Beef Tenderloin Crostini with Whipped Goat Cheese and Pesto

This is one of my favorite appetizers to serve my guests.

Ingredients

½ baguette, cut into ¼-inch slices (you should have about 25 slices)

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

5 cloves garlic, divided

2 8-ounce pieces beef tenderloin

Salt

Fresh ground pepper

1/3 cup pesto of your choice

For the Whipped Goat Cheese:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

4 ounces goat cheese, softened

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Start with the crostini. Arrange the baguette slices on a large baking sheet. Lightly brush both sides of the bread with olive oil (you’ll need about 2 tablespoons of oil for this) and sprinkle with a little salt. Place bread under the broiler for 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly brown.
2. Pat the steaks dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and fresh ground pepper.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the steaks and cook for about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. When you turn the steaks (after the first 4 minutes), smash 4 garlic cloves in their skins and add them to the skillet. Periodically use a spoon to baste the steaks with the oil/juices in the pan. Remove the steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing them against the grain.
4. While the steaks are resting, make the whipped goat cheese.  Place all the ingredients in a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until fluffy and smooth.
5. Assemble the crostini! Spread each toasted baguette slice with whipped goat cheese. Top with a slice of steak and a small dollop of pesto. Serve immediately.

Preparing your Beef Tenderloin Crostini with Whipped Goat Cheese and Pesto:

Start with the crostini. Arrange the baguette slices on a large baking sheet. Lightly brush both sides of the bread with olive oil (you’ll need about 2 tablespoons of oil for this) and sprinkle with a little salt.

Place bread under the broiler for 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly brown. Please pay attention while you do this, peeps, it is scarily easy to burn crostini.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the steaks and cook for about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. When you turn the steaks (after the first 4 minutes), smash 4 garlic cloves in their skins and add them to the skillet. Periodically use a spoon to baste the steaks with the oil/juices in the pan.

Remove the steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing them against the grain. (Please don’t skip the resting step!!! You need to let all the beef’s glorious juices redistribute.)

While the steaks are resting, get going on the whipped goat cheese.  Place all the ingredients in a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until fluffy and smooth.

To assemble your crostini: Spread each toasted baguette slice with whipped goat cheese. Top with a slice of steak and a small dollop of pesto. 

My guests are going to enjoy this appetizer.

This recipe was revised just a bit from this website.

http://domesticate-me.com/beef-tenderloin-crostini-whipped-goat-cheese-pesto/#/

Easy Hummus

I love hummus and recently made this version.  It turned out great. 
I found it on Inspiredtaste.net website.
Check out the website for other hummus ideas  ~Shelly

Makes 6 servings or about 1 1/2 cups

You Will Need

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas or 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (1 large lemon)

1/4 cup well-stirred tahini, 

1 small garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Salt to taste

2 to 3 tablespoons water

Dash ground paprika or sumac, for serving

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the tahini and lemon juice and process for 1 minute, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process for 30 seconds more. This extra time helps “whip” or “cream” the tahini, making the hummus smooth and creamy.
Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the whipped tahini and lemon juice. Process for 30 seconds, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process another 30 seconds or until well blended. Open, drain, and rinse the chickpeas. Add half of the chickpeas to the food processor and process for 1 minute. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl, then add remaining chickpeas and process until thick and quite smooth; 1 to 2 minutes.
Most likely the hummus will be too thick or still have tiny bits of chickpea. To fix this, with the food processor turned on, slowly add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water until you reach the perfect consistency.
Taste for salt and adjust as needed. Serve hummus with a drizzle of olive oil and dash of paprika. Store homemade hummus in an airtight container and refrigerate up to one week.      


Enjoy!

Logan County Hamburgers (AKA Hamburger Grilled Cheese)

Ingredients

1.25 pounds Harter House Ground Chuck

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

12 slices of white bread (Also great with Rye Bread)

Unsalted butter

American cheese or Velveeta  ( I like Velveeta)

Directions

In a large mixing bowl combine your egg, minced garlic, onion powder. garlic powder, salt, pepper, and hamburger.  Form into thin patties.

Cook on the grill or skillet until the hamburger is done.and place on paper towels to absorb the grease.  Set aside.

Add your chopped onion to a medium skillet along with 1 tablespoon of butter and cook until the onion is translucent and tender.

Butter both sides of your bread and place them in a skillet and cook one side until it cooks a nice golden brown.  Flip the bread over and immediately place your cheese slices on it along with the cooked onion.  Once the remaining sides of bread are golden and the cheese has melted, add your hamburger and assemble your sandwich.

If your cheese hasn't completely, you can place your bread pieces on a baking sheet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes to completely melt your cheese.

From:  The Best Blog Recipes

Lemon Sheet Cake

 

INGREDIENTS
FOR THE CAKE

1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) salted butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

FOR THE GLAZE

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Grease a rimmed 18x13x1-inch half sheet pan with softened butter

In a large pot set over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add the water and the lemon juice, increase the heat, and bring to a boil.  Remove pot from the heat and allow to cool at least 5 minutes.  Then briskly stir in the flour until smooth, followed by the sugar, sour cream and lemon zest.  Stir in the eggs until fully incorporated.  Mix in the vanilla and lemon extract.  Then sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the top of the batter.  (Make sure there are no lumps) and stir them in until all ingredients are well blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared sheet pan and smooth the top.  Bake for 15 - 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.  Cool the cake completely before glazing.

FOR THE GLAZE, measure the powdered sugar into a bowl and stir in the lemon juice until completely smooth.  Add a bit more lemon juice if the glaze is too thick. or a little more powdered sugar if it is too thin.  Pour the glaze over the cooled cake and immediately spread a thin, even layer.  

Chill uncovered for at least 30 minutes to allow the glaze to set before slicing.  Cover tightly and refrigerate any leftovers.