Category: Family Recipes & Traditions

Grill Once, Dine Twice

A sizzling steak hot off the grill and a glass of wine make a sensational pairing for steakhouse dining at home. Savor the warm weather with al fresco entertaining and create a restaurant experience in your own backyard for less. Share this recipe with family at www.familycrossings.com

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A sizzling steak hot off the grill and a glass of wine make a sensational pairing for steakhouse dining at home. Savor the warm weather with al fresco entertaining and create a restaurant experience in your own backyard for less.

Simple rub and marinade recipes start you off on a double duty dinner – grill once and dine twice for even more savings, using remaining steak slices to top fresh salads and sandwiches.

Delight your friends and family with flavorful beef recipes served with your favorite Sutter Home wine. The same wines served with the steaks make excellent companions to the “planned-over” recipes as well.

Visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com for beef grilling guidelines, safety tips and additional recipes. For more information on wine choices and pairings, visit SutterHome.com.

Wine Tips

  • Offer a selection of red, white and blush varietals so your guests can sample more than one.
  • One 750 ml bottle of wine will yield approximately five 4-ounce glasses.
  • Serve red wines at 55° to 65°F. White wines are best well-chilled at 45° to 55°F. Avoid over-chilling- it subdues the wine’s aromas and flavors.

Steak Preparation

For naturally tender steaks, a simple rub using fresh herbs and garlic adds a depth of flavor. For less tender steaks, a basic marinade incorporating acidic ingredients tenderizes and adds flavor. Marinate the steaks at least six hours, but no more than 24 hours to help achieve perfect results.

Steak and Asian Noodle Salad

Combine cooked whole wheat or regular thin spaghetti with sugar snap peas, shredded carrots and thinly sliced red bell peppers. Combine equal amounts Asian vinaigrette and hoisin sauce. Drizzle over pasta and vegetables; toss to combine. Top with grilled steak slices and toasted sesame seeds.

Wine pairing: Sutter Home Chardonnay

Steak, Mango and Avocado Salad

Top mixed baby salad greens with cubed fresh mango, sliced avocado and red onion, toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, crumbled queso fresco cheese and grilled steak slices. Drizzle salad with lime vinaigrette.

Wine pairing: Sutter Home Zinfandel

Mediterranean Steak Pita

Spread pita or flatbread with hummus. Top with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, chopped Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese and grilled steak slices. Serve with plain yogurt combined with finely diced cucumber and minced garlic.

Wine pairing: Sutter Home Merlot

Steaks should be cooked at a medium heat setting. For charcoal grills, cautiously hold the palm of your hand at cooking height above the ash-covered coals. Count the number of seconds you can hold your hand in the position; approximately 4 seconds is medium heat. All cook times are approximate for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness. Use an instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into the side of steaks to check doneness. Allow 10 to 15 seconds for thermometer to register the internal temperature. Always use tongs to turn steaks.

Lemon-Oregano Rubbed Steaks

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds beef tenderloin, top loin, ribeye or top sirloin steaks, cut 1 inch thick
OR
  • 2 pounds top blade (flat iron) steaks (about 8 ounces each)
OR
  • 4 pounds T-bone or porterhouse steaks, cut 1 inch thick
Rub
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano or 1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon peel
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

  1. Combine rub ingredients; press evenly onto beef steaks.
  2. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals or over medium heat on preheated gas grill. Grill according to the chart for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.
  3. Serve half of steaks immediately, as desired. Cover and refrigerate remaining steaks for later use. Before serving, carve steaks into slices; season with salt and pepper, as desired.

Serves
Makes about 3 tablespoons rub

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Wine pairing: Sutter Home Cabernet Sauvignon

Lemon-Oregano Marinated Steaks

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds beef flank or skirt steaks
OR
  • 2 pounds top round steaks, cut 1 inch thick
Marinade
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano or
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon peel
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Serves
Makes about 1/2 cup marinade

Picky Eaters & Solutions

If you have a picky eater, mealtime can make you feel like you want to pull your hair out. It is very frustrating for parents to watch their child only fiddle with their food at dinner or not even touch it, claiming they “don’t like it.” Then what happens? Thirty minutes later guess who is hungry? You guessed it. Your little picky eater.

If you have a picky eater, mealtime can make you feel like you want to pull your hair out. It is very frustrating for parents to watch their child only fiddle with their food at dinner or not even touch it, claiming they “don’t like it.” Then what happens? Thirty minutes later guess who is hungry? You guessed it. Your little picky eater.

Jamie’s mother was concerned about Jamie’s lack of interest in food. She told me, “Jamie never wants to eat anything I fix for dinner. What can I do to encourage Jamie to eat the meals that I have prepared?” I came up with the following ten tips for her. You may find them useful as well.

TIP: INVOLVE JAMIE. You could have Jamie help with planning the menu or meal preparation. Kids are less likely to “turn up their nose” at something, they had a hand in.

TIP: PLACE A LIMIT ON JAMIE. Perhaps Jamie is playing with her food at dinner and not real interested in eating it. Mom say’s, “Jamie, I will be serving breakfast at 7:00 a.m. try to eat enough to make it to then. You decide how much you will need. Oh! We will be clearing the table in _____ minutes.”

When Jamie comes to you later that evening complaining of being hungry. With an understanding tone, simply remind her that you will be serving breakfast at 7:00 a.m. as usual. Jamie will most likely be persistent about getting something else to eat. It is important that you follow through with the limit you have placed. Otherwise, Jamie learns that you do not mean what you say and you lose your credibility with her. You may have to tell her several times that you will be “serving breakfast at 7:00” until she realizes that your are not going to give in.

Jamie: “Mom I’m hungry. Can I have some cookies?”

Mom: “Kids who eat all their dinner are welcome to have a snack after.”

Jamie: “But mom I’m really hungry.”

Mom: “I know Jamie. I would be hungry too if I ate as little as you did for dinner, but don’t worry I will be fixing a big breakfast at 7:00 a.m.”

Jamie: “What? Do you want me to starve?”

Mom: “I’ll be serving breakfast at 7:00 Jamie”

Jamie: “This isn’t fair.”

Mom: “I’ll be serving breakfast at 7:00 Jamie”

Jamie: “Fine!”

TIP: NOTICE THE EXCEPTIONS. Call attention to the times when Jamie eats most of her meal. “Wow! Jamie you ate everything on your plate. Good job. You should be proud of yourself.” Too often, we only notice the negative aspects of our children’s behavior and that is what we reinforce with our negative attention.

TIP: CATER TO JAMIE’S DESIRE TO BE “BIG”. ” You probably won’t like this halibut Jamie. Usually, adults are the only ones who like halibut.” Guess what may just become Jamie’s new favorite food?

TIP: PROVIDE VARIOUS CHOICES AROUND MEALTIME. “Would you rather sit by me or by mommy?” “You can eat with a fork or a spoon which would you prefer?” “Do you think you will need more potatoes or is that enough?” “Have as much as you think you will need to make it to dinner.” “Milk or juice?” “Should we eat at 7:00 or 7:30?”

TIP: BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL. “You know dear, although spaghetti is not my favorite, I will eat it because I know how hard you worked to make it.”

TIP: EXPOSURE. Encourage Jamie to try a variety of foods early on in her life before she knows any different. Some children may have never thought liver was gross if it hadn’t been for what someone else had set their expectation to be.

TIP: PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY. Let’s remember there are some foods that certain children just can not stomach. If Jamie has a problem with spinach but it is part of that particular meal, try to have other items that she can get her fill up on once everyone has their share. However, this should be the exception rather than the rule.

Try letting Jamie dip her foods in sauces, dressings, syrups or ketchup. It may make them taste better to her.

TIP: MAKE MEALTIME ENJOYABLE. Try to talk about things other than eating at mealtime. Dinner is a great time to talk to Jamie about how her day went. During breakfast, you could discuss what everyone has planned for the day.

Everyone pitching in to help prepare the meal can teach Jamie an important family value. An added bonus for children is that it can teach them important thinking skills regarding timing, measuring, colors, comparisons, counting, and cause and effect.

Be creative in the ways that you dish up Jamie’s food. Mold her mashed potatoes into a volcano, cut her meat or sandwich into bite sized pieces and poke toothpicks in them, layout veggies in the shapes of letters or numbers, or use a drop or two of food coloring to make it more interesting.

TIP: LIMIT SNACKING. For children to be hungry enough to eat a meal they usually need to go two or three hours without food. However, it is difficult for children to go from noon to 6:00 p.m. without food. A nutritious snack after school should be fine to get Jamie to dinner still having her appetite.

TIP: RECALL PAST SUCCESSES. Think back about times when Jamie has ate her meals. What were you doing? Were you placing a lot of emphasis on her need to eat her food? What was she doing? What were you eating? What happened before the meal? These kinds of questions may help you realize some of the things you or Jamie is already doing which assist her in becoming a better eater.

Summer Picnics with FamilyCrossings.com

Summer vacation…the kids can’t wait for it to start—and parents dread its arrival. The first couple of weeks seem to take care of themselves, but after that, you may be faced with your kids looking at you with that “What can we do now, Mom?” look on their faces. At that first look, be ready: go on a picnic!

picnic_basket
Picnics are easy—and you don’t even have to go anywhere! A couple of beach towels thrown down on the grass in the backyard is as far as you have to go. Of course, if there is a local park handy, you can load up a couple of bike baskets and take your picnic there, don’t forget the picnic blanket. You can be a little bolder, and pack up the kids in the morning and set out for a half-day road adventure and go find someplace to picnic. No matter where you decide to picnic, make it fun, make it an adventure—and your kids will look forward to doing it again…and again!

Looking for Something to Do? Go On a Picnic!
Summer vacation…the kids can’t wait for it to start—and parents dread its arrival. The first couple of weeks seem to take care of themselves, but after that, you may be faced with your kids looking at you with that “What can we do now, Mom?” look on their faces. At that first look, be ready: go on a picnic!

Picnics are easy—and you don’t even have to go anywhere! A couple of beach towels thrown down on the grass in the backyard is as far as you have to go.  Of course, if there is a local park handy, you can load up a couple of bike baskets and take your picnic there, don’t forget the picnic blanket. You can be a little bolder, and pack up the kids in the morning and set out for a half-day road adventure and go find someplace to picnic.

No matter where you decide to picnic, make it fun, make it an adventure—and your kids will look forward to doing it again…and again!

Keep Quick Picnic-Ready Snacks on Hand

You don’t have to preplan a picnic lunch, and you don’t have to make a special trip to the market if you keep a few of these things on hand:

  • • Peanut Butter and Jelly (the “old standby”)
  • • Pre-packaged lunch meats and cheeses (if left sealed, a package can sit in your frig for a week or more before you’ll need to use it)
  • • A package of hot dog buns in the freezer (they thaw out quickly and make easy-to-hold sandwiches)
  • • Single-serving-sized fruit cups, applesauce, pudding (I keep several in the frig, chilled and ready to go)
  • • Individual-sized bags/containers of chips, crackers, and cookies (keep a few hidden from the kids so that you always have a couple to throw in the picnic bag)
  • • 1-liter bottles of water and packets of drink mix like Kool-Aid or Crystal Lite
  • • Small bottles/jars of mustard, mayo, catsup, and relish (whatever you normally put on a sandwich)

    • This list just gets you started. Based on what you know your kids like and are willing to eat (without a fuss), you can also keep cans of tuna or chicken, containers of yogurt, blocks of cheese (for cheese and crackers), fresh fruits, granola bars, etc.

    Next time you are in the market, take a moment to look at shelf items and think about how/whether those items could serve as the basis for an easy picnic lunch (or even breakfast or dinner!).

    Think creatively! “Lunch” could be chocolate frosting smeared on graham crackers—it doesn’t necessarily have to be a nutritious meal, just a fun meal! (My mom’s favorite “surprise” picnic lunch was strawberry shortcake, and lots of it—although I do recognize that it took a little planning on her part.)

    Have the Picnic Basics Ready
    Regardless of what you’re going to throw together for lunch, you’re probably going to need a few picnic basics. If you have a picnic bag packed and ready to go, then actually going on a picnic, even if only as far as the backyard, means that all you have to do is pack the food.

    In a sturdy canvas bag, plastic milk crate, or actual picnic basket, keep items such as the following supplies on hand:
    • Paper plates and bowls, plastic utensils
    • Napkins (or a roll of paper towels)
    • Pre-moistened towelettes (wet wipes)
    • Sharp knife, pair of scissors, can opener, bottle opener
    • Salt and pepper
    • Disposable towels (Handi-Wipes are great!)
    • Sunscreen and bug spray
    • Pencil and paper
    • Travel-sized games, deck of cards, etc.

    Items like paper plates and plastic utensils are self-explanatory, but the paper and pencil might just be the handiest thing you pack. As you go on your first few picnics, make a note of anything that you wished you’d had/meant to pack. You can accumulate items as you go. Do yourself a favor and buy the items specifically to leave in the picnic bag (and get accustomed to putting them right back into the picnic bag after you wash them).

    You can also develop a short checklist of things that you need to remember to pack. Print the list and keep handy (this is especially helpful when you have to remember to get items out of the frig, or take medications, etc.). That way, if you are packing in a hurry for a spontaneous “Let’s go on a picnic, Mom!” day, you can grab the list and use it to help you remember to pack the needed items.

    You can use an old blanket, a couple of beach towels, or my preferred picnic spread: an old mattress pad! I trimmed away the gauzy material and elastic that holds the pad to the mattress and left the nicely quilted pad itself. Another idea is to go to a place where you can rent moving trucks and buy a furniture pad/blanket—this makes a great picnic or beach blanket.

    Using either the mattress pad or the furniture pad also makes it easier to shake out sand and brush off dirt. Both hold up well to multiple washings.

    Plan Picnic Activities

    There’s nothing wrong with just tossing a few snacks in a bag and heading out to the backyard just to have lunch! Everything tastes better when you eat it outside. However, you can make your impromptu picnic more enjoyable (and even educational) if you plan a few picnic activities. Why not keep your kids amused with Picnic Bingo?

    Plan a “Shoestring Adventure”

    If you’ll have the time to plan ahead and go on a one-day road adventure, think of someplace local and keep it a secret! You can even blindfold your passengers so they are surprised even if you only go to the local park!

    Have fun this summer—get outside and enjoy spending a little time with your kids!

    Be sure to use the calendar feature at Family Crossings.com