BBQ Steak Salad for the Husband

BBQ Marinade for the Flank Steak

1 2-3 lbs flank steak
1 TB Liquid Smoke
1/4 cp. BBQ sauce
1/2 cp. oil
1/2 cp. soy sauce
3 TB steak sauce
3 TB red wine vinegar
1. Whisk this together and pour over a 2-3 lb. flank steak. Let sit over night.
2. Grill 4-5 minutes on each side. Let rest for 10 minutes

Bag of good Onion Rings

3. Bake on 415 for 25 minutes. Turn half way through......Make sure they are really crispy.

THE SALAD
Lettuce (Red Leaf, Green Mix)
1 Carrot, Shredded
2 cp. Cheddar Cheese
12 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cucumber diced
1/2 red onion
3 ears of corn cut from the cob

4. Mix all together in a large bowl., except the cheese. Top with the grilled steak and Onion rings. Add the cheese to the top. For the dressing: I usually add a little BBQ sauce into a little ranch. My husband does not like Ranch and uses Italian dressing. It depends on what you favor.

I must admit this is one of my favorites. I love huge salads with fries or onion rings. I am from close to the PA area where they put french fries on everything. This is so good and refreshing......

Enjoy

Review: Capresso Coffee TEAM Therm-455 Digital Coffee Grinder/ Maker

Let me start by saying, this makes my mornings incredible. I look forward to that perfect cup of coffee that taste exactly the same each morning. My husband wanted to write his own review on this product. He is the self-made coffee connoisseur. He is also the one who wakes up at 4 or 5 am and makes the coffee for me. (I know I am lucky, but he is too)

I want to add a few pointers about Capresso TEAM Therm-455. Their grinder is not your average grinder. It grinds slowly with minimal heat to preserve the coffee beans and taste. Also, the carafe is made with a stainless steel vacuum to keep it fresh for hours. (It does work.) I have gone to the farmers market and have come back at 10 am. for a fresh cup of coffee that my husband brewed at 5 am.

This by far brews the best cup of coffee and I thank Capresso for their uniqueness and evolutionary ideas.

Here is my husbands review:

Impressive Capresso 455 Digital Coffee Grinder/Maker by guest reviewer Geoff

You all know the commercial - An extraordinarily handsome dark haired man of athletic build wakes up in his charming suburban master bedroom, beautiful wife still peacefully asleep at his side. Wow is this room clean. Sun peaking through the window treatments, pop on the slippers and la la la… The orchestral arrangement carries him softly down the stairs. Grab the brand new can of coffee grounds from the solid oak cabinet… pop, hiss, shhhh. The manual can opener releases the heavily aroma, the fix is near. Everything will be alright soon.

Short story long, the guy makes the coffee, the wife gets to wake up to a freshly made pot, everybody is super frickin’ happy. He pulls it off flawlessly. Wink, wink, from the wifey!

So true to my body type and daily life experience, sans the sun being up when I am or the slippers and the orchestra, oh and the gold metal technique which kills the winky winky, I am not flawless. Read that twice.

Just to break the ice and get the snicking out of the way - on occasion I forget to sometimes add water, coffee, filter, or plug it in and/or turn it on. The most disappointing of all these is using a palatable proportion of grounds to water. Oh, I don’t use any measuring implements either which means I “eye it“. My eyes do not focus so well like Mr Suburban Super Husband Guy. At least I grind my own beans DUDE.

Should I even be allowed to do this? Do the coffee grounds floating in my cup really add a manly protein chew? Fact - I have a co-worker that claims this to be true and that I should just be a man and drink it. So I drink. I am man.

The folks at Capresso Inc. say “stop it, that’s enough Geoff“. The New Jersey manufacturer rolls out some serious top tier coffee and espresso makers. Developed over the last 15 years, the Capresso line-up can even figure out how to engineer around my blunders, except for the plugging it in issue (pssst, work on it guys).

The Capresso model #455 CoffeeTEAM Therm™ 10-cup Digital Coffee Maker / Burr Grinder Combo was the answer for my style. The system allows you to program not only auto start, but auto grind to brew. No hands!
Fill the Bean container to the top. Fill the reservoir with water. No filter needed. Plug it in. Program for cups, strength, and grind size. Once the grinder knows it has processed the correct consistency and amount, the filter assembly automatically swings over the stainless steel carafe, and blub blub. Coffee. The fastest at that.

The coffee will still be hot 10-12 hours later in the insulated carafe. I know, I just cleaned it, it was hot.
No heating element = No more turning the family truckster around because she forgot to turn it off.
We decided to give the device at least a one week tryout and I am glad we did. This process was difficult at first. I am used to the cheap ol’ Dr. Coffee, the coffee mangler maker. I never spent more than $50 on one. My Mom spends $150 + and they still don’t cut it, they look pretty though. The process has not evolved in that world.
It is so simple that you over think it. You scuttled the automation! Get your hand out of the way stupid!
Two mornings later and I was a Pro. Being a Pro will set you back $300 for this exotic, however you have to spend $2 for 16 oz. this good at JohnnyAllStarBucks (trademark pending). That’s a three month payback in my world. Put that in your cup and chew it. http://www.capresso.com/

Review: Marin French Cheeses

This was a very interesting and unique product to review. Marin French Cheese Company also known as Rouge et Noir was created in 1865 and are still creating amazing Artisan Crafted Cheeses. You can find this company in Northern California near Sonoma Wine Country. Not only do they create distinguished and incredible cheeses, but they also offer tours, cheese tasting and a deli at their facility and 700 acre grounds.



The Marin French Company has created many award winning cheeses. In 2005 Rouge de Noir won three gold award in the World Championship Brie at the World Cheese Awards. One of them is the Triple Creme Brie. It is one of the best soft ripened cheeses in America. It is incredible with strawberries and fruit. Marins French Gold also won a gold award. Marin Gold French is known for its a little sharp, buttery and creamy texture. Then the Marin French Company created the Marin French Blue. It is also a gold award winner at the London World Cheese Championships. It is made with Jersey Sow milk and it makes it peppery, yet sweet. The Melange Brie won a award at the World Cheeses in 2008. It is made with goats milk.

Lastly there is the Yellow Buck Chevre. It won the Americas Notional Trophy in 2005 for Best American Cheese. This is the Marin Cheese Company's original. I must admit this was one of my favorites. It is also made with goat cheese and it has an incredible nutty and delectable taste. There has been many other awards granted to this amazing craftsmanship and I am sure there is more to come.

For me, this was my first time trying Brie. I must admit, I am a huge fan. My favorite was the pesto and jalapeno flavored brie that Marin Cheese Company made. I am a fan of mild blue cheese, but Marin Blue Cheese was a little to strong for my taste. I served this to some of my husbands co-workers who greatly enjoyed it. By far my favorite is the Yellow Buck Chevre. I will pitilessly admit that I ate the entire thing myself with good sausage and peperoni.
If you are interested in Marin Cheeses you can locate them on Foodbuzz.com and also their site at:
http://www.marinfrenchcheese.com/

Here are some of the AMAZING Brie Recipes that I have found:

Cookin Canuck: http://cookincanuck.blogspot.com/2009/07/baked-brie-strawberries.html
This would be perfect with the Triple Creme Brie.

Foododelmondo: http://www.foodbuzz.com/recipes/1221180-cedar-plank-brie-with-peach-chutney
Yummy...This would also be great with many of Marins wonderful Brie Cheeses.

Buttermilk Vanilla Bean Pancakes for the Husband

My husband and kids adore pancakes. That is what they ask for almost every Saturday and Sunday. I try to switch it up and make the pancakes different. I posted my oven pancake burrito (It was one of my first post). It is the family favorite. I have not been able to replace that as a fav. But this is now a close second. Enjoy.





Buttermilk Vanilla Bean Pancakes
2 egg
6 tbs vanilla sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cup buttermilk
3 cup all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
2 tbs veg oil
2 tsp vanilla paste

1. Cream the eggs, sugar, vanilla cream and oil together. Add the buttermilk.
2. Add 1 cp. at a time of flour and add the baking powder.
3. Cook....I added about 1/2 cp. of batter per time.

Peach Cinnamon Jam

I had a few people ask for my Peach Cinnamon Jam. I am obliging. This is by far my favorite that I have made this year. I have made blueberry, strawberry, peach and peach cinnamon this year. I want to try try blueberry vanilla or a jam with vanilla. I am definitely making peach cinnamon again before peaches are out of season. I give a lot of my jams away to my close friends. I keep a few jars for myself. I must admit, I think I have an addiction. It is so much fun to make homemade jam.

Peach Cinnamon Jam

4 cps. Pureed Peach Jam (10-12 peaches, skinned and cored)

5 cps. sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 box of surejell

1. Sanitize the jars. Wash them and dry them and then boil the jars, lids, and rings.

2. Puree the peaches in a food processor and then add to a large pan (Remember it will expand)

Add the cinnamon and surejell. Stir. Add one cup of sugar at a time and stir. When you have all of the sugar added let it rapidly boil for 2-3 minutes. Turn heat off.

3.The jars should be in a boil bath. The jars in a pan and water half up the glasses with a small boil. Add the jam (I use a soup ladle). Whip the lip add the hot lids and rings. (I used tongs)

Let boil in the bath for a few minutes. Remove.

ENJOY

For the Fourth: Blackberry Cupcakes withVanilla Blackberry Icing

My girls love cupcakes. It is their favorite. Plus, I am spending July 4th with my girlfriend and her three kids. (Not to mention all of their family) Every time we hang out her kids now that I am going to bring something yummy and full of sugar. I am so proud of myself on this yummy surprises. I made blackberry cupcakes (with blue food coloring) and blackberry vanilla icing(with red food coloring) These turned out fantastic. The 4th is a time to celebrate our Independence and to eat many many amazing foods. For the kids to eat lots and lots of candy and cupcakes! Hahah...I know my girls will!!!!

There is also a cupcake crawl hosted by Gourmet Girl that I hope to enter. They are worth it!

Check it out at: http://kitchenrap.blogspot.com/2009/06/get-ready-cupcake-lovers.html

Blackberry Cupcake with Vanilla Blackberry Icing

3 cps. cake flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cp. buttermilk

2 tsp. vanilla paste

2/3 cp. blackberry puree (Pureed in a food processor)

2 sticks of butter, room temp.

2 cps. vanilla sugar

2 eggs

4 egg, whites

1. Sift the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside

2. Cream the butter and eggs until they are fluffy. Add the buttermilk and mix until combined. Add one egg at a time and mix after each egg. Add the puree and vanilla paste and mix until combined. (I added blue food coloring)

3. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Add to muffin cups inside the tins.

4. Cook on 350 for 22 minutes. Cool. This makes 24.

ICING

4 sticks of butter

7 cps of powdered sugar

2 tsp. vanilla paste

1/3 cp. blackberry puree

1. Cream the butter until it is fluffy. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. When the entire sugar is used add the paste and puree. Should be pretty thick if not add more sugar 1/4 cp at a time. (i added red food coloring to the icing)

I topped with red, white and blue sprinkles.

These turned out even better then the look.

ENJOY and Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Review: Bialetti Moka Express

Bialetti is company founded in 1933 in Coccaglio, Italy by a man named Alfonso Bialetti. He was the first to come up with an aluminium coffee pot that brews on the stove top. To this day 90% of Italy households use his amazing creation. In the 1950's they used character L'Omino (The guy on the front of the merchandise) as a sales gimmick. It paid off greatly. He is one of the most well known and loved characters in Europe and is found on all Bialetti products. In 2001 Bialetti made its debut on U.S. Grounds with a partnership with Bradshaw International. Now you can find this product in many stores across America.



The Moka Express is the most recognized in Italy and the U.S. It is a coffee pot that brews espressos and prepares extraordinary coffee on your stove top, without electricity, annoying noises and dirty filters with coffee grinds leaking everywhere. It is made with cast aluminium and inside is a small screened funnel for the brewing. The operations is pretty simple. Put the water in the bottom and then coffee in the screened in funnel . After that, you screw it closed and put the Moka Express directly on a burner on low-medium heat. In a few minutes it makes a espresso or coffee. The coffee will make it to the top of the Moka Express and you will hear a little gurgle. When it is finished you pour it just like a tea kettle. There was no grounds and dark, hot, yummy espresso. I must admit, this makes consistent exceptional coffee. I am going to quote an Italian Coffee Connoisseurs quote that I found: "There are two options for espresso: If you can afford a good professional coffee maker, go for it and open a coffee shop. Otherwise a Bialetti makes better coffee than all home coffee makers". It is convenient, simple, very affordable, makes great espresso/coffee and can travel well. It is very easy to clean. The parts come apart quickly and at the same time the product isvery sturdy and durable. What more can you ask for?

Let me just say, when I researched this product before I used it I could not find a bad review. Every coffee lover raves about the Bialetti Moka Express. I must admit these high expectations did not disappoint. Enjoy.

If you are interested you can find this information on the product at: http://www.bialettishop.com/