Easy New York Steak Sandwich

Here's a short video of Chef John preparing an easy and very tasty New York steak sandwich. I prepared this on the grill using rib eye steaks instead of strip steaks since they were everyone's favorite. I hope that you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!

Always Enjoy!

Onion Sandwiches

Happy New Year Everyone!

Boy, have I got a recipe for you today. But you can only eat it while you’re by yourself, that’s why the recipe only serves one.

Now, if your significant other happens to catch you in the act, you have nothing to worry about. Your mouth will be full and it would be impolite to talk in this manner. So just keep your mouth closed and nod in a vertical fashion. But if the answer is no, please don’t nod. Just shake your head from side-to-side in a horizontal fashion. They’ll get your drift.

But what about when you’re finished eating? How will you be able to keep from speaking? Aha! As usual, Your Smiling Chef will come to your aid.

Here’s what you do. Grab the nearest dishtowel and wrap it around your head, securing the vertical points around your head and tie a bow at the top at the most northern part of the tippy-top of your forehead. Hopefully the towel will have some sort of design that matches the attire you’re wearing.

Then you will take the dishcloth and stuff it into the side of the lateral left horizontal angle that will be at approximately 45-degrees from your tippy-top. Now you’ve got it made.

You can scribble on a napkin beginning your sentence at the eastern portion (since you'll be writing upside-down) and jot down, “I don’t know when I’ll be able to talk to you honey. I bit down on something and now the westerly region of my oral cavity is swollen and possibly infected. Please don’t come too close.”

And that, my dear friend, is the very best remedy for onion breath.

Your Ingredients: (serves one)

4 slices of soft white bread
mayonnaise
2 bibb lettuce leaves, washed and patted dry with a paper towel
1 large Vidalia or red onion, washed and sliced into thick rounds
salt
freshly ground pepper

USING a large round biscuit cutter (approximately 3-1/2-inches in diameter), cut out rounds from each slice of bread to make 4 rounds for 2 sandwiches. Save the edges for the birds.

SLATHER tons of mayonnaise on each round.

PLACE each lettuce leaf on 2 bread rounds.

PLACE 2 thick round slices of raw onion on each of the bread rounds.

SPRINKLE with salt and freshly ground pepper.

COVER both sandwiches with the other 2 bread rounds.

SERVE to yourself and make sure that there are dishcloths and dishtowels nearby. If you need a compass or ruler for your measurements, keep those handy too.

Always Enjoy!

Fast Food Recipes Don't Have To Be A Challenge

I'll be the first to admit that every now and then, I get an addictive craving for that charbroiled burger and those hot salty fries. And it's just so fast and easy to zip through the drive-thru for one of those juicy and great-tasting burgers.

But what happens on Saturday afternoon when your family starts getting the same insatiable craving for that fast food burger, and all you want to do is stay in your pajamas and lounge around all day doing absolutely nothing? And the mere thought of putting on clothes, getting in the car, starting it up (yeah that's strenuous) and driving anywhere...gives you an incredible headache that even Tylenol has no chance of curing.

Well...I give credit to my beautiful daughter for creating this absolutely scrumptious spicy turkey burger that's best broiled on the outdoor grill. She was having one of those "pajama" days.

TAMMI'S SPICY TURKEY BURGERS (serves 4)

Your Ingredients:

2 pounds ground turkey
1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix
1 cup red onions (rinsed and chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 small scotch bonnet pepper (wear disposable gloves while mincing)
1 tsp cayenne
1/4 cup Lawry's steak sauce
1 tbsp Lawry's seasoning salt
4 tbsps bacon drippings (cooked ground turkey tends to be pretty dry without it)
black bread
mayonnaise
lettuce (washed)
tomato slices (washed before slicing)
red onion slices
your other favorite condiments

FIRE up the grill.

PLACE all ingredients in a bowl (after washing) and use your hands (use those disposable gloves so that you don't transfer any scotch bonnet oil to your hands, then to your face, then to...well, you get the idea) squish until everything is thoroughly mixed .

DIVIDE mixture into 4 balls and flatten out.

TRANSFER to your grill and broil until your desired degree of doneness is met.

WHEN the burgers are almost done, place the black bread slices on the grill to warm.

SLATHER the slices with mayonnaise (yep...slather...and top your burger with lettuce, tomato and red onion slice (and any other condiments you like) and...

TAKE a bite! Now wouldn't you agree that these charbroiled burgers surpass the drive-thru version?

Always Enjoy!

Fast Recipes Are Always Just A Creative Thought Away

I just love a great tuna sandwich on toast…especially if I happen to have a fresh loaf of 12-grain bread. Goes great with potato chips. I even like to put a scoop of tuna salad on a bed of bib lettuce with crackers on the side. Yum!

I am a firm believer that good, quality ingredients are the foundation of a great tasting dish. This tuna recipe is no exception. Use a solid white albacore tuna packed in oil, not water. There’s a very noticeable difference in flavor if you stray. I’ve tried using the tuna that was on sale and it just didn’t cut the mustard. So splurge a little…you’ll be quite pleased.

This is a fast recipe (but really tasty) that you can have for lunch or dinner. Here’s a few tips that will make all of your cooking and baking activities much easier and definitely much faster.

1. Always (and I do mean always), prep your ingredients before you even start to put the recipe together. Have all ingredients washed, measured and separated into their own bowls. Even the salt and pepper!

2. Always preheat your oven right after you’ve prepped your ingredients. I can remember many times when I’ve completely forgotten about it and then had to wait 15 minutes for the oven to heat to the desired temperature. “Waiting” and “fast” are oxymorons!

3. If you aren’t too busy the night before you intend to prepare your selected recipe…prep your ingredients then. You’ll be sooo happy the next day when all you’ll need to do is put everything together. Especially if you’re planning for a party…prepare as much as you can the day (or days) before, so that you can enjoy your party instead of being stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun.

YOUR SMILING CHEF TUNA SALAD (serves 4)

Your Ingredients:

4 cans (6 oz each) solid white albacore tuna packed in oil (drain oil on all but one can)
1/2 cup pimento stuffed green olives (chopped)
1/2 cup red onion, washed and chopped
1/3 cup celery, washed and minced
4 hard-boiled eggs
1/2 cup sweet relish
6 sweet gherkins (chopped)
real mayonnaise (enough to make it pretty creamy)

MIX all of the ingredients together and chill. Serve on toast spread with mayonnaise (I know, I know) and add lettuce and a slice of tomato. Eat with chips and pickles or just have crackers with the salad.

Always Enjoy!

Note: If you don't like green olives, try black ones. It will still be a great tuna salad. Post a comment if you enjoyed this recipe. It's another one of my favorites.