What I Cooked This Week (9/16-9-29)

1. Grilled Steak with Caprese Salad

I don't know if you know this, but Dancing with the Stars started up on Monday and the cast this season is AMAZING! My fears were realized when Bill Nye graced our screens to do the most awkward dance of all time, but at least I had steak to comfort me. I'm trying to squeeze in a few more grilling sessions before the weather gets to cold. Roommate Jen and I like our steaks VERY RARE and I think I nailed it here. A nice tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil salad with a generous sprinkle of salt, drizzle of olive oil and splash of reduced balsamic made it a great start to the week. 

2. Steak and Blue Cheese Panini    

I had 1/2 a steak leftover and some baguette from the weekend so there was really only one thing to do: make a panini. I whipped up a cheater version of my dad's amazing blue cheese dressing by crumbling some blue cheese in with a few tablespoons of mayo and giving it a sprinkle of garlic salt. I sliced the steak up as thin as I could and then heated up the panini press and threw the steak strips on for a few minutes to warm 'em up. Then I assembled the sammy and tossed it on the press for 5 minutes or so. It was incredibly delicious and a great way to use leftover steak. 

3. Soup with Smoked Gouda Crostini

We go a lot of rain this week and rainy fall days are always better with soup. I polished off the last remaining bowl of Broccoli soup from the batch I made last week and then made a quick crostini with some leftover baguette. Just drizzle some olive oil on the bread and pop them under the broiler for a minute. Literally, like a minute. Then take them out, grate a little cheese on top and put them under the broiler for another 30 seconds until the cheese melts. Carb heaven. 

4. Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies
Since fall has arrived (more or less), I thought I'd jump in with a pumpkin recipe. I had a party to go to on Friday so that seemed like as good an excuse as any to make these awesome Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies. Who can resist cream cheese frosting? Not me. However, when I got to the store on Thursday, I got the LAST CAN of Pumpkin Puree they had. What madness is this? Its not even October yet, people! To make a long story short: these were amazing. Highly recommended. 

5. Buttermilk Cake

What's a girl to do when she's sitting on the couch on the brink of a nap that she shouldn't take (insomniacs know that naps are baaaaaad news) with 2 cups of buttermilk in her fridge that are about to expire? She should make this buttermilk cake. Then she should eat 3 pieces, forget to take a picture of it and send the rest of it away with her brother. 

Or at least that's what I did. 

6. This next section is less "What I Cooked" and more "What I Ate" since I was in Chicago with my pal Jenna on Saturday.

First up: Wildberry Pancakes. I love love love Eggs Benedict and its something I never make for myself since I can't poach eggs (or rather, I'm too scared to try).

These were a bit of a disappointment. The hollandaise was really bland. However, Jenna's mom got the signature Berry Bliss French Toast and I stole a bite. THAT is what I would order next time. 

7. Bold and Beautiful Wine Flight at Bin 36 with a Cheddar Plate

Presented without comment:

Ok. Just one comment: that is wine jello on top of the apples, just in case you were wondering. 

8. Antipasto Platter and Citrius Olives with a glass of Sangiovese at Tesori

The perfect end to our day!

I really recommend the method we chose, especially if you're planning a trip and trying to save some $$$. Order a big breakfast (or brunch) and then just snack your way through the day. A total win!