New Year's Resolutions

I'm trying to find a way to manage my household menus, recipes and ideas.  Since I really do seem to cook seasonally, I'm hoping to use this blog to keep track of what works for my family. I'm going to work to record the weeks meals as best I can, at least for a while.  Last night we had Burgundy Beef Sandwiches (a fantastic and simple recipe from Millgate Farms) with sauteed shallots and peppers, left over scalloped potatoes and Maew's veggies with oyster sauce.  The night before it was steak sandwiches, the same veggies and a fantastic Asian shrimp noodle soup.  

The scalloped potatoes came from Christmas dinner and worked out perfectly.  I layered sliced Yukon Gold potatoes with sauteed onions and garlic then dotted with butter, cream and salt & pepper.  A sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and baked them about an hour at 350 covered in foil.  I added some more cheese at the end.

The Milgate farms beef is easy and delicious.  Cook a rump roast in a slow cooker for 8 to 10 hours with 2 cups of onions, garlic, balsamic vinegar, thyme, wine, Worcestershire sauce, salt & pepper.  Then serve it on little rolls.  Great stuff!

I'm on quite an Asian noodle soup kick.  I made a great duck soup for dinner with the relatives the other night.  The recipe goes like this - make a great stock, add some onions or leeks, garlic, some kind of greens - bok choy, kale, cabbage, Asian greens - anything leafy, protein - duck or shrimp or Trader Joe's pork & cilantro mini dumplings, Asian noodles if you don't use the dumplings.  Season the soup with lime, fish sauce and some soy sauce.  Add chilies if you like it hot.  Mushrooms and seaweed are great as well. 

Couscous

On Monday we grilled a huge Milgate farms london broil and served it with snow peas and couscous.   I sauteed the couscous in olive oil, onions, fresh garlic and zucchini and then added a tomato at the end.  It was a little boring at first, but some fresh oregano from the garden added just what it needed.    A great quick meal after the pool on a busy weekday.  The leftover steak can go right into the salad for the teenager!

Bi Bim Bop

Tonight we are having bi bim bop.  It's Korean dish that I remember fondly from my days in Ann Arbor & I was inspired by a recipe in Bon Appetit but ended up using one I found on the Food Network.  The Millgate Farms london broil was marinated in 7 up! for a few hours then drained & marinated in soy sauce, grated Korean pear, sesame seeds & oil, honey, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and green onions.   I'm about to saute some carrots, spinach, Kilbuck Farms mushrooms and asparagus in sesame oil & "lay them beautifully" on the rice as the recipe suggests.  Can't wait.