Broccoli Beef

This is another one of my absolute favorite recipes. We went through a phase where we made Chinese food all the time. This is the only dish from that time that we continue to make over and over again. It's easy (although it always takes longer to prep than I think) and the meat can be sliced thin to feed a crowd.

I got this recipe from Simply Recipes.


3/4 lb flank or sirloin steak
3/4 lb broccoli florets
2 Tbsp cooking oil
2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
1 tsp corn starch, dissolved in 1 Tbsp water

Marinade:
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Chinese rice wine ( I used apple cider vinegar because I always have that)
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp pepper

Sauce:
2 Tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp Chinese rice wine (or apple cider vinegar)
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 C chicken broth


Stir together marinade ingredients in medium bowl. Add beef slices and stir until coated. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Stir all sauce ingredients together in small bowl.

Blanch broccoli in small pot of boiling, salted water until tender-crisp (about 2 minutes). Drain.

Heat large frying pan or wok over high heat until a bead of water sizzles and instantly evaporates. Add oil and coat pan. Add beef and spread out in a single layer. Let beef cook for 1 minute. Flip over and cook until  no longer pink. Pour in sauce. Add broccoli. Bring to a boil. Pour in dissolved corn starch an cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens (about 30 seconds).


I usually serve with fried rice (Sun Bird makes a seasoning packet that is way better than anything I've made from scratch) or "chow mein" (boil spaghetti, drain, add soy sauce, oyster sauce and any veggies (green onion, peas, carrots...) you like).

Ashley's Meatloaf

I NEVER ate meatloaf growing up. It sounded like a horrible concoction- one which I hoped never to encounter. I don't remember when I finally tried it, but I'm glad I did. I was definitely surprised at how good it was! And now we eat it a couple times a month.

The problem was, I always Googled meatloaf and looked for a recipe that had the ingredients I knew I liked. It took forever to find one and I always ended up using bits and pieces from a variety of different recipes. One day, I finally decided that I would just wing it and create my own. The hubs approved, so I wrote it down and have been using the same recipe ever since. It's nothing fancy. I'm sure there is another recipe (or 20) out there just like it. But I could never find it when I needed it. So here is my take on meatloaf. It probably could serve 4-6 people.


Meatloaf:

1 lb ground beef
1/2 packet french onion soup
1/3 C bread crumbs
ketchup (I just do one big squirt)

Sauce:
1/4 C ketchup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
mustard (I do one little squirt)


Mix together all the ingredients for the meat loaf. Put in loaf pan. Mix together sauce and pour on top of loaf.

Now hubby likes a lot of sauce, but I have to admit that there is always a little too much. I never all of it. If you like light sauce, I'd just do half the recipe. If you like more sauce, I'd make it all and just add what you think you like.

Left Over Pot Roast

Jake's parents have been buying a cow every year for the past couple years and then sharing the meat with their kids! This has been quite a blessing for us because meat is so expensive lately. One of our favorite things to cook on Sundays (because it's ready when we get home from church AND it's such a comforting meal!) is pot roast. The only problem is the meat comes already frozen and a whole roast is too big for just the two of us. We always save the left overs, thinking we will eat them. But they always end up getting thrown away! It's such a waste!

Yesterday, I came across a post where someone asked what to do with left overs and it got me thinking. So, here are some ideas I came across that I want to try next time we have left overs!

Cheesesteaks

Saute garlic, diced red/green bell pepper, white onion, mushrooms, and a serrano pepper
Add diced meat
Serve on hoagies with melted provolone cheese

Beef Stroganoff

This recipe is for 1 1/2 lbs of beef. I wont have that much left over and I don't need to serve 4 people!

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
1 med onion (sliced)
8 oz mushrooms
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 can beef broth
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
salt and pepper
egg noodles

Brown onion, mushrooms, and garlic in oil and butter. Add beef. Season with salt and pepper. Add soup and broth. Cook on low for 30 minutes, covered. Add salt and pepper as needed. Stir in sour cream a few minutes before serving. Serve over cooked noodles.

Roast Beef Hash

Peel and dice 2-3 potatoes
Brown in skillet with diced onion
Dice up beef and any leftover veggies and add to skilet
Season with salt, pepper, garlic salt/powder, or whatever you like
You can use left over gravy, if you'd like

Open-Faced Beef Sandwich

On top of a piece of bread, add mashed potatoes, beef, and gravy

Vaca Frita (Cuba)

Shred left over beef
Thinly slice 1-2 onions
Cook beef in oil on med-high heat until crispy
Remove beef and cook onions until they start to get crispy
Mix beef and onions together, squeeze lemon juice on top, serve with rice and black beans

Beef Mironton (Southern France)

This recipe serves 6. It might need to be halved!

Heat oven to 375
Mince 1-2 onions and cook over low heat in oil for 5 minutes
Add 2 chopped tomatoes or 2/3 C canned tomatoes (drained)
Add 2 Tbsp gravy thinned with 1 tsp red wine vinegar
Stir with wooden spoon until sauce is smooth
Add 1 clove garlic (crushed), 1 bay leaf, 1/2-1 tsp nutmeg, 1/3 C parsley (chopped), salt, and pepper
Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes
Remove bay leaf and pour half sauce into oiled baking dish
Put 3 C chopped roast in the sauce
Add 2 tsp capers (optional)
Pour in remaining sauce
Top with bread crumbs
Bake 30 minutes

Italian Sandwiches

Dice Meat
Add Italian dressing and simmer on stove
Put on hoagies with provolone cheese and veggies


Other ideas:

BBQ Beef
Fajitas
Stew
Beef Pot Pie
Stir Fry
Sandwiches
Taquitos


Now I want to eat leftovers! Yum!