Sarasotas Favorite Steak Recipes

Steps:

• Garlic -- There are many different methods to roast your garlic, so use what you feel comfortable with.
• I peel the outside layer of the skin off (keeping the head together), then cut a thin slice off the top to expose the garlic cloves. Drizzle with a little olive oil, wrap in foil and roast in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes until the cloves are soft. Let it cool.
• Sauce -- Once the garlic is cool, squeeze all the roasted out of the individual cloves and add to s small sauce pot. Break up the cloves slightly with a fork. Add the wine, steak sauce and onion and bring to a boil and then immediately reduce to low heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Ready to serve.
• This could easily be made ahead and then reheated. It should be served warm. ENJOY!
• Note prep time does not include roasting the garlic.

Steps:

• Peppercorns -- To crush them vs grinding. I simply add them to a baggie and then crush them with a meat mallet. You can also use a heavy pan or a rolling pin or even a hammer. I just prefer them crushed rather then ground for this recipe.
• Butter -- Add the room temp butter in a small bowl with the lime juice, worcestershire sauce, and mustard and mix well. Refrigerate well before using. This makes a lot of butter sauce, so if you want you can cut the recipe in half. It really depends on your guests, some of my friends like more butter, so I always make extra.
• Steaks -- I really love to marinate at least a 2-4 hours, but even a hour will work just fine. In a small cup, add the olive oil and press the garlic so you get all the juice and mix well. Brush or rub on the first side of each steak. Then rub in the peppercorns and salt well. flip the steaks and repeat the second side. Now, I prefer to transfer these to a small plate or dish and cover well with saran wrap and let them marinate. Make sure before you grill these you let them come to room temperature.
• Grilling Steaks -- I won't go into grilling steaks, because you can pan saute and finish in the oven, or just saute. Gill inside or out, etc. Any way you prefer. After the steaks reach your preferred doneness. Make sure to cover them and let them rest.
• Onions -- Brush each of the onion slices with a mix of the olive oil and worcestershire sauce; and then season well with salt and pepper. Grill the onion along side the steaks. They should take about 3-4 minutes per side.
• Serve -- Top the steak with a spoon of the chilled flavored butter and a couple of onion slices on the side. Grilled corn with a lime chili butter is a great side along with a green salad topped with black beans, avocado and onions. ENJOY!

Steps:

• Crackers -- The first step is to crush the saltines. About 20-25 crackers will give you about 1 cup, but crush them fine. A fine crushed cracker will stay on the beef better than those not crushed well. I just use a baggie (ziploc) and my meat mallet or rolling pin. Use anything you have.
• Steak -- Bring the steak to room temp and season well with salt and pepper and make sure to rub in the seasoning.
• Breading Station -- Dip #1 - Wet -- In a small bowl or pie plate, beat the eggs well. Dip #2 - Dry -- In a small bowl or pie plate again, add the cracker crumbs, thyme, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
• Dip each cube steak into the egg mixture, then into the cracker crumbs coating well. Make sure to press the crackers crumbs into the steaks.
• Pan Fry -- In a large saute pan, heat up the olive oil to medium high heat and add the steaks. Make sure you use a large enough pan so they are not crowded. Brown well on the first side until golden brown. Then flip, you may need to add a bit more oil if the pan is too dry - not much, just a touch. Add in the sliced onion and garlic and brown the second side until golden brown as well. Then reduce the heat to low. Add 1/4 cup of the beef broth and cover. Cook 30-40 minutes until tender. Stir once or twice during cooking.
• Sauce -- Once the steaks are done, remove and cover with foil. Make sure to leave the onions in the pan. Mix the cornstarch with the remaining beef broth and pour into the pan along with the garlic and onions. Bring to a boil until thickened and then reduce the heat and just simmer 2-3 minutes. Add in the parsley and taste for any additional seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Serve -- Pour the onion gravy over the individual steaks. ENJOY! Serve this with some mashed potatoes or parsnips, peas, carrots and I love a couple of grilled portabellos. Just a great classic dish.

Steps:

• Sauce -- In a blender, add the ricotta, corn starch and pulse a couple times until smooth. Slowly add in the chicken broth until creamy.
• Cheese -- Transfer the ricotta sauce to a small sauce pan and heat to medium low heat, add in the cheese and cook until the cheese is melted. It will take approximately 5 minutes. DO NOT let it come to a boil.
• NOTE: Make this ahead and refrigerate, then just slowly reheat when ready to use.

Steps:

• Vegetables -- First. I just used my mini food processor to fine chop the vegetables - saves tons of time, but you can chop them by hand if you want. In a small saucepan melt the butter and saute the onion, celery, carrot and garlic on medium heat. Don't cook them too fast, you want them to sweat slowly for about 5 minutes until they are tender.
• Base -- Then transfer the vegetables to a large bowl .Add in the egg, steak sauce, worcestershire, oregano, thyme, parsley, marjoram or dried oregano (both will well, I just love the fresh marjoram if you have it), salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.
• Bread -- In a flat pan or dish, add the milk and soak each slice of bread just for a few seconds and then squeeze out most of the milk. Add the bread slices breaking them up into the bowl. Save the milk, don't throw it out. Mix the bread crumbs inches.
• Meat -- Quick Note: You can use all beef for this, but I really prefer the mix. You could also, substitute turkey for the veal if you want, but - Beef, Veal and Pork are my favorites.
• Now, add in the meat. You can use a spoon, but honestly, I use my hands to mix everything together. You don't want to over mix as the meat can get tough.
• Loaf -- I prefer to free form my loaf rather than using a loaf pan, but if you want, you can use a loaf pan. If using a pan, I line it with parchment paper, but I really prefer to form mine on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. This way when you glaze the meat loaf you can glaze the sides as well. This is the way we always did it in the restaurant. As mentioned above, you can make 2 smaller loafs vs 1 loaf, the cooking time is all that changes.
• Glaze -- In a small bowl, mix the ketchup, brown sugar and cider vinegar together.
• Cook -- Middle shelf in a 350 degree oven. Depending on on thick you make your loaf, it should take between 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. I make mine fairly thick so it takes just about 1 hr 15 minute Bake for about 40-45 minutes and then glaze. Cook another 10-15 min and glaze one more time. Once done, remove and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
• Serve -- Just slice and enjoy! As I said, sour cream and chive potatoes and pan seared green beans are my favorite with this dish.

Steps:

• Crockpot -- This is so easy. In a large baggie, add the corn starch and all the chicken and toss well until all the chicken is completely coated.
• Shake the excess cornstarch off and add the chicken to the crock pot. Then add in the onions, peppers, and mushrooms on top.
• In a medium bowl, add the tomatoes, broth, sherry, soy, garlic, ginger, worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, pinch of salt (go easy) and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well and pour over the chicken, pepper and onions.
• Turn on low for about 4-5 hours. Boneless chicken breasts and thighs don't take too long. Now I wish I could give you an exact time. My crockpot took 4 hours My small one took 5. I did stir once during cooking but it is not necessary.
• Note -- If you like yours a bit thinner, add a little extra chicken stock if you want. Before serving, check for any additional seasoning - salt and pepper if necessary.
• Rice -- Cook according to package directions. Approximately 1-1/2 cups cooked rice per person.
• Serve -- I serve a nice helping of rice per person and top with the Chicken Pepper Steak and then some of the chow mein noodles for a little crunch.
• Just a nice easy dish. ENJOY!