Quick Steak Marinade

This is a great marinade for a steak bbq or if you're planning to make beef jerky! Yummy either way.

Steak cutlets
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp mustard
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp black pepper
2-3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2-3 Tbsp water

Mix everything together. I usually put it all into a Ziplock bag. It makes it easier to coat it all. Marinade for 3-4 hours or overnight. Then, do with it what you will! Great bbq night, or beef jerky if that's what you're after. SOOO tasty!

Balsamic Vinaigrette

I'm SUPER picky when it comes to salad dressings. I DETEST dressings that are sweet. Can't stand it if there is any sugar in it at all. If I wanted a sweet salad, I'd eat a fruit salad. If I want a green salad, it needs to have a savory dressing. Really, one of the only dressings that I like is Ranch. However, I haven't had it for forever, because it's a US thing. So, I've had to get creative. I found this combination works well for me, so I thought I'd share.

1/2 c Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 c Balsamic Vinegar
The juice from one Lemon
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp salt
dash white pepper

I put all of this into a glass bottle with a lid. Shake it before you pour it on! :) Keeps well in the fridge for a few weeks. SOOOOO good on fresh tomatoes and cucumbers!!

Fresh Pasta Sauce

I can NEVER go back to the bottled/canned pasta sauce. After starting to use this, I'm hooked and just can't look back!

1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 lb hamburger
Garlic Salt (to taste)
8-10 fresh, ripe tomatoes, coarsely chopped
A handful each of Fresh basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary, finely chopped (you CAN use dried, but fresh just tastes so much better!!!)
Fresh mushrooms, finely sliced (if all you have is canned or dehydrated, that works, too. Or, you can omit the mushrooms. Claire would be happy if I did.)
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat Olive Oil in large sauce pan. Add onion, and saute for a few minutes. Add garlic and stir. Throw in the hamburger and garlic salt and 'scramble' until browned. Add the mushrooms. Simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Throw in the tomatoes and herbs and simmer for about 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. This sauce is pretty thin, and if you don't like that, use a slotted spoon to serve. You can put the tomatoes and herbs in the blender before adding to the hamburger if you don't like 'chunky' sauce. It is just SO good and flavorful! I've also done this using mini shrimp instead of hamburger and it's yummy, too! This is good over pasta of any kind.

Gourmet Pizza Sauce

I wanted to make calzones, and decided to make a 'real' pizza sauce instead of my usual 'just throw it all together' sauce. I found a recipe on allrecipes.com that I thought looked interesting, but I didn't have all the ingredients it listed. So, as always, I improvised, and found that this is THE MOST FANTASTIC pizza sauce I've ever tasted! Woohoo!!

3+ Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
4 sprigs (about 2 tsp) fresh Basil, finely chopped (I admit, I use my kitchen shears!)
1 tsp dried Oregano 3 cloves Garlic, pressed
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp chicken bouillon
1 tsp onion powder
dash Crushed Red Pepper
1/4 tsp dark brown sugar
8 oz can Tomato Sauce (not paste!!)
4 Tbsp boiling hot Water

Combine all the ingredients except for Tomato Sauce and water. Mix well.



Add tomato sauce all at once. Add hot water one tablespoon at a time. You may like your sauce thinner (add more water or tomato sauce) or thinner (omit water). Let sit for at least 1/2 hour on the counter to mix the flavor!



Use on top of pizzas, inside Calzones, or as a breadstick dipping sauce!! OR you could make a yummy chicken cacciatore with something like this as well! Or it could be a yummy marinara sauce for pasta or shrimp! The uses are endless!

**Note: While the crushed red pepper gives it a super yummy zing, my kids thoroughly disliked it! So, I'll try it without the pepper next time and see if they like it better, or if they were just trying to find an excuse to finish early and go play!

Fresh Chunky Salsa

This is a nice fresh chunky salsa that I like (and that says something, because I don't usually like salsa)!

8 tomatoes--seeded, drained, finely chopped
1/2 c diced green bell pepper (***this is optional. I've made it without, and it tastes great. I also don't like spicy, so if you want a kick, you could substitute with a hot pepper such as a jalapeno, or scotch bonnet...)
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced (I use my garlic press)
Juice of 1 small lime
1 Tbsp Olive Oil (Extra Virgin is best)
1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro AND/OR parsely (both are good!!)
3/4 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
dash pepper (to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl with a lid. Cover, and let stand at room temp. for about an hour. Serve as is, or chill. Keeps for about 3-4 days in the fridge.

(Goes really well with Black Bean Dip!!)

Seasoned Salt

This is my own version of Lawry's Seasoned Salt. It's almost identical...and yet I know just what is in it! :)

1 c. Salt
4 Tbsp Paprika
3 Tbsp Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp Onion Powder

Place all ingredients in an airtight container (I use an old Lawry's Salt 16 oz container). That's it! Enjoy!!