Steak and Potato Salad

Matt insisted I blog this so we remember to make it in the future........Adapted from the Family Circle cookbook.

1 lb red-skin potatoes (3-4 large), cut into 8 pieces each
4 strips bacon
1 small red onion, chopped
1 lb steak, cut into strips
salt
steak seasoning
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1/2 tsp cold water
baby spinach
Crumbled gorgonzola cheese

In a very large pan (I think it is a deep 12" pan), boil some water and throw in potatoes with salt.  Boil for about 15 minutes and drain, set aside.

In the same pan, cook the bacon until crisp, set aside to drain on paper towel.  In the bacon grease, throw in the onion for a minute over medium then add steak strips, season with steak seasoning, for about 2 minutes.  Remove and set aside.

Dump in the honey and vinegar, cook over medium for 2 minutes then add the corn starch solution for a minute.  Add the potatoes, steak, onion, crumbled bacon and stir to coat/warm up everything.

Spoon over a bed of fresh spinach.  Add cheese crumbles to taste.

Serves 4.  Per serving (approx): 450 calories; 15 g fat.

Italian Pasta Salad

Yep, yet another italian pasta salad recipe. I doubt it varies much from most others. But hey, at least the picture makes it look tasty!

Italian Pasta Salad
Serves: the hungry drunk boys who ate all the rest of the other pasta salad

Ingredients:
+1 box (12 oz) tri color rotini, cooked according to the package and drained
+handfuls of sliced pepperoni (cut in half)
+1/2 can of black olives
+4 oz monterey jack or mozzarella cheese cut into tiny cubes
+1/4+ red onion, diced
+1/4+ green pepper, diced
+1/2 package grape tomatoes
+zesty italian salad dressing, to taste

1. Mix everything together. Add as much dressing as you need to coat it but not drown it. Tada.... difficult right?

Creamy Pasta Salad

The boys needed something to eat on their man weekend up north for Memorial Day so I made up a couple of pasta salads. Apparently they LOVED this one... go figure, the health nuts haha.





Creamy Pasta Salad
Serves: hungry drunk boys

Ingredients:
+1 (12 ounce) package elbow macaroni
+3/4 package of thick cut bacon
+1 cup mayo (not miracle whip)
+1 packet dry ranch salad dressing mix
+1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
+1/2 teaspoon pepper
+1/2 cup milk
+1/2 package grape tomatoes
+1/2 can sliced black olives
+1 cup shredded colby jack cheese


1. Boil up a big pot of water and cook the pasta per the package. Drain and set aside to cool.

2. Cook the bacon until crispy. I find it easiest to cut up the package and the cook it in pieces in a pot. It works better than cooking then crumbling. Drain bacon on paper towel and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix mayo, ranch dressing mix, milk garlic powder, and pepper. Throw in the bacon, tomatoes, black olives and cheese in bowl and toss to coat with dressing. Pour over pasa and toss to coat. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.