Become A Steak Masterchef: Getting To Grips With Doneness

Life is full of little culinary pleasures, and we all have our own preferences for what they are and how they are prepared. We all have our own tastes. More seasoning for a bit of a kick, or less seasoning to let the natural flavour come through. Potatoes? Yes, but what kind? Baked, roasted, mashed, fried? Just thinking about it can make you hungry.

For many of us, the finest meal around is a good steak. You might want to give Kansas City steak restaurants a try. Anyone who has spent long enough shopping for the right one will know, the quality of steaks can vary somewhat. When preparing them for a dinner party, it can be a nightmare in itself. One person prefers sirloin while another favors rump steak. One person likes a lot of seasoning while another wants just a dusting of salt and pepper. And then how well do they want them cooked?

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Image From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steak

The spectrum of different ways to cook steak runs from blue to well done. And how you like your steak, in some people’s opinion, says a lot about you. Do you like it just about seared and bloody in the middle, or brown right through with the merest hint of juice? It’s a minefield.

“Barely Cooked At All, Thank You”

In some social circles, the less cooked your steak is, the more of a “man” you are. It comes from the caveman days, when early man would eat meat just about raw. In France, some people joke that steak is cooked by walking it briskly through a hot room. And we know how seriously the French take their cooking! “Blue” steaks, which are almost not cooked at all, retain a lot of the flavour of the meat, but aren’t for the squeamish.

“Medium Rare, And A Hint Of Blood”

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Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doneness

Overall probably the most popular way of serving steak, the medium rare gives the best of both worlds. A satisfying texture with a lot of flavor, and if the seasoning is just right it is a taste explosion. It’s a tricky one to get right: cook it too little and it’s chewy, too long and it’s stringy. Remember presentation as well- there’s no point going to all that effort if it doesn’t look delicious! Go for a small square plate so it’s the focus or serve it on SteakStones serving sets – have their taste buds excited even before they take a bite!

“I Want It Incinerated, Please!”

Some people like their steak cooked so that it is practically black on the outside and brown right the way through. Others will argue that this makes the steak a lot less flavorful, and they do have a point. There is certainly more flavor in a steak that has not been cooked for as long. But the key point here is that it’s a matter of personal taste. It’s easy to understand why some people don’t want to see blood in what they’re eating. And a good steak cooked well done is still pretty nice.

How you enjoy your steak is entirely up to you. One piece of advice if you are cooking for a lot of people is to ask everyone how they like theirs. Cook the rarer ones first, as the implement for cooking will get hotter and cook quicker as it goes along. Don’t cook them all to your taste – everyone has their own preference, after all.

Anne

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

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9 Delicious Noodle Dishes To Try

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Source: Wikimedia

I absolutely adore noodles. There are so many different ways to apply them in your cooking that they could be one of the most versatile foods in the world! I was first introduced to noodles as an easy, microwave job when I was young. Since then though, as I’ve learned more about cooking, I’ve tried and learned all kinds of great recipes. As I’m sure you know, you have to go to the far east to find real noodle-cooking geniuses, so that’s where we’re looking today. Here’s a list of 9 of my all-time favourite noodle dishes. Try a few, and you’ll see exactly why I love them!

I thought I’d start you off with the simplest dish – Yaki Udon. This dish takes very little time and effort to prepare, but tastes fantastic once it’s all done. These are plain noodles stir-fried in a mixture of soy sauce and butter. Chopped scallions, shredded nori and bonito flakes are added in to create an aromatic and distinctly eastern flavour. When everything’s been diced and mixed in properly, the dish can look dauntingly appetising. However, the cooking from start to finish should only take about twenty minutes. Once you’re more experienced with this, you should be able to shave that down to about ten! In Tokyo, Yaki Udon is a commonplace bar food, so try it with a nice cold beer for the authentic experience. If you’re one of those nuts who drinks sake straight, then you can try that as well.

Next up, we have a traditional dish from Malaysia: chicken laksa. Over the years, this has become a favourite in many areas of east Asia, especially as a casual, fast-food style bite. Don’t let the fact that it’s big in food courts throw you off though. This dish is a lot healthier than the burgers you’re able to pick up here! This is made with a thicker type of rice noodle, mixed with a strong, creamy broth. A little spicier than a lot of other noodle dishes, chicken laksa owes its unique flavour to the range of different spices and herbs you mix into the broth. Cinnamon, black peppercorns and cumin seeds are a few of the things you’ll be throwing in. You can find a great recipe for this dish on My Recipes. When you see the ingredients list, you might be a little sceptical. Don’t put it down before you try it though! The range of flavours complement each other in such a potent and tasty way that you’ll have trouble keeping away!

 

Now another simple dish. Somen noodles are a staple of countless Asian dishes, for two main reasons. First and foremost, they’re delicious. Secondly, they’re very versatile, and play well with all kinds of other foods. After a little boiling, and adding some soy sauce, sesame oil and scallions, you’ve got a meal ready to be eaten. This base dish is pretty tasty by itself. Seen as you’re reading this though, I assume you want to be a little more adventurous with your cooking though! As I mentioned, somen noodles work well within a variety of other dishes. With some shallots, garlic, fresh ginger, and sugar snap peas, you can whip up a brilliant stir fry faster than you’d believe! Watch this entertaining video on Hampton Creek which has a quick run-through of this recipe. As you try more and more recipes, I’m sure you’ll come up with your own great creations with somen noodles as the centerpiece.

Next we have one of the best soups from any cuisine on earth; beef pho. The centre of this lovely dish is prime beef shin and oxtail. This is enriched and complemented using cinnamon, anise pods, and ginger. A lot of these auxiliary ingredients need to be charred, which can take some delicacy and practice. However, even if you over or under-do these, it won’t completely ruin the taste of the pho. From there though, it’s a simple matter of boiling and stirring. When you’re done simmering the soup, make sure you skim the layer of fat off the top. If there’s one thing that will turn the dish on its head, then it’s leaving this gunk in! Serve it by boiling some noodles of your choice, and pouring the broth over it, distributing the beef evenly. Lay out some steak slices, herbs, lime and soy sauce on the table. That way, your guests can add or weaken certain flavours as they wish.

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Source: Wikimedia

Miso Ramen is another wonderful noodle dish, and a sure-fire way to get an authentic taste of Japan. If you weren’t aware, ramen is a catch-all for a kind of noodle soup, which is huge in Japan. Every area of Japan has its own type of ramen, and I’m sure you’ll have fun discovering the various different kinds. Miso ramen is a product of the northern Hokkaido region. This dish is not only tasty, but highly nutritious as far as noodle-based meals go. Shredded cabbage, carrots, and boiled eggs mean that you’ll be getting your fill of protein and vitamins. Aside from that, you’ll need to add scallions and chicken stock to give it the deep, meaty flavour it’s known for. Pinches of miso paste, sake and mirin give it the finishing touches. If you find it’s too weak or too strong when you first try this recipe, just play around with the amounts of veggies and aromatics.

Next, we have Japchae. This is another stir-fry which is packed full of great veggies and aromatic flavours. If you’re only just starting to make some progress with noodle dishes, then you may want to stay away from this particular recipe. It involves a lot of different ingredients. Some of them, like shiitake mushrooms are very strong. If you screw up the weights and measures, then you might end up with a dish that’s a little too flavourful. Probably the most important point is getting the balance of sesame seeds, soy sauce and sugar just right. If you’re feeling ambitious though, japchae can be a wonderful dish to prepare and eat. This dish uses a particular kind of clear, chewy noodles which are very popular in Korea. If you want to add even more flavour to the japchae, then dash it with sri racha sauce. It can be eaten hot or cold too, so don’t worry about cooking too much!

Vegetable Chow Mein

Source: Flickr

This post wouldn’t be complete without a chow mein dish. In the spirit of healthy eating though, I’ll list vegetable chow mein rather than any meat dishes. Although this is probably one of the healthier kinds of chow mein, I look forward to it more than any kind of fast food. Cheap and easy to cook, and absolutely delicious when you’re done, once you’ve made veggie chow mein once you won’t be able to help yourself! The mix of veggies includes onion, baby spinach, carrot and scallions. Shiitake mushrooms add a bold, underlying taste to the whole meal. Most recipes will recommend you add brown sugar. However, the light and dark soy sauce is complementary enough in my opinion. You can always swap out the sugar for a sweetener if you’re dead set on staying healthy.

Here’s a noodle dish which is a little different from the others; omusoba. Like yaki udon, this is another prevalent bar food across Japan. Unlike many other noodle dishes, this is yakisoba noodles wrapped in an omelette and seasoned with a sweet, tangy sauce. This sauce comes under a range of brand names in Japan, but Worcestershire sauce does just fine. You’ll need some ground nori, chow mein noodles, and kewpie mayonnaise. 8 eggs, combined with some of the veggies you’ll be using (onions, carrots, cabbage) serves to make the omelette you wrap the noodles in. If you’re in a rush to get it served, then cooking omubasa takes a bit of multi-tasking. However, you won’t need to do anything particularly difficult, or worry about messing up measures.

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Source: Pixabay

I’ll round this off with the king of noodle dishes. I’ve been neglecting Thailand in this list a little, so here’s the only Thai dish you really need to learn: Pad Thai. This is made of thin rice noodles served with eggs, scallions, shrimp and some chillies. A rich fish sauce I brings it all to life, complemented by peanuts, cilantro and tamarind juice. If you look up come pictures of this dish, you’ll probably see an eccentric, beautiful arrangement. All the meat usually sits in a round nest of noodles, and is decorated by slices of lime around the edges. However, don’t let this put you off! Pad Thai tastes just as delicious whether it’s all mixed up or not.

If you though noodles were a bland, one-use kind of food, then I hope this has changed your view. Try out any one of these dishes, and I’m sure it will spark an obsession! As you learn more about the ingredients and motifs of Asian cuisine, try to experiment. Noodles can be the centrepiece to any number of delicious creations!

Anne

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

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M Shack Mural Contest in Nocatee

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Marijean

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

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Order Delicious Chocolates and Gifts Online from Chocolate.org @choctweets

 

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I had the opportunity to sample chocolate from www.chocolate.org. They feature handmade, artisan chocolates and gift baskets from independent chocolate shops across the USA. . They believe that the finest chocolate is found in small chocolate shops around the globe and celebrate the fact that every chef has a unique approach. Their vendors provide a product that is more fresh, more artistic, and less common than factory-made chocolate.

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Chocolate.org sent me the 2 LB Chocolate Sampler made with gourmet single bean to sample and review. 

A wonderful assortment of the best of chocolates. There will be a variety of White, Milk & Dark Chocolates that are in this mouth watering sampler. Snyder’s Pretzels, Turtles, Caramels, Ritz’s crackers and much more. If there are any special requests, please tell us in the notes and we will add them.
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My chocolates arrived in only a few short days after my order. They were packaged with lots of ice packs and insulation. Very impressive and nice to know my order won’t melt during transport. I received pretty tins filled with assorted chocolates. The assortment was amazing I must say.  Chocolate covered pretzels that weren’t small by any means, chocolate trains with m&m tires (my 4 yr old love that the most), chocolate pretzel turtles, chocolate covered oreos and so much more. Definitely something for everyone! I really had to control myself so I didn’t eat the whole tin…that is how good everything was.
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 Chocolate.org has lots more than just chocolate to choose from. They offer baked goods as well such as cupcakes, brownies and cookies. They gift baskets and business gifts you can send. They also offer treats that are vegan, gluten free, organic, sugar free, dairy free and nut free. The prices are very reasonable, and with such a large variety, you are sure to find the perfect gift for any occasion.
Connect with Chocolate.org: Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

 

***I was given complimentary chocolates in exchange for my honest opinion.  I am not affiliated with the company and everything in this review is my opinion.

Marijean

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

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Ease your PMS Symptoms and Cravings with PMS Bites #pmsbites

 

Bloating, Cramping, Cravings, Mood Swings….all of the “joys” of our time of the month. For me, the craving part is the worst. I can pop a Tylenol for the cramps, but popping to many Hershey bars obviously isn’t healthy or good for my thighs.

I recently saw the founder of PMS Bites, Tania Green, on Shark Tank (Season 7 episode 29). I was very interested in the bites and wanted to give them a try.

I contacted Tania and she sent me over a complimentary box to review. Perfect timing since my cravings are at an all time high it seems this month!

PMS Bites are delicious and healthy treats specifically designed for women when we need it most. All bites contain gluten freeall natural, and vegan ingredients along with a blend of Siberian ginseng, chamomile, and dandelion root, commonly taken herbs for bloating, cramping, and irritability. At 70-80 calories a pop, you can experience comfort without guilt.

 

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In your PMS box, you will receive six all natural and vegan chocolate bites delivered to your door monthly.

The flavors offered:

Plain Crazy: These chocolaty and rich bites are the perfect hybrid between a classic chocolate truffle and brownie batter is finished with premium, cocoa powder and coconut palm sugar.

CocoNutty: Two classic bites generously sprinkled with fluffy coconut.

All Kinds of Nuts: Two classic bites rolled in clusters of crunchy pecans.

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Photo Source: PMS Bites

You can choose to have a variety pack of these bites delivered, or just your favorite flavor.

Purchase one time or choose a monthly subscription package and save 10% off your first box of bites. Enjoy FREE shipping on all orders.

 

 

I was sent the variety pack of bites which includes 2 bites if each flavor. When I received these bites, they are bigger than I expected, which is awesome, I was able to eat one in 3 bites. I tried the Plain Crazy flavor first. I am not a fan of that one, didn’t have much flavor at all. The other flavors CocoNutty and All Kinds of Nuts tasted better in my opinion. The CocoNutty is my favorite, I love the coconut flavor that is mixed with the light chocolate and nutty flavors.   They are not very chocolatey at all, I was hoping for more of a milk chocolate flavor and these had more of a dark chocolate flavor, however just eating one curbed my cravings and at only 70-80 calories, you can’t beat it. I enjoyed them each day of my cycle with a cup of coffee. I am so glad I didn’t have to reach for the candy bars or pints of ice cream the whole week! This would also make a great gift for a friend or relative.

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Allergen note: All bites contain gluten free ingredients, but are not made in a gluten free facility. This product contains: pecans, almonds, and coconut. Made in a facility that uses peanuts, tree nuts, soy and wheat. This product may contain shells or pits.

 

Is this a really cool idea? Yes. Are they expensive? In my opinion yes, $14.99 for only 6 bites is pretty pricey. Did they help my cravings? Absolutely. I just wish they had more of a chocolate flavor and sweeter,  but all in all they are very good. Click here to purchase PMS Bites. 

 

 

Connect with PMS Bites: Website Facebook Pinterest Instagram Twitter

Disclaimer: PMS bites were given to me free of charge. All of my thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Marijean

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

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