Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Where did the day go?



When you are busy in the kitchen, the day just seems to fly right on by. I got quite a few things accomplished though so that's good. Since tomorrow is the last Wednesday of the year that Jeff will be in the office, I needed to come up with a couple things for him to bring into the Wednesday Treat Day for his co-workers. I also had to get a bunch of other stuff done and prepped for later in the week. Thankfully I have the extra time during the day this week for stuff or I don't think I would ever get done!

I made two items for tomorrow, I'll show you one tonight and post the other tomorrow when I have a little more time. We are also looking to see if these will get voted into the cookie gifts that we are sending out. The one featured tomorrow will most likely be sent along from Jeff's reaction. Tonight's offering is Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate cookies. This is kind of a spinoff from the Caramel Filled Chocolate cookies.

Instead of filling the dough balls with a premade candy, I used a peanut butter/confectioners' sugar combo. The chocolate dough is soft but not sticky when you are working with it. The chocolate cookies have a hint of peanut butter in the dough itself, but when you reach the peanut butter center both flavors combine into a perfect match. Since you gently flatten each ball with a glass dipped in sugar it leaves a nice sparkle and ensures an even cookie.


For dinner, I used a cut of beef that we were pretty unfamiliar with. Steak, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Mozzarella Couscous Salad uses flank steak and I have never cooked it before. It is a pretty lean cut if trimmed well and quite flavorful. I marinated the steak with just salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce before cooking. After cooking to a medium rare, we let the steak rest for about 10 minutes before cutting it.

The only thing that was going in my head at that time was "Cut against the grain, against the grain!" I've heard that so many times when watching people make it on TV that I was nervous we would mess it up! Mixed with couscous, fresh mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes this was a pretty quick and very flavorful dish. We ate this slightly warm, but certainly make it ahead of time and chill in the fridge for a very quick meal. I served spicy and crispy hash browns that are formed with a biscuit cutter, then baked in the oven until golden.

Recipes

12 comments:

  1. Joe!! You've done it again!
    I was already making a list for Trader Joe's and now I've got to make a trip to CPWM now too!

    The pb filled cookies are on my schedule for tomorrow!
    I was planning pb&j cookies but chocolate wins!!

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  2. If I can find the grater attachment for my food processor I am going to make those hashbrowns, they look so good! I know my kids will love them (minus the cayenne of course, LOL!)

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  3. Flank steak...yum! Your recipe sounds great. It's one of my favorite cuts. It used to be so cheap—one of my frequent purchases while in college. Now suddenly it's SO expensive b/c everyone wants it. "Against the grain" should be a kitchen meditation :)

    good luck with your kitchen productivity (sounds like you're doing great anyway!)

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  4. I could have just eaten, and your blog would still make me hungry. You rock!

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  5. Joe, those cookies look awesome! And since I haven't picked anything peanut buttery yet for my Christmas tray...copying, copying. :-) Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Lovely looking cookies Joe! Ooof...I can just imagine biting into them...

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  7. I'm a big fan of flank steak, especially grilled. And its a great substitue for skirt steak in fajitas.

    Those cookies - mmmmmm.

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  8. im always looking for new ways to serve up couscous, that looks so good!!

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  9. man, you make some good cookies. delish!

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  10. Those cookies look really good Joe!
    I have never cooked flank steak, it is not a big cut here in OZ and I know I am going to have to give it ago soon!

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  11. Brilliant cookies! Nice change, Joe.

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  12. Stacey - Thanks! Let me know if you got a chance to make them!

    Michele - I used my FP to do them and it worked great - Hope you can find it!

    Vanessa - Thanks and I SO agree with the price... it is very high here too.

    Chef Joanna - Way too kind, thanks!

    Erika - I made them again today as I had many requests for them after I made them! I really like how they turned out.

    Joey - Thanks!

    Mebeth - Good idea for fajitas!

    Catesa - I love couscous!

    EP - Thanks!

    Clare - I wonder what cut they would sell that would be like there? It was quite tasty!

    Anna - Thank you!

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