Sirloin Steak Bites with Mushroom Sauce

I wanted to cook a special meal for our 30th anniversary (we were going out to celebrate later in the week), so I went looking for a good steak recipe. The following is adapted from three different recipes I found on the internet. Everyone loved it!

Two large, thick sirloin steaks (about 4 pounds)

SIRLOIN STEAK BITES

Trim off the large pieces of fat. Cut the meat into 1-inch pieces and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle generously with sea salt, freshly ground pepper and any herbs of your choice that you would like to add (I used rosemary-garlic seasoning). Toss everything together really well and set aside.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium high heat. Add 1/2 stick butter (real butter, of course) and allow to melt and brown slightly.

Add meat in a single layer and cook for 45 seconds. Flip and cook for 30 more. Don't stir until after the second 30 seconds. Stir it gently for about 20 more seconds. Remove to a serving platter and cover with foil.

Add more butter (a Tbsp at a time should do) and repeat the process until all the meat is cooked.  Pour the remaining butter over the meat, and serve with the mushroom sauce (see below).


MUSHROOM SAUCE

1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 pound baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
3 large cloves garlic, minced
3 green onions, sliced (white and green parts)

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add  vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Add:

1-1/2 cups red wine of your choice (I used Merlot)

Simmer to reduce the liquid by about half - about 15 minutes, on medium low.

Serve with steak bites.

Country Pork Rib Stew

I'm not good at making meal plans, in spite of my best effort. Many days I pull something out of the freezer and hope for the best - I have no idea what to do with it and half the time I don't know for sure until it's done! Sometimes the result is good, and sometimes it's not. Tonight, the result was amazing. We just finished dinner, and the kids have shooed me into the computer room to type out what I did. They want me to make it again!

When I create, I don't measure, so it's really difficult to type it out. I'll try to guess, but if anyone else happens on this and wants to try it, adapt it for your own. Those of you who need exact recipes - I'm sorry! 

Country Pork Rib Stew

1 onion, sliced

1/2 green pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp olive oil

Saute the vegetables in a dutch oven on medium high heat until soft. Add :

2 lbs. boneless country pork ribs, cut into stew sized pieces

1 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic and herb seasoning

Stir and cook on medium high until lightly browned.. Add:

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup V-8 juice

1/4 cup sherry wine

1 tomato, diced (canned would be fine too)

Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.  About 30 minutes before dinner time, remove cover and raise the heat slightly. Mix 2 Tbsp flour with 1/2 cup water until very smooth. Stir slowly into stew and mix well. Simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Just before serving, I added a small can of green beans and a small can of mixed peas and carrots, just to stretch it out a little. It was a good fit!

Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

The sauce was SO delicious, the kids and I (we're all soup lovers) ate it in a bowl, over rice, like soup! 

** Feel free to add whatever vegetables you like. I wish I'd added some celery and potatoes or turnips.

** I think this would also be great for the crock pot.

These quantities served 8 people, but we all ended up wanting more. I'm going to double it next time.