Tip Top Salad Recipes

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the beef, soy sauce, chile flakes, garlic and 1 tablespoon minced shallots. Marinate for 1 hour at room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Put a baking sheet in the hot oven 30 minutes prior to using.
• When the baking sheet is hot, carefully remove it and place it on your stove top. Drizzle some olive oil on the baking sheet and toss with the beef and 1 cup sliced shallots. Return it to the oven and roast until the meat is medium rare, about 8 minutes.
• Season the spinach and radicchio with olive oil, salt and pepper and spread on a serving platter in a single layer. Place the beef and caramelized shallots on and around the leaves.
• Add the red wine vinegar to the baking sheet and scrape off the bits from the bottom. Add the extra-virgin olive oil and whisk the liquids together. Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette and top with the blue cheese and Pecorino Romano.

Steps:

• Tip Top Dressing:
• To make the 'lettuce bowls': Cut a slice from the bottom of each iceberg head so the lettuces all have a flat, stable base. Cut a 1-inch slice from the top of each head and set aside (these top slices will serve as lids). Using a spoon, hollow out each lettuce head to form a bowl. Reserve the lettuce that is removed (this will be used in the salad). Set the 'lettuce bowls' aside. Chop the reserved lettuce. Combine the chopped lettuce, turkey, cranberries, celery, apple, blue cheese and the candied walnuts in a mixing bowl. Toss the salad gently.
• To make the dressing: Combine 1 cup of blue cheese, the mayonnaise and sour cream in a small mixing bowl. Season, to taste, with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
• Finishing the salads: Add about 1/3 of the dressing to the salad. Mix gently but thoroughly, then add enough additional dressing to moisten but not soak the salad. Spoon salad into each of the 'lettuce bowls'. Put the 'lettuce bowls' on plates, cover them with the reserved 'lids' and serve.
• Unused dressing can be refrigerated for up to 3 days
• Heat medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring occasionally, until they darken slightly and smell toasted, about 4 minutes stirring every minute. Raise the heat to high, sprinkle the walnuts with sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar crystallizes and begins to melt, about 1 minute. Transfer the walnuts to a plate and set aside to cool.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, Belgian endive, red onion, baby arugula and cherry tomatoes, and half of the cheese. Toss the salad with enough vinaigrette to coat. Season the salad with salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange the salad on a platter.
• Cut the steaks crosswise into thin slices. Arrange the steak slices atop the salad and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the steak slices and serve.
• Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually blend in the oil.