Skip to main content

Short of time !

          Today a thoughtful neighbor brought me some produce from their garden. Green, yellow and purple beans, cucumbers, zucchini and summer squash, and beets. So I spent a good part of the afternoon cleaning and preparing them for later use. I can't wait. But that left little time to make dinner. I needed to find something quick to fix. So I pulled a couple of steaks out of the fridge and looked for something to do with them. In the past I would have just grilled or broiled them. And then threw some frozen french fries in the oven. And called it a meal. It would have tasted fine but it is not too creative.                                                                                                                                                          I found a recipe for steak teriyaki that looked good.  The recipe was in Cook's Country Aug/ Sept 2017 issue. The steak was prepared simply enough but I hoped the teriyaki sauce would add flavor. The twist on this recipe was not just teriyaki  sauce but home made teriyaki sauce. I put the steaks in the skillet put some rice on and turned my attention to the teriyaki sauce.  It actually took longer to measure the ingredient amounts than prepare the sauce. But it was all done while the steaks cooked.
          It did indeed add lots of flavor. The family all liked it and said it is definitely something we should do again. It also served to prove to me that just because I am short on time, there is no reason to sacrifice taste and quality. I would be pleased to get this meal at the local Japanese restaurant.              

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering Birch Creek Orchards

Recently, I have been reading a book by Barbara Kingsolver titled "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle."  This book is truly inspiring and focuses on harvesting local foods to reduce the amount of fuel used to transport foods all over the U.S.  She also emphasizes eating foods only when they are in season. Over Labor Day weekend, we took a trip back home to Jeddo, MI for my cousin's wedding (shout out to the beautiful bride Sarah Lawson!!).  While there, my uncle Mike invited us to his house to pick fresh peaches, apples and pears.  I was thrilled! This was my chance to eat locally and harvest fruit while it was in season! No more California fruit for me!  I took my husband and kids and we picked away. We filled boxes full of fruit and ate the fruit right off the tree! It was a special treat for me. Then it hit me, sadness...see friends, growing up my family helped operate Birch Creek Orchards in Jeddo, Mi.  Everyone in my family helped!  Even the smalle...

A Little Something in My Eye

     The last time I went to Tennessee to visit my son and his family I had a secret agenda. I wanted to find something I could make that my grandson Brayden would eat. Brayden has a narrow band of foods that he chooses to eat. I know this is not unusual for children. He eats well but doesn't experiment with new foods very often. His sister Tenley will eat anything you are eating.       Brayden likes hot dogs, chicken nuggets, bread sticks, pizza, macaroni and cheese and also Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal. He does use milk on the cereal but doesn't use condiments with anything else. No ketchup, no mustard, not even sauces? He really knows what he wants and wants it just the way he likes it.       I made it my goal to find something I could make that he would eat. I was armed with my wife's favorite cookbook, Farm Journals Best Ever Recipes from 1977 and picked some simple items to make. I felt sure that I would make that special food he cou...

The Secret Ingredient

     I like to measure the ingredients and lay them all out before starting a new recipe. The other day when Lily was going to be in the kitchen making dinner for us, I began to wonder, as I looked at my spice shelf. What is the most important ingredient or spice that I have? What is used the most? What ingredient is the most important overall? Seems like salt is used in most recipes. But what type? Sea salt, Iodized, Kosher, or Seasoned Salt. What ingredient or spice will make Lily's version of Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage special? All was laid out ready for Lily to add in the order the recipe called for. She executed with perfection.       As I watched her grate the Parmesan cheese that finishes the dish, it came to me. The secret ingredient. The one that for me makes every meal special. SHARING ! When finished, I realized that this really good meal, first introduced to me by my Son and Daughter-in-law, was indeed just as good as the time they served ...