Mangia Monday!

"The greatest gift I ever had. Came from God; I call him Dad!"
~Author Unknown


Hello!

In honor of Father's Day, this weeks Mangia Monday is a collection of recipes for you to make the perfect dinner for Dad! Enjoy!

"Dad, you're someone to look up to no matter how tall I've grown."
-Author Unknown



Cracked Pepper Strip Steaks

Serves 4

Ingredients:

* 4 Strip Steaks (6 oz each)
* 2 Tbsp Cracked Pepper
* 3 Tbsp Olive Oil, divided

Directions:

1.) Preheat grill on high for 10 minutes.
2.) Clean grill with wire brush and coat grill grate lightly with vegetable oil.
3.) Sprinkle steaks generously with cracked pepper, pressing in with heel of hand.
4.) Drizzle steaks with olive oil (too much oil will cause flare-ups on grill).
5.) Reduce grill heat to medium-high.
6.) Sear steaks until color changes one-quarter of way up from bottom, 3-4 min.
7.) Turn over and sear other side, 2-3 min longer.
8.) Brush seared meat with remaining olive oil.
9.) Turn; brush again with olive oil.
10.) Reduce heat to medium; close lid.
11.) Cook to 5 degrees below desired internal temp, 8-10 min.
12.) Check by inserting digital thermometer halfway into thickest part of steak.
13.) Transfer steaks to clean platter; let stand 5-10 min.


"A father carries pictures where his money used to be."
Author Unknown



Spinach-Corn Salad with Citrus Soy Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients:

* 1 pkg (8 oz) Cleaned and Cut Snow Peas
* 4 ears corn, shucked
* 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
* 1 pkg (6 oz) Baby Spinach
* 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
* 1 Tbsp Orange Juice
* 1 tsp Vegetable Oil
* 1 tsp Lime Juice
* 1 tsp Lemon Juice
* 1/2 tsp Honey
* 1/4 tsp Ginger
* 1/4 tsp Garlic
* Kosher Salt Black Pepper to taste

Directions:

1.) Preheat grill on high for 10 min.
2.) Microwave snow peas per package directions.
3.) Transfer peas to bowl of ice water.
4.) Drain peas, then slice thinly. Set aside.
5.) Drizzle corn lightly with olive oil (too much oil can cause flare-ups).
6.) Reduce heat to medium-high and grill 8-10 min, turning frequently.
7.) Remove from grill and set aside until cool enough to handle.
8.) Cut kernels from cobs.
9.) Gently toss corn, peas, spinach, and remaining ingredients in bowl.


"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!"
-Lydia M. Child



Grilled Yam Slices

Serves 4

Ingredients:

* 4 medium (about 2 1/4 lbs) yams, ends trimmed
* 2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Directions:

1.) Preheat grill on medium for 10 minutes.
2.) Slice yams into wedges and baste with olive oil.
3.) Grill for 15 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally.


"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope."
-Bill Cosby


Silly Joke of the Day:

This morning my dad gave me soap flakes instead of corn flakes for breakfast.
I bet you were mad. Mad? I was foaming at the mouth!


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Mangia Monday!

“Grilling, broiling, barbecuing - whatever you want to call it - is an art, not just a matter of building a pyre and throwing on a piece of meat as a sacrifice to the gods of the stomach.”
-James Beard


Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I had a great time with my family, but now I am ready to get back to a "normal" routine! It is supposed to be another lovely week in my neck of the woods - so nice in fact, that I think grilling is definitely in order!


"It is better to have grilled and lost (the hot dogs) than never to have grilled at all."
-Ed Levine


Enjoy this recipe for the grill!



Grilled Flank Steak w/ Avocado Salad

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

* 1 cup mild salsa (use your favorite)
* 1-2 limes, juiced (3-4 Tbs)
* 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
* 1/2 large red onion, cut into thin strips
* 1/2 can black beans, rinsed well
* 2 avocados, halved, peeled, pit removed & sliced (soak in lemon juice for 15")
* 1 Tbsp lemon juice (plus more for soaking avocados)
* 1 bag french blend salad mix (ie: dole)
* 2 medium tomatoes, diced
* 1 Lb. flank steak
* Salt and Pepper
* 3 Tbsp Olive oil
* Corn bread

Directions:

Salad Dressing:

1.) Combine salsa, lime juice and olive oil in a bowl.
2.) Puree with blender, then set aside.

Avocado Salad:

1.) Combine onions, beans, avocados, lemon juice and salad mix in a large bowl.
2.) Toss gently with dressing.
3.) Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Meat:

1.) Preheat grill on high for 10 min.
2.) Clean grill with wire brush.
3.) Using soft cloth, coat grill grate lightly with vegetable oil.
4.) Season both sides of meat with salt and pepper.
5.) Drizzle both sides of meat with olive oil.
6.) Sear meat until bottom 1/4 of meat has changed color, about 2-4 min.
7.) Turn and sear other side.
8.) Reduce heat to medium and close lid.
9.) Cook meat to desired temperature.
10.) Remove from grill, and slice on angle against grain.
11.) Divide Avocado Salad equally among four plates.
12.) Place sliced meat on top of salad and serve with corn bread.


"Grilling takes the formality out of entertaining. Everyone wants to get involved."
-Bobby Flay


Joke of the Day:
"Knock knock"
"Who's there?"
"Grill"
"Grill who?"
"Grill of my dreams, I love ya'"


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!