Monthly Archives: January 2012

It is not often that I ~~have my S.S.~~ splurge on groceries. Usually we rush through the grocery store, my list guiding the way, picking up inexpensive ingredients that are later transformed into something special.

This meal, instead, was centered around a nice big piece of meat. A little pricey, but simple enough that it can be easily executed in your underwear.

The steak gets the star treatment, but that doesn’t mean it needs a lot to make it taste good. A generous helping of S & P, a sear on both sides over high heat, and then 8 minutes in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven made a perfectly medium-rare steak.

The special touch was the compound butter that slowly melted on top. In a bowl, combine softened butter, minced shallots, minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, chopped fresh tarragon, lemon zest and S & P. Shape it into a log, pop it in the fridge and slice before serving (this is what we do at the FCI), or simply scoop it on top of the steak right when it comes out of the oven.

The steak needs little more than a simple salad (fennel and orange did just nicely) and a side of roasted potatoes to round out the meal.

And just wait till tomorrow’s post to see what I did with the leftovers.

buttered lentils with sausage and leeks

January 13, 2012

the main event

2 Comments

I have three huge sausages (freshly made, from school!), and I also have a cup of red lentils that have been sitting in the darkest area of my cabinet. Oh–and a leek and a half that will go limp very soon.

All I need is one more ingredient to tie these three things together. And there it is: butter.

Prepare the red lentils according to the package’s directions (add a bay leaf to the broth or water for a bit more flavor). Meanwhile, sweat thinly sliced leeks in a combination of butter and oil. Once soft, add crumbled sausage (casings removed–sorry boys) and cook until no longer pink.

Combine the lentils with the leeks and sausage. Stir in a generous amount of butter and season with S & P and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

This hearty dinner came together in less than half an hour, and couldn’t be simpler to prepare.

it’s better than you think

January 11, 2012

somethin' on the side, the main event, the underwear diet

1 Comment

Sardine spread. Even on their own, the words don’t sound appealing; together, they sound even worse. But I promise–really!–that it’s actually better than you think.

Mash these together: canned sardines, mayonnaise, capers, lemon juice, hot sauce, and S & P.

Serve on top of crackers or toast coated with a thin layer of mustard. Don’t yell at me if your kitchen stinks after making it.

If you go easy on the mayo, or even eliminate it all together, you’ll be left with a heart-healthy spread that will make you not only want to eat it in your underwear (alone, because it smells), but dance in your underwear when you’re finished.