Steaks with a Sweet Shallot Wine Sauce

As I've said (way too many times...) whenever I ask Mike what he'd like to have for dinner, or what he'd like me to serve if we're having company the answer is usually steak (and a chocolate cake, for that matter).  Sometimes I resist, insisting that we should try something new and different that I can blog about.   

Last weekend we were having the same conversation on Sunday night, then I thought - I bet everyone has this conversation with their husband.  Instead of resisting, I decided to prepare the steaks as we always do (seared on the stove, finished in the oven...), but try a new sauce on top and a new interesting side. 

The interesting side (besides the roasted asparagus) was a curry cauliflower gratin... it needs a little work, but the steak sauce was a definite keeper.  Inspired by Ina's Veal Chops with Caramelized Shallots (yes, I'm still working my way through Foolproof...), I prepared my own version of the Caramelize Shallot sauce and served it over seared steaks.  Her recipe called for sherry vinegar and port wine, neither of which I had, but I used red wine and it worked great.

As I mentioned in my last post, we had all of our meals on the porch last weekend to take advantage of the first real springy weekend.

I served the sauce over steaks that I seared in a skillet - my favorite way to prepare steaks.  Here is the link with step-by-step instructions that has recently taken off on pinterest... I guess everyone is looking for a great way to make steaks at home.  Here I used strip steaks, but you can use your favorite cut.

Sweet Shallot Wine Sauce
with Seared Steaks

6 whole shallots
6 cloves of garlic
4 tablespoons of butter
Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper
1 cup of red wine
1 1/2 tablespoon of brown sugar
red pepper flakes, small pinch of
1 teaspoon of fresh thyme

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Peel outer paper skin from shallots and trim the roots off leaving the end intact to hold it together.  Cut them into quarters lengthwise. 

 

In a large ovenproof pan, melt half of the butter then add the shallots, garlic, salt and pepper.  Cook for a couple of minutes then place the pan in the oven for 30 minutes.  Toss half way through.

Remove the pan from the oven and place it on the stove top.  Add the rest of the butter and wine.  Bring to a simmer and cook for 6 minutes until thickened.  Add brown sugar, red pepper flakes and thyme.  Cook for just 1 more minute until thick.  Serve poured over steaks.



Because steaks are such a great (and popular) option to serve for entertaining, I plan to do more versions of "Steaks and Sides" - share with me your favorites!  I'll let you know if I ever get the Curry Cauliflower Gratin worked out...

A Porch Kind of Weekend - Breakfast & Dinner alfresco

It officially feels like spring - thank goodness.  We took advantage of every peep of the sunshine this weekend having almost all of our meals outside on the porch.

When we bought the house the cozy little side porch was a huge motivation for us.  Like home buyers do, I had visions of us drinking our morning coffee out there and sipping on wine in the evenings - and this weekend we fulfilled that and more.  Unfortunately, I think to often people don't make an effort to live out their 'perfect life' visions.  

Emma and I spent the end of last week gathering various flowers, herbs and pots to plant outside.



These fern lavender were the best find of the weekend.  They smell great and will bloom like this all Spring/Summer.  Aren't they whimsical?



Our porch weekend started with a little get together with homemade pizza + friends + kids + dogs on Saturday night.  So, when we woke up on Sunday morning we were searching for something to eat with our coffee... 10 minutes later Cinnamon (pizza) Bread was ready.  Recipe coming soon.  It was sooo good and silly easy.

I planted a couple of strawberry plants in pots on the porch, too.  Because the strawberry plants were fairly minimal, I added some of these muscari that had already bloomed in our yard.

I love how they are peeking above the strawberry plants.

I got these G. Wolff & Co. pots this year at a fabulous local nursery called Red Cedar.

I had purchased these pots there three years ago. 

While I was fixing cinnamon bread and snapping photos, backyard wagon rides began.  Bunny ears and all.

After some yard work and many more wagon rides...

Dinner was served.  On the porch.

Seared Steaks with a Sweet Shallot & Wine Sauce (inspired by the Barefoot Contessa's, of course).  Recipes coming later this week!

Our Easter Weekend in Photos... a little late

We spent our Easter weekend with my family at my parents' house out in the country - there were baby ducklings to pet (thanks to Uncle Josh), puppies playing, cousins to kiss on and lots and lots of food (yes, including the bunny cake).  Enjoy this little photo recap of our weekend back home!



Emma and I had been practicing egg hunting for the past few weeks so she'd know just what to do - she was a pro.

Macy keeping watch.

Mr. is a farm dog at heart.  He thinks.

Easter basket time.

6 am chocolate covered bunny.  

PJ snuggling with Gramp Gramp.

Recognize Baby Kate's dress?  (hint : Emma's from her first Easter)

Road to church.

Love the muted colors of early spring.

Antebellum mansion out in the country near my parents' house.  I was crazy about this house when I was growing up.

 It gets crazy at Moo Moo's house - lots of ladies.

Post church playing.

Emma  Makes Way for Ducklings (again).

Spring has finally sprung - stay tuned this week for recipes from this past weekend... lots of breakfasts and dinners on the porch.

New Recipe Indexes | Pinterest Boards

Many of you have requested that I have a more up-to-date and comprehensive recipe index.  So, I've been hard at work organizing my recipes into boards on Pinterest - it is the best (and easiest...) way for me to keep an updated visual recipe index.  You don't need to be a member of Pinterest to view the boards.  As you can see above from the snapshot of My Pinterest Home Page, you can find all of My Recipes in one spot, or divided into categories, like Pasta, Desserts or even Table Settings and Entertaining Menus.  You can also find my boards for Home Inspiration, Kitchen & My Life, etc., in this same spot.

Be sure to follow all of my pins to stay to up-to-date on all of the blog (...and my browsing) posts.  Or, you can just follow individual boards that interest you.  As you can see at the right hand of the screen, you can find links to all of these individual indexes from the blog, as well.  So, next time you need an idea for dinner, just click on the My Dinner Recipes board for inspiration.

In case that was all to confusing... just follow me on Pinterest, here.


Here's a snapshot of each of the boards, as examples of what you'll find (you can click on the links to take you directly to each board) : 

My Dinner Recipes Board

My Pasta Recipes Board

 Entertaining & Tables Setting Board

My Entertaining Menus Board

 My Appetizer Recipes Board

 My Dessert Recipes Board

My Breakfast & Brunch Recipes Board

Spring Flowers Dinner Party Workshop | Cooking Class Next Tuesday

My next workshop in the KC area is next week!  To Register, click here.  Hope to see you there!


Spring Flowers Dinner Party

Tuesday, April 9th at 6pm
To Register, click here.

In this class, we'll focus more on Flowers than Food!  I'll demonstrate how to make 3 different arrangements from the season's most beautiful blooms - ranging from complex to very simple.  You'll be able to make and take home your own Mini Spring Floral Creation. 

We'll enjoy a simple Spring Supper of :

 

Shrimp, Portobello Mushroom, Spinach & Angel Hair in a Lemon Cream Sauce

Crusty French Bread & Homemade Herbed Butter

 Fresh Lemon Mousse

To Register, click here.

My New Max The Morning Routine & Organizing Our Tiny Bathroom

<sup>As I mentioned when I posted the official "after" of the DIY Bathroom Refresh, I should start by explaining that this is our only bathroom upstairs. In fact, it is our only full bath in the entire house. So... everyone is doing everything in this tiny bathroom. Emma's taking bubble baths, I'm blow drying my hair or putting on makeup (let's face it, like, once a week...) and Mike is shaving - all in this itsy-bitsy bathroom. When we do the addition on our house (next Spring!) it will include a master bath (and fancy closet!), but for the meantime - this is it.

We didn't want to spend much money or time, knowing that this is only our main bathroom for a short while, but it was majorly bugging me in its previous dingy state. So, we freshened the bathroom by papering the walls with a paintable "beadboard" wallpaper. We saved money by keeping the current vanity, but on putting a fresh coat of paint to match the trim in the rest of the house (Navajo White in Satin) and added new fancy polished nickel hardware. We did spend some money (but not much!) on a new vanity mirror, faucet and vanity top.

Keep reading >></sup>