Steak Bites

1 pound sirloin steak, cut into bite size pieces
lemon pepper seasoning or salt and pepper
2 tablespoons butter


Sprinkle generously with lemon pepper or simply salt and pepper, tossing the meat around a bit to thoroughly coat with the seasonings.

Heat the skillet over medium high to high heat. As the pan heats, add about 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Allow the butter to melt, then brown, before you add the meat.

Place some of the meat in the pan in a single layer. It should sizzle loudly when it hits the pan – if it doesn’t, the pan isn’t hot enough.

Don’t stir or disrupt the meat for a minute or so. You want it to sizzle and brown on one side. Scoop as many steak bites as you can with your spatula and flip them over.

Repeat until all the meat is turned. Cook for an additional minute or so—just long enough to sear the outside of the meat, and the inside will be medium.

Remove the meat to a clean plate.

Add a little more butter to the pan and repeat the cooking process with the next batch just as before.

Lastly, when all the meat is nicely browned and removed to the plate, pour all that browned/blackened butter all over the meat. And enjoy!

These are tasty and quick. A real man pleaser!

Source:
This comes from the Pioneer Woman. She likes her's a little more rare on the inside and therefore cooks them only 30-45 seconds on each side. We need ours a little more medium. You may have to experiment to see what works for you.

Chicken Bacon Artichoke Pizza

Who doesn't love pizza? This one is a flavor explosion that is probably going to appeal to more adults than kids...that's how it is at our house.  Make it for your sweetie and eat it in front of a warm fire with a glass of wine or out on the deck with an ice cold beer when the weather is warm. Either way, it's a great change of pace from traditional pizza with red sauce.

For the crust:

1/2 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups all-purpose or bread flour
1 teaspoon dry yeast

To make crust, place warm water and salt into a medium mixing bowl.
Add a cup of the flour and the yeast, and stir.
Add remaining flour (1/3 cup) and stir or knead into a sticky dough, adding additional water if needed.
Allow dough to rest, covered with a clean towel, for at least 10 minutes but up to 30-45 minutes. 
Liberally oil a 16-inch round pizza pan with olive oil, and then with your hands, spread dough thinly over the pan, using olive oil to prevent dough from sticking to hands.
Be gentle and have patience, as this does make a perfectly thin crust!

For the garlic sauce:

1/4 cup light or fat free Italian salad dressing
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash black pepper

Mix together in a small bowl.
Pour onto crust and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before topping.
Preheat oven to 450*.
While waiting, prep the toppings.

For the toppings:

1/2 cup cubed or thinly sliced grilled or rotisserie chicken breast meat
1 cup (loosely measured) baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts, blotted dry and cut into bite-size (small) pieces
3 slices bacon, cooked, chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, please shred your own!!
Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)

Once pizza has been sitting for 10-15 minutes, top with toppings., ending with cheeses. 

Bake in a preheated 450* oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.

Remove from oven, sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired, slice and serve.

and this is what's left....seriously, it's that good!

Original recipe found on Tammy's Recipes, I tweaked it a little.

Going to check out more of her recipes, looks good.

And it's a take off our favorite pizza from Papa Murphy's.

Baked Penne Pasta

This is a recipe I saw over at Real Mom Kitchen. Hers is called Baked Ziti, but I had penne pasta on hand. She has lots of easy recipes that are family friendly.
I altered a couple things, but over all the recipe is her's. It satisfied Doug, Jonah and I  at the dinner table and me during the preparations!

1lb ground beef
1 cup onion (chopped)
2 garlic cloves (minced), I buy it in the jar already minced, so easy
1 (26 ounce) can meatless spaghetti sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
 3/4 of a (16 oz) package penne pasta (cooked and drained)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, shred your own, you'll love yourself for it
1 cup grated parmesan cheese, I didn't measure, just sprinkled what I thought it needed, probably not a full cup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large skillet add ground beef, onions and garlic. Cook over medium high heat stirring frequently until the beef is browned.

Stir in spaghetti sauce, chicken broth and Italian seasoning. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in 1 cup of sauce into the cooked penne noodles.

Spoon ½ of the penne mixture into a 13×9” baking dish.

Sprinkle 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup  parmesan cheese over the top of the penne mixture.

Top with 2 cups of the sauce, then add remaining penne mixture and top that with the remaining sauce.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Return to oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Source: Real Mom Kitchen