overnight. I went a bit further and marinated it for two days. This was purely a timing consideration. I was cooking dinner Friday night and figured I’d prepare the marinade for a Sunday barbecue.

The flank steak turned out great. Although I served it as fajitas, everyone was eating it straight off the serving dish. I think this flank steak could easily work with a variety of meals, not just tacos/fajitas. It was very tender and flavorful. And because it’s already marinated, there is little prep-work for when your guests arrive.

So, if you’re grilling for friends and want to do something special, this flank steak is the perfect way to treat them to steak and stay on a reasonable budget.

Marinated Flank Steak

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 1/4 cup hot water
• 2 MAGGI Beef Flavor Bouillon Tablets, crushed
• 1/2 cup Apple NESTLÉ® JUICY JUICE® All Natural 100% Juice
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 limes, juiced
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds flank steak

Directions:

COMBINE water and bouillon in medium bowl; stir until dissolved. Stir in Juicy Juice, cilantro, lime juice, oil, oregano, chili powder, cumin and garlic. Pour into 1-gallon heavy-duty plastic bag. Add flank steak, squeeze out as much air from bag as possible. Marinate in refrigerator, turning steak occasionally, for at least 4 hours or overnight.

PREHEAT grill or broiler. Remove steak from bag; discard marinade.

GRILL or broil using medium heat for 7 to 8 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Let steak rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Cut steak against the grain on the diagonal in thin slices to serve. Serve hot with warm tortillas, sliced avocados and fresh pico de gallo, if desired.

Related Recipes:

Seared Steak Salad with Balsamic-Shallot Reduction	Asian Flank Steak

Quick & Easy Dinners: Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

Written by Liz -

Enchiladas mean different things to different people. To some, they mean spicy chicken or pork, topped with red chile sauce. To others, they’re tangy green chile sauce with cheese. Still others add sour cream or cream cheese, potatoes, peanuts or almonds. And to purists, enchiladas mean simple tortillas heated on a stove-top one-by-one, dipped in chile sauce, then folded once and topped with cheese and onion.

This Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe means quick, easy and scrumptious. I made them with my new boyfriend and my dad — they’ve cumulatively eaten a lot of enchiladas — and it was agreed these enchiladas were delicious (better the next day and even more so with a fried egg on top for breakfast).  And don’t forget flexible! This recipe features chicken, cheddar cheese, tomato salsa and cream cheese, but make a few changes and you can please even your pickiest friends and family members. Just use any variety of salsa or enchilada sauce you like (I used tomato-raspberry-chipotle salsa; the sweet/spicy combination was addictive!) and substitute different cheeses like smoked Gouda, sharp white cheddar or queso fresco. You can also use Greek yogurt or sour cream in place of cream cheese.

Find out what enchiladas mean to you.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast meat
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 1/2 cups (12-ounce bottle) chunky salsa, divided
• 1/2 of an 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese
• 8 (7- or 8-inch) soft taco-size fat free or regular flour tortillas

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Spray large, nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add onion; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.

Add chicken, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 3/4 cup salsa and cream cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheeses are melted as shown above.

SPOON a scant 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place in 13 x 9-inch (3-quart rectangular) baking dish as shown above.

Drizzle with remaining salsa. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese (as shown with queso fresco above); cover. Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese on top is melted.

I served mine with fresh cilantro (shown above), a dry rosé wine, and a green salad.

Salud!

More enchilada recipes:

Chicken Enchiladas in Red Sauce	Slow Cooker Enchiladas

Easy Spring Pasta Recipe: Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme

Written by Liz -

Spring has sprung in California – as well as most of the country. To me that means spring vegetable season; asparagus, leeks, peas, artichoke, fennel and fresh herbs are bountiful in farmers markets. Much of this produce is available year-round, but spring is the best time to get the freshest spring vegetables, whether at your local market, grocery store or from your own garden!

And those fresh spring flavors really come through in this easy spring pasta recipe, Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme. It’s a cinch to make and it’s packed with flavor and nutrients, plus spring is a great time to get hooked on the Mediterranean way of eating. Adding a bit of the pasta water instead of using sauce is a traditional way to make pasta dishes in Italy. This recipe is a sure way to eat more vegetables and wow your friends with your culinary savvy!

Wine Pairing

• Italian wines can be hard to find, other than the super popular Pinot Grigio. If you can find a Soave wine, it’s a soft, fruity, clean wine with crisp lemon flavors and really complements this dish.
• Grenache Blanc with its acidity and rounded flavors, or Sauvignon Blanc with its herbaceousness, would also be great wines with this pasta.

Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme

Ingredients for 3 servings:

• 1 package (9 ounces) BUITONI Refrigerated Fettuccine
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh leek
• 1/3 cup frozen peas
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 2 thyme sprigs, leaves removed and stems discarded
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) BUITONI Refrigerated Freshly Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

PREPARE pasta according to package directions, reserving ½ cup cooking water. While pasta is cooking, prepare leek mixture.

HEAT oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leek; cook, stirring frequently, until softened and golden. Stir in peas; cook for 1 minute or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper, as shown above.

ADD reserved pasta cooking water, thyme leaves and cheese; stir in gently. Toss pasta with leek mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

Links:

• Fettuccine with Peas, Leeks & Thyme
• Wine Pairing Tool

More spring pasta recipes:

Vegetable Tortellini Soup	Butternut Squash Agnolotti with Fresh Herb Pesto

Celebrate with Chicken Cordon Bleu

Written by Nick -

Food holidays… there’s one every day of the year. Pistachio Day, Chicken Soup Day, Rhubarb Day etc… So it takes a lot for a food holiday to cut through the clutter and grab my attention. Just so happens, April 4^th, is National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day and I think that’s a day worth celebrating.

Chicken Cordon Bleu holds a special place in my heart. It has always been one of my favorite meals. It was the “special occasion” dinner when I was growing up. The “you did well on that test so Mom will make anything you want” dinner. Or even the “I’m sorry you got cut from baseball team (I’ve always been terrible at baseball) so I made Chicken Cordon Bleu to cheer you up” meal.  Even when I went to college, my fraternity served “chicken bombs” for parents’ weekend. It was one of those dishes that just felt special to me.

So, I figured Chicken Cordon Bleu Day was the perfect excuse to try making it myself. I didn’t follow the recipe exactly. Turns out, you should probably check your pantry for all the ingredients before you invite over friends and start cooking. I didn’t have the can of NESTLÉ Media Crema Ligera Lite Table Cream, so I subbed CARNATION® Fat Free Evaporated Milk for both the breading and the sauce. I also used light Swiss cheese, hoping to keep the calories in check. When rolling the chicken I was nervous it wouldn’t seal and all the cheese would melt its way out in the oven. But I secured the chicken with a toothpick, just like the recipe said, crossed my fingers and put it in the oven.

I was so excited when I pulled the chicken out of the oven and saw the cheese stayed put! I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of how a recipe turned out. As a novice in the kitchen, I’m always anxious when entertaining friends and trying a new recipe. This was a home run (probably the only one I’ve ever hit – terrible at baseball). It paired perfectly with a Caesar Salad and roasted asparagus. I went so far as to print off the recipe and keep it on the fridge for the next celebratory dinner.

Give this recipe a try the next time you’re entertaining. You won’t be disappointed.

Chicken Cordon Bleu with Creamy Mustard Sauce

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 1 can (7.6 fluid ounces) NESTLÉ Media Crema Ligera Lite Table Cream, divided
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 3/4 cup plain bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons MAGGI Granulated Chicken Flavor Bouillon, divided
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
• 4 thin slices cooked ham
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease large baking pan.

MIX 1/2 can media crema and mustard in small bowl; set aside.

MIX bread crumbs, 1 teaspoon bouillon and oregano in a dish; set aside. Place remaining 1/2 can media crema in a separate shallow dish.

SPRINKLE chicken pieces on both sides with remaining 1 teaspoon bouillon. Place 1 ham slice and 1 cheese slice on top of each chicken breast. Roll up; secure with wooden pick. Dip each roll in media crema, then in crumb mixture, turning to evenly coat both sides of each roll with the crumb mixture. Place rolls on prepared baking sheet; drizzle with oil.

BAKE, turning chicken over halfway through baking time, for 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and crust is golden. Serve warm with creamy mustard sauce.

Links:

• Chicken Cordon Bleu with Creamy Mustard Sauce
• Caesar Salad
• Roasted Asparagus with Pesto & Lemon

Related Recipes:

Chicken Milanesa	Crispy Baked Dijon Chicken

How to Roast a Rack of Lamb: Roasted Rack of Lamb with Mint-Basil Pesto

Written by Chris -

Easter is right around the corner, so I thought I’d share my favorite spring lamb recipe! If you are having a few people over, this recipe is for you!

When it comes to recipes, I don’t “do” complicated. I just don’t. Perhaps when my kids are grown, I will change my tune. But, for now, I like keeping it simple, delicious and nutritious.

Take this recipe, for example. I am using a rack of lamb – not a crown roast or leg of lamb. All taste delicious, but a rack of lamb is hands down the easiest to prepare.

In the spirit of keeping it simple, I took a couple shortcuts with this recipe. I purchased the rack of lamb already frenched (more on that term later). I also used premade Buitoni pesto. Buitoni All Natural Pesto is really good, friends! There’s no need to make pesto from scratch – let Buitoni do the work for you. I did add a little fresh mint and lemon juice to the pesto – mint pairs so well with lamb and lemon adds a nice zing!

Back to the term “frenched”… this just means that the rib bones are exposed (see picture below). Most racks are packaged frenched. If they aren’t, you can ask your butcher to french them for you.

I usually buy Australian or New Zealand lamb from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or Costco – it’s a bit leaner and less expensive. One rack typically has 7 to 8 ribs, and this will feed 2 to 3 people. I’ve finally graduated to two racks for my family of five. (I was really taken back by how much my boys like lamb – very nice surprise!)

The cooking time depends on how big your rack of lamb is (most are packaged at 1 ½ pounds), and how rare you want it cooked. Rack of lamb should be cooked rare, or at most medium rare. The instructions I’ve provided are for two 1 1/2 pound racks (roast time is the same for one rack). Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. I prefer it to register between 125-130° F which is on the rare side. Once it’s pulled out of the oven, as it rests, the temperature will continue to climb a few degrees.

If you have a large oven-proof skillet, it will work great with this recipe! If you don’t own one or are unsure if it’s oven-proof, simply sear the racks in the skillet you have, and then transfer them to a rimmed baking sheet that’s been lined with foil. The foil isn’t required, but it sure makes for easy clean up!

Roasted Rack of Lamb with Mint-Basil Pesto

Ingredients for 6 servings (2-3 chops per serving):

• 2 (1 ½ pounds each) frenched racks of lamb (about 8 ribs each)
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 container (9 ounces) BUITONI Refrigerated All Natural Refrigerated Pesto with Basil, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions:

TRIM excess fat from the lamb.

ALLOW lamb to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before roasting. When it’s at room temperature, it will cook evenly. Season the lamb on all sides with salt and pepper.

PREHEAT oven to 400° F.

HEAT the oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Place lamb racks, fat-side-down, in skillet; sear until browned (this should only take a few minutes – you just want them browned). Turn racks over and sear other side. At this point, I like to drain the oil from the skillet so it doesn’t spatter in the oven. Turn racks meat-side up; place skillet in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until thermometer placed in thickest portion registers 125-130° F (medium-rare). It’s best to check it at 15 minutes, especially if your oven runs hot.

TRANSFER lamb racks to a work surface and cover loosely with foil; let them rest for 10 minutes. Don’t skip this step – this is what makes the lamb so tender and juicy! Now is a good time to prepare the pesto sauce since it takes only a few minutes to put together.

COMBINE pesto, mint and water in medium bowl; stir well to combine. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Taste and add 1 more tablespoon if you prefer more tang. You might question why I added water to the mixture. I wanted it to be a little thinner in consistency – it’s just a matter of preference. I love the tang the lemon juice provides, but didn’t want to add too much. I could have also added more oil, but I didn’t want to add the calories. So water it was!

Cut the lamb between the bones into single chops. The chops above are too done for my taste, but they are cooked to perfection for my kids. They like their lamb medium, and this was their rack. The lamb in the image below was cooked rare to medium-rare. Just the way I like it!

Arrange chops on plates; drizzle with pesto. That’s it! This is truly one of the easiest recipes to prepare. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Related recipes:

Marinated Leg of Lamb	Baked Cola-Brined Fresh Ham

Faux Fried Fish on Fridays: Two Fish Recipes

Written by Jenny -

About a month ago our local newspaper published all the locations in our area for a weekly Friday Night Fish Fry. I could not believe the number of them — literally hundreds — and some have been going on for more than 3 decades! Other publications I found help search them out by providing the type of fish and side dishes served, whether alcohol is available, credit cards taken, etc. Until a few years ago, I had not gone to many despite growing up very close to the Atlantic Ocean and now near one of the Great Lakes. How could this be?! Thank goodness one of my girlfriends straightened me out. She has made the Friday Night Fish Fry a get-together time that we look forward to every year.

Instead of going to a tavern, club, hall or church this week, perhaps we will switch things up by having our dinner at one of our homes. I have two recipe choices: Crispy Oat Crusted Fish Fillets with Carnation Tartar Sauce and the Panko Crusted Tilapia with Spicy Tartar Sauce. Both recipes  have a crunchy coating made without a fryer and are mighty tasty. Whatever recipe we choose will be served with sides of laughter for sure. Who knows…this may be our favorite location yet!

Crispy Oat Crusted Fish Fillets with Carnation Tartar Sauce (Pictured Above)

Ingredients for 6 servings:

TARTAR SAUCE

• 1 package (8 oz.) light cream cheese (Neufchâtel), at room temperature
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk, divided
• 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

CRUSTED FISH

• 2 large egg whites, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 1/2 lbs. fresh or frozen (thawed) white fish fillets (such as tilapia)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil to 3
• lemon wedges

Directions:

FOR TARTAR SAUCE:

BEAT cream cheese and 2/3 cup evaporated milk in small mixer bowl until creamy. (Save remaining evaporated milk for the fish). Stir in relish, vinegar, salt and pepper. Store refrigerated in covered container for up to 4 days. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

FOR CRUSTED FISH:

COMBINE remaining evaporated milk and egg whites in shallow dish. Combine oats, garlic powder and paprika in medium bowl. Dip fish fillets into evaporated milk mixture, coating both sides and then into oat mixture. Press oats gently onto both sides of fish to form crust. Place coated fillets on baking sheet. Discard evaporated milk and oat mixtures after dipping.

HEAT oil in large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add fillets; cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. (Thicker fillets may take longer to cook.) Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Creamy Carnation Tartar Sauce and lemon wedges.

TIPS:

• For Tartar Sauce with a kick, add hot pepper sauce to taste.
• If your quick-cooking oats are large in size, they can be processed to a smaller size in a blender or food processor.

Panko Crusted Tilapia with Spicy Tartar Sauce

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons MAGGI Granulated Chicken Flavor Bouillon, divided
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs or regular unseasoned bread crumbs
• 4 (about 12 ounces total) tilapia filets
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons pickle relish
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco, Tapatio or Cholula)

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 450° F.

FOR TILAPIA:

PLACE flour and 1 tablespoon bouillon in shallow dish; mix well. Beat egg in second shallow dish. Place panko and remaining tablespoon bouillon in third shallow dish; mix well.

DIP fish in flour mixture, coating both sides. Dip in beaten egg, lightly coating both sides. Dip in panko mixture, coating both sides. Place fish on baking sheet.

BAKE for 10 to 15 minutes or until fish is cooked through and breading is slightly golden. Serve with Spicy Tartar Sauce.

FOR SPICY TARTAR SAUCE:

COMBINE mayonnaise, relish and hot sauce in a small bowl. For a spicier sauce, add more hot sauce to taste.

Links:

• Crispy Oat Crusted Fish Fillets with Carnation Tartar Sauce
• Panko Crusted Tilapia with Spicy Tartar Sauce
• Get a Carnation coupon

More recent fish recipes:

Fish Tacos with Creamy Avocado Salsa	Grilled Swordfish Kabobs with Avocado Butter