Classic Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy

Who better than Ree Drummond to give us a classic recipe, flavorful and easy.

This is a favorite in my family, for sure.   Enjoy!
~Shelly








Ingredients

Chicken Fried Steak:   6 servings

1 1/2 cups whole milk

2 large eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons seasoned salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 pounds Harter House Tenderized Cube Steak 

Kosher salt

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

1 tablespoon butter

Gravy:

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 to 4 cups whole milk

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1. For the steak: Begin with setting up an assembly line of dishes. Mix the milk with the eggs in one; the flour mixed with the seasoned salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, paprika and cayenne in another; and the meat in a third. Then have one clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.
   
2. Work with one piece of meat at a time. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Turn to coat. Place the meat into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat. Finally, place it back in the flour and turn to coat (dry mixture/wet mixture/dry mixture). Place the breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.
   
3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it's sufficiently hot. When the butter sizzles immediately, you know it's ready. (It should not brown right away, if it does, the fire is too hot.) Cook the meat, 3 pieces at a time, until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and keep them warm by covering lightly with another plate or a sheet of foil. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.
   
4. After all the meat is fried, pour off the grease into a heatproof bowl. Without cleaning the skillet, return it to the stove over medium-low heat. Add 1/4 cup of the grease back to the skillet and allow it to heat up.
   
5. For the gravy: When the grease is hot, sprinkle the flour evenly over the grease. Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, creating a golden-brown paste. Add more flour if it looks overly greasy; add a little more grease if it becomes too pasty/clumpy. Keep cooking until the roux reaches a deep golden brown color.
   
6. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Add the seasoned salt and black pepper to taste and cook, whisking, until the gravy is smooth and thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Be prepared to add more milk if it becomes overly thick. Be sure to taste to make sure gravy is sufficiently seasoned.
   
7. Serve the meat next to a big side of mashed potatoes.
   Pour gravy over the whole shebang! 

Find this recipe and a video demonstration at

TheFoodNetwork.com

New York Chocolate Chip Cookies

Back by popular demand.

Prepare yourself, for what you are about to see is, hand's down, is the greatest Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe of all time. I give you the New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookie:

Ingredients

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons

(8 1/2 ounces) cake flour

1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 pounds bittersweet disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content

*Sea salt

Directions

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. For regular sized cookies, use a heaping tablespoon and bake for approximately 12 minutes

Beef and Bean Burritos with Chile Peppers

Do you have a favorite recipe that your whole family loves and asks for regularly?  For our family, this is one of those recipes.  I know your family will enjoy it as much as mine!   ~Shelly

Yields: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 medium white onion, chopped
1 small leek (tough green part of stalk removed and discarded), cleaned and thinly-sliced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 pounds Harter House Ground Chuck 

Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste
Cumin, Oregano, and Chili Powder, to taste
1 roasted Chili Pepper, chopped
1 can (7 ounces) of Enchilada Sauce (reserve remaining 1/2 can to drizzle over rolled burritos before baking)
Refried Bean Mixture (see recipe below)
Flour tortillas
Cilantro leaves for garnish

Preparation:

In a large sauté pan or frying pan over medium-high heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the onion and leek; cook until fragrant. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add ground sirloin and sauté until brown. Add salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to taste. Add the Chile pepper and 1/2 can Enchilada Sauce; stir mixture well. Turn heat to medium low and gently simmer until the meat has absorbed all the sauce.

Prepare Refried Bean Mixture.

When ready to serve, heat the flour tortillas in the microwave for 1 minute. Spread each warm tortilla with some prepared Refried Bean Mixture and then some prepared Beef Mixture. Roll the prepared tortillas up enchilada style and place on microwave-safe serving dish. 

Drizzle remaining 1/2 can Enchilada Sauce over the top and sprinkle with the grated cheddar cheese. Microwave until cheese is melted and the burritos are hot. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, and more Enchilada Sauce, if desired.

Optional garnishes: sour cream, salsa, Guacamole, and/or pico de gallo

Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings.

  

Refried Bean Mixture: 

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
1 roasted Chili Pepper, chopped
2 strips bacon, browned to crispy and broken into pieces
1 tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce or taco sauce

In a saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, add red onion and sauté until fragrant. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute more. Add refried beans, Chile Pepper, bacon, and hot sauce. Mix well and gently heat on low for approximately 20 minutes.

Adapted from What's Cooking America

Photo by Karen Calanchini, Food Stylist and Photographer, of Redding, CA.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Chicken, and bacon, better yet, crispy bacon. They are two of my favorite foods both in one easy recipe.

I was looking for an easy dinner which brings us today’s recipe for Bacon Wrapped Chicken.

What really surprised me was the amount of ingredients in this recipe, there are very few! I feel the chive and onion cream cheese is a huge ingredient in the flavor department and does most of the work for you.

Try and pound the chicken breasts down with a mallet as thinly as possible because they will roll up a lot easier. If you want to do some outdoor grilling these can also be grilled as well. They go great with a side dish of pasta or flavored rice. Enjoy

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Ingredients:

12 boneless skinless chicken breasts halves

2 (8 oz) cartons chive and onion cream cheese

12 slices of bacon

salt (to taste)

2 tablespoons butter

I recommend the Fresh, Never Frozen Boneless Chicken Breasts, in the fresh meat counter at Harter House Supermarket.

Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Between 2 sheets of wax paper, with a mallet, flatten chicken breasts to ½” thickness.

Step 2: Spread 3 tablespoons of cream cheese over each chicken breast. Then Dot with butter and season with salt. Wrap with bacon and stick a toothpick through the rolled chicken breast to hold it together. Roll up and stick a toothpick through to hold it together.

Step 3: Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes (or until juices run clear).

Step 4: Turn on the broiler and broil six inches from the heat for 5 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.

Classic Crock Pot Chuck Roast

Chuck Roast is on Sale this week at 7 Harter House locations. (Oct. 9-15, 2019) 

Just $3.99 lb. in a Family Pack.

"The dry soup mix and mushroom soup produce a great tasting gravy, the dry onion soup mix already has plenty of salt.  Just season the roast with black pepper and garlic powder.  This truly is one of my favorites!  ~Shelly

 Ingredients

• 1 (3 lb.) Harter House Beef Chuck Roast
• 1 -2 teaspoon ground black pepper  
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted  
• 1 (1 ounce) package Lipton dry onion soup mix
• 1 medium onion (sliced or chopped)  
• 4 large carrots, cut in large pieces
• Button or Portabella mushrooms  
• 6 -8 Small new potatoes, quartered
• 2 stalks Celery, cut                                                 

 Directions

1. Season the roast with black pepper and garlic powder.
2. Place meat in the Crock Pot
3. Pour can mushroom soup on top of meat. Sprinkle Dry onion soup mix on top.  
4. Add vegetables of choice, onions, fresh mushrooms, new potatoes, quartered, celery, and carrot chunks.
5. Cook all day on low.  No additional liquid is needed.

Serve the roast with veggies, gravy. and hot buttered rolls.

Peanut Butter Bars with Salted Chocolate Ganache

This recipe looks really good.
It comes from Nancy at foodnetwork.com

It's an easy recipe to make and yields 16 squares.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray, for baking dish

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 

1 cup creamy peanut butter 

Kosher salt 

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted 

8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, chopped into small pieces 

1 cup heavy cream 

1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, optional

Directions

1. Coat the bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, stir to combine the confectioners' sugar, graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and melted butter. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish and set aside.
3. Place the chocolate and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until bubbles start to form around the edges. Pour the cream over the chocolate, let sit for 1 minute and then whisk until completely melted and smooth.
4. Pour the ganache over the peanut butter mixture and refrigerate until the chocolate is cooled and set, at least 45 minutes and up to overnight.
5. Sprinkle evenly with the flaky sea salt. Cut into squares to serve.
   
   
   
    

100 Ways to Show Your Love

Enjoy this very special day with your sweetheart, have a wonderful romantic dinner and listen to romantic love songs.

These wonderful ideas brought to you by your favorite neighborhood market - Harter House Supermarket!

Ladies, Just a few of these ideas will make your man feel loved. To show him how truly special he is, pick a bunch of ideas and surprise him with your loving bouquet of sweet sentiments on February 14. From 100 to one, here are lots of romantic Valentine's Day inspiration for you!

Men, These will work for you too!

Of course, my favorite is #1

1. Grab him spontaneously and kiss him like you mean it.

*******************************

100. Send your sweetie a sweet, short and sexy text or email. (Not to his work email!)

99. Leave a little note in his briefcase or laptop bag so he will find it when he gets to work.

98. When your significant other gets home, be waiting in the bedroom dressed in your favorite sexy lingerie (or nothing at all!) … you know what happens next.

97. Plan a surprise outing! Start with dinner at his favorite restaurant, then reveal tickets to a show or sports game.

96. Take a hot air balloon ride together.

95. Surprise him with that special something he has been coveting (no matter how big or small).

94. Send flowers or cookies for no reason at all.

93. Take his dog for a walk.

92. Stock his fridge with his favorite beer and his shelves with his favorite snacks. (from Harter House Supermarket)

91. Stop by your sweetie's office around lunchtime with his favorite noontime food.

90. Take a drive together -- car trips provide some of the best time for talking one-on-one.

89. Snuggle after sex -- even if you are tired.

88. Give a back massage.

87. Offer a foot rub -- without asking for one in return!

86. Fill up his gas tank.

85. If he comes home after a boy's night WAY past the time he said he would, let it go.

84. Make breakfast in bed.

83. Stay in bed all day -- pajamas optional.

82. Take a late-night, hand-in-hand stroll.

81. Sign up for a class you know he has been wanting to take together.

80. Make up silly nicknames for each other that you ONLY call each other in private!

79. Make a mousepad (or a mug or a calendar) with your picture on it for his desk.

78. Start a hobby together.

77. Do something nice for his mother, brother, sister, etc.

76. Let him pick the movie this time.

75. Make a special dinner for him.

74. When he gets home, hand him a glass of wine, sit down together and let him talk about his day.

73. Do chores or errands without being asked and without complaining.

72. Put the toilet seat down.

71. Leave a note on the bathroom mirror so he will see it first thing in the morning.

70. Send a sexy picture message to his phone.

69. Leave a note for him to meet at his favorite bar or club. When he arrives, do some fun role-play and pretend you are meeting for the first time.

68. Wash his car for him.

67. Do his laundry.

66. Recreate your first date -- then recall all the feelings you had for each other that very first night.

65. Make a creative coupon book (free massage, free night out with the guys, etc.) without an expiration date!

64. Book a couple's massage.

63. Plan a romantic getaway to a bed and breakfast.

62. Dedicate a day to the one you love -- plan a day filled with his favorite things.

61. Plan a surprise party for him.

60. Send him a nice (or naughty!) card. Even if you live together, mail it!

59. Take out the trash.

58. Buy him a calendar and fill it with important dates (our first dinner together, our three-year anniversary, etc.).

57. Have a romantic/sexy photo session done together or have sexy pictures taken of yourself and make a private album for him.

56. Make a big deal out of the holidays.

55. Scatter rose petals on the bed

54. If he has to work late, have his favorite take-out delivered to the office, and pre-pay, of course!

53. Have a talk about the future and let him know that he is a part of it.

52. Buy his favorite perfume, and simply put it in the medicine cabinet for him to discover on his own.

51. Declare a day of the week "your" day -- always spend that day together, even if you just snuggle on the couch together.

50. Take him home to meet the family.

49. Propose.

48. Go on a picnic.

47. Explore your adventurous sides together -- do something daring that neither of you have tried before, such as bungee jumping or sky diving. The experience will bring you closer.

46. Designate a place as "yours" -- your favorite restaurant or bar -- and frequent it together often.

45. Volunteer together. Work side-by-side at your local animal shelter, nursing home or as you gather donations for your local food bank.

44. Take him to an art gallery or art walk.

43. Arrange to have a house cleaner come to his place and spruce things up!

42. Introduce him to your best friends.

41. Walk him out when he leaves for work.

40. Make him a special bag lunch with a note written on a napkin inside.

39. Get him a subscription to his favorite magazine.

38. If he has a business trip, offer to drive to the airport, so he doesn't have to take a cab.

37. Leave a sweet note on a post-it on his car windshield or steering wheel.

36. Flirt with him unabashedly.

35. If he has been working out extra hard or dieting, compliment him on his weight loss or how big his muscles are getting.

34. Rent some silly comedies and spend the night laughing together.

33. Take a shower together.

32. Offer to shave his face or ask him to shave your legs.

31. Guys, offer to paint your ladies toes.

30. Go stargazing. Bring a bottle of champagne.

29. Try an activity that he loves, such as golf, or that she loves, like shopping! (No complaining!)

28. Get up early on the weekend and do some of the chores he has on his list.

27. Laugh at his jokes.

26. Compliment her on her new hairstyle, shoes, outfit, etc.

25. Frame a picture of the two of you during a special trip.

24. Ask his mother for the recipe to his favorite dish that she made him growing up.

23. Ask her father for her hand and his blessing.

22. Buy a little teddy bear to sleep with when you are not there.

21. Get her oil changed and her brakes checked.

20. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride. (Bonus points if this is at Christmastime or Valentine's Day.)

19. Buy her favorite chocolates and sneak some into her purse.

18. Buy him a new tie.

17. Iron his shirts.

16. Feed each other dinner. Or better yet, dessert.

15. Sneak a sexy note into the pocket of his slacks or into her purse.

14. Kiss him when he leaves in the morning and when he gets home at night.

13. Brag about him to his friends for something really macho that he does.

12. Tell her mother how smart you think she is.

11. Go on a bike ride -- extra credit for using a tandem bike.

10. Baby him when he is sick.

9. Leave lipstick kisses on the bathroom mirror.

8. Go to the park together (even if you don't have kids). Go down the slide, play on the teeter-totter and go on the swings.

7. Let him teach you a new skill.

6. Buy a little gift and surprise him at the end of a long week.

5. Go hiking together.

4. Take a trip to the beach.

3. Watch the sun set or rise together.

2. Share the morning paper and some mimosas over the weekend.

1. Grab him spontaneously and kiss him like you mean it.