Cool Weather in Sunny Florida

We finally got a taste of fall in Florida this weekend! It was awesome! I moved to FL a little over three years ago. I miss Fall so much! Fall is my favorite season. This weekend it was in the 60's! Breezy! Perfect!

The weather was SCREAMING fall! The first thought that popped in my mind is CHILI! I went to my favorite butcher who HAPPENED to have Sirloin Steak on sale...mmmhh..what a coincidence. Here is my Sirloin Steak Chili! Enjoy!



2 lbs on Sirloin, cut in cubes
1 Red Onion, chopped
1 Red Pepper, Chopped
1 Jalapeno, Chopped
1 Poblano, Chopped
2 Garlic Cloves, Chopped

1. Toss together and let the beef brown and the veggies get soft. (Can I just say, the beef was so tender and amazing.)

1 tsp. Oregano
2 TB. Chipotle Chili Powder
1 tsp. Cumin
Lawrys Salt and Pepper

2. Add the seasoning and toss.

1 Small Can of Paste
4 15 oz. Fire Roasted Tomatoes
1 15 oz. Tomato Sauce
2 15 oz. Dark Red Kidney Beans
2 15 oz. Black Beans

3. Add the Tomatoes, Beans and Paste. Stir.
4. Let simmer until thick. I usually let it simmer for a few hours.

Top with Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream and Tator Tots (One of the best toppings EVER!)

By the way, Sorry for the delay. My 4 yr. old came down with Bronchitis. She is horribly sick. Not to mention, we are moving by Halloween, so I am packing and preparing....WHEW.

THIS IS WHAT WE MADE WITH THE LEFTOVERS:
YES! This is Steak Chili Pizza...IT ROCKED!!!

ENJOY!!

O Olive Oil Giveaway/ Fall Collection

I reviewed O Olive Oil a few months back. I enjoyed their product immensely. You can find the review here.It was an enjoyable post to write and a fantastic product to use.

Today I am offering a giveaway. It will be for their Charcoal Box Fall Collection which includes O Blood Orange Olive Oil (I used to make my Orange and Cranberry Granola Bars), O Zinfandel Vinegar (One of my favorites.) and O Porto Vinegar. The gift box is beautiful and is worth close to 40 dollars! All you have to do is leave a line about how you would use this amazing gift set. I will announce a winner on Tuesday, October 20th.
For those who enjoy their product and would love O Olive Oil go to their site at: http://www.ooliveoil.com
Type in: kidsandfood
SAVE 10%
They have amazing and unique products.

GOODLUCK!!

THE WINNER WILL WIN THE ENTIRE COLLECTION !!

Pickled Banana Peppers

I visit the farmers market every Wednesday and the last few weeks I would buy banana peppers to put on salad or pasta. They tasted fantastic without pickling.

I decided to make my own pickled banana peppers. I must say, YUM! I can't wait to add them to my sandwich and salads. I have already been opening the fridge and sneaking a few here and there.

ENJOY!

Pickled Banana Peppers

The BRINE:

1 TB Dried Dill Weed
1 1/2 cps. of Water
Quart of White Wine
3/4 cp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. of Pickling Salt

4 LBS Banana Peppers (Washed Well)
Garlic
Fresno Pepper or Jalapeno (Washed Well)

1. Boil the jars and lids and the brine in another. While the brine is warming up cut the peppers.

2. When the brine is ready add a garlic to each jar and a Fresno or Jalapeno pepper.

3. Pour the boiling brine over the top and add the lid. Boil for a few minutes until really hot. Let cool. The lids should seal if they do not store in the fridge.

Chocolate Cookie Covered Oreo's and Rolo's!

What could be better then an Oreo Cookie or a Rolo Candy bar?

How about if they are covered in chocolate and sugar!? Needless to say my girls loved these. It is a good thing I made a vast amount.

I stumbled on the Chocolate Oreo cookies here. It is called my Tasty Treasures. It is about sex and food. What more could you ask for? It is very entertaining and will give you a little chuckle.

The ROLO AND OREO COOKIE RECIPE:
1 cp. of soft butter
1 cp. of sugar
1 cp. of brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. of vanilla
2 1/4 cp. of flour
3/4 cp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder

1. Cream the butter and sugar together for 3 minutes. Add one egg at a time. Add the vanilla.
2. Sift the flour cocoa and baking powder. Add it slowly to the wet mixture.
3. Place in the fridge for 2 hours.
4. Remove and flatten a small piece of the dough. Add a Rolo or Oreo in the middle and roll to cover completely.
5 Bake on 350 for 8 to 10 minutes. You do not want it to flatten. You want the Rolo still in form.

Apple Juice Pancakes with Sauteed Apples

Let me start by saying that it began with only 1 cp. of milk.



I woke up this morning with my husband and kids asking for pancakes. I pulled out all my normal ingredients for my pancake batter. When I started making the pancakes I realized I only had 1 cp. of milk! I needed 1 3/4! What was I going to do!? I decided to substitute with Apple juice. My husband hates fruit IN his pancake, so I made a Apple topping. I usually do not commend myself but I WAS SO PROUD! It turned out so so good. Put it this way, both kids finished there entire plate! That never happens! That is the greatest compliment ever! HAPPY KIDS, HAPPY HUSBAND, AND HAPPY ME! The morning is off to a good start!





APPLE JUICE PANCAKES

1 cp. milk
3/4 cp. apple juice
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 TB butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cp. sugar
2 cps. flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
pinch salt



1. I added the cinnamon, flour, salt, and baking powder and sifted it. Set it aside.

2. In the mixer I added the milk, apple juice, eggs, sugar, vanilla and butter. Mixed until combined. Slowly added the sifted mixture.

3. Cook on a oiled skillet. Add a 1/4 cp. batter per pancake. When it bubbles then flip it.



The Easy Topping: (Let me just say, I ran out of butter too! Haha. It is my shopping day today. But if you want to add some butter be my guest. But this turned out wonderful this way.



In a Skilled add two apples diced with 1/2 cp of apple juice, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/4 cp. Maple syrup. Cook only a few minutes. You do not want the apples to get to soft!

Bacon and Egg Salad

My husband and I love salads. I was raised where we had a salad as a side for every meal. I make a huge salad almost every night. Today, the husband came home for work and wanted something healthy but filling for lunch. I made this salad and it was perfect. He finished it quickly and then fell asleep for an hour before heading back to work.
I bought organic local grown Arugula, Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Peppers that I could not wait to use. It was mighty tasty.


1 Head of Arugula
4 Cps of Mixed Greens
1/2 cucumber, sliced thing
1 Banana Pepper
1 Red Pepper
1/2 Red Onion, Slice thin
1 to 2 cups of Cherry Tomatoes
1 Carrot, sliced thin
2 Hard Boiled Eggs
4 Slices Bacon
Parm Cheese

Dressing of Choose.

I bought all of these ingredients at the farmers market and I could not wait to make a huge salad! Throw everything together and top with the bacon and eggs and some fresh Parm Cheese.

Sirloin Steak Sandwich and Stir Fry

I have been nicknamed "Sandwich Queen". I make my husband sandwiches on a regular basis. He loves them and I love being creative with what I have in the kitchen. This week I made two loafs of sourdough bread! I made it from the Panera Bread recipe. It turned out perfect! I figured that steak would make an incredible combo with it.

I grilled the bread with butter and I could of just ate a the loaf of bread that way. So yummy. But I topped with with mozzarella cheese, then fries, and more mozzarella cheese and put it in the broiler. When the cheese was brown and crispy I added the steak. Then topped it off with carmalized onions! What a sandwich!
I marinated the sirloin with a bottle of A1, 1 cp. of soy sauce, salt and pepper.

We had a ton of steak leftover, so I made a stir fry out of it last night. It turned out really well.

Sirloin Steak Stir Fry

3 TB butter
1/4 cp. diced green onions
My leftover beef and carmalized onions
1 bag of frozen brocoli or fresh if you have it.
3 tsp. of garlic
3 tsp. hot chilli sauce
2 tsp. sugar
1 cp. of stir fry sauce
salt and pepper
Rice

1. Melt the butter and add the garlic and green onions until soft. Add the steak and carmalized onions until warm and brown. Add the brocolli until tender. Add the sauce and seasoning!
2 Serve on rice.