Category Menus & Recipes

Warming Up Your Weekend: Skip the Puddles Outside and Make a Delicious Spiced Steak Dinner at Home

Rain, rain, go away. While it may technically be a good thing, the rain seems to have a lot of people feeling kind of ho hum this week. Last week’s bursts of sunshine got us thinking spring had arrived early, but the weekend forecast is a wet reminder that the Groundhog did see his shadow this year.

Wet weekends often mean lots of pizza and Chinese delivery boxes in the compost bin, but you can literally spice things up with our Cinnamon and Coriander Spiced Skirt Steak Recipe.

The blend of cinnamon, coriander, cumin and cloves will warm you from head to toe. So allow the rain to help you enjoy a relaxing night in, and remember that spring is just a few storms away.

Ingredients:

6 garlic cloves, minced to a paste

1/4 cup olive oil

1 Tablespoon kosher salt

1 Tablespoon ground cumin

1 Tablespoon ground coriander

2 teaspoons black peppercorns

1 Tablespoon paprika

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

2 pounds skirt steak, trimmed

Cilantro for garnish

Methods/Steps:

Preheat Oven to 400ºF

Spices: Mix the garlic, olive oil and salt together in a flat cake pan. Measure out the cumin, coriander and peppercorns into the base of a spice grinder.  Grind them together to a powder. Pour ground spices into the pan with the garlic paste and add the paprika, cinnamon and cloves.  Stir to combine.

Prepare the Steak: Trim the steak of silver skin, leaving most of the fat.  Rub the steak with the spice mixture. (Wash your hands thoroughly right afterwards.)

Grill: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (or if cooking inside, a rigged stove-top grill).   Place steak on the hot grill and cook for about 2 minutes until a nice crust forms (don’t burn spice rub, light grill marks are ok).  Turn and cook an additional 2 minutes.  Transfer the meat to a sheet pan.  When all the steaks have been browned, transfer meat to the oven and finish cooking, about 5 minutes.

Serve: Slice the steak into thin strips–on the bias, against the grain.  Serve immediately with a sprig of cilantro. Serves 8

Top Thanksgiving Recipes and Tips for Holiday Success

Thanksgiving is approaching so bring out the seasonal garland, gourds and get ready for the tryptophan induced food comas!

One of tastiest turkeys I have ever had was created from our Parties That Cook team. This brined turkey recipe calls for soaking the whole bird in a brine which is essentially a solution of salt and sugar, flavored with spices. Brining the turkey helps even the white meat stay moist and flavorful when roasted to perfection. But if you don’t have time or the space in your fridge, our easy 3-step turkey breast is the perfect solution. You’re guests will not believe how quick and easy this dish is!

Can’t decide which side dishes to create? Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes that are a delicious departure from the traditional spread of pureed root vegetables and pearled onions:

Sweet Pea Galettes with Bacon and Sour Cream Recipe

Butternut Squash and Cider Soup with Sage Crème Fraiche Recipe

Easy Spinach and Roquefort Bread Pudding Recipe

And the gravy! Quite possibly the best part of Thanksgiving (a three-way tie between the turkey and stuffing of course). Try this recipe: Pan Gravy with Bourbon Recipe

In my opinion, the food alone serves as the perfect Thanksgiving decoration, but here are some easy tips to spruce up your spread:

Place Cards: HGTV.com has created the perfect touch for your table with these printable place card designs. Print them onto cardstock and write your guests’ names for each table setting.

Fringed Tweed Table Runner: Tweed is not only a fall trend in fashion, but in holiday tabletop decorations as well. This rustic design from the craft guru herself, Martha Stewart, is an inexpensive and simple design element for any table.

Gourds, Gourds and more Gourds: Of course, the quintessential fall decoration cannot be overlooked! Gourds and pumpkins add the finishing detail to your Thanksgiving spread. Place them at your front door and use Indian corn or acorns for an extra autumn touch.

Got any favorite tips and recipes? Share them with us! Check out the rest of our favorite recipes. Until next time, bon appétit!