Tuesday 27 March 2018

Healthy Lemon Poppyseed Muffins with Lemon Blueberry Glaze

Ambitious Kitchen
Healthy Lemon Poppyseed Muffins with Lemon Blueberry Glaze

Healthy lemon poppyseed muffins made with yogurt and topped with a perfectly sweet lemon blueberry glaze. This recipe is sponsored by siggi’s. Day 2 of #AKMuffinWeek is guaranteed to brighten your day. Say hello to springy, beautiful lemon poppyseed muffins with a light lemon blueberry glaze! A few weeks ago I asked you what kind [...]

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Minimalist Baker
Creamy Vegetable Risotto (30 Minutes!)
Creamy Vegetable Risotto (30 Minutes!)

When we traveled to Portugal last year, we ate so much good food.

One of the dishes was a vegetable risotto the restaurant was able to make vegan-friendly by omitting the cheese and butter. Perhaps a cardinal sin in making risotto, but they obliged. One bite in and recipe inspiration was born.

This vegan, gluten-free, oil-free risotto is made with 8 ingredients in 30 minutes from start to finish!

Creamy Vegetable Risotto (30 Minutes!) from Minimalist Baker →

A Sweet Pea Chef
7 Best Steak Marinades
7 Best Steak Marinades

With these 7 Best Steak Marinades, you’ll have all sorts of flavor and variety to spice up your next steak dinner.  Get tips for how to marinate steak and how to freeze marinated steak plus 7 great steak marinade recipes.

Best Steak Marinades | With these 7 Best Steak Marinades, you’ll have all sorts of flavor and variety to spice up your next steak dinner.  Get tips for how to marinate steak and how to freeze marinated steak plus 7 great steak marinade recipes. | A Sweet Pea Chef

It doesn’t get much better than steak for dinner, does it? While you might think that cooking juicy, tender, flavorful steak is time-consuming and difficult, I beg to differ. To make sure your steak turns out perfectly tender and juicy every time, you just need to do a little bit of prepping.

And, by prepping, I mean marinating. Sure, you can cook a good steak without marinating first, but leaving meat in the fridge in a mix of various herbs, spices, wine, and other goodness can make all the difference.

Overhead view of a raw piece of skirt steak, shown as an example of what type of steak is good for marinades since it has tough fibers that are broken down with the marinade.

After numerous steak dinners (not that I’m complaining!) and a lot of experimenting with various flavor combinations, I wanted to share my favorite steak marinades with you. All of them are very simple and easy to make and add a nice touch of variation so you won’t get bored of the same ol’ flavors.  If you like variation, you’ll also love my 7 chicken marinades post, too 🙂

Go crazy with my 7 best steak marinades recipes and have steak for dinner every day for a week. Sounds like a plan to me!

How To Marinate A Steak

Fortunately, the best way to marinate a steak is also the most simple one. Here’s how it goes:

Put the steak in a sealable ziplock bag Toss in the ingredients for the marinade (Follow my best steak marinade recipes for ideas on flavor combinations.) Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinade around the steak to coat. Place in the fridge

Seriously.  So dang easy.

What Is The Best Way To Marinate A Steak?

Here are my best tips for how to marinate a steak:

Always marinate your food in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. Either a sealable bag or a sealed container to make sure all the liquid is safely inside. Keep the marinating meat away from other foods in your fridge and avoid unsafe contamination of the raw meat. For most marinades, use about 1/2 cup of the marinade for every 2 pounds of beef. After removing the beef from the marinade, always pat all sides of the steak dry with paper towels to prevent steaming and encourage browning.

No matter which of my best steak marinade recipes you decide to try out first, for steak marinades, these tips will help you get the most flavor.

Okay, so now that we have the basics out of the way, let’s get to the steak marinade recipes!

Red Wine Marinade

Ingredients separated for the Red Wine Marinade, including red wine, olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, pepper, minced garlic cloves and rosemary Sealable freezer bag with skirt steak and Red Wine Marinade, marinating and ready to cook.

Red wine goes very well with steak. Next time, try using red wine it to tenderize the meat as well. Follow my simple, fool-proof Red Wine Marinade recipe to infuse the meat with that subtle wine flavor.

Red Wine Marinade

Red wine goes very well with steak. Next time, try using red wine it to tenderize the meat as well. Follow my simple, fool-proof Red Wine Marinade recipe to infuse the meat with that subtle wine flavor.

1 lb skirt steak 3/4 cup red wine 1/2 cup olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 4 garlic cloves, (minced) 1/2 tsp rosemary

In a sealable ziplock bag or air-tight container, add the skirt steak, followed by all the ingredients for the marinade.

Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the steak to coat.

Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 6-20 hours.

Italian Marinade

Ingredients separated for the Italian Marinade, including white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, onion powder, finely minced garlic cloves, thyme, basil, oregano, sea salt and pepper. Sealable freezer bag with skirt steak and the Italian Marinade, marinating and ready to cook.

This Italian marinade combines different flavors to accentuate specific ingredients to make a simple steak taste incredible. If you don’t want to overwhelm your steak but just add a lighter flavor to it, my Italian Marinade is a perfect choice.

Italian Marinade

This Italian marinade combines different flavors to accentuate specific ingredients to make a simple steak taste incredible. If you don’t want to overwhelm your steak but just add a lighter flavor to it, my Italian Marinade is a perfect choice.

1 lb. skirt steak 3 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp dijon mustard 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 tsp onion powder 2 garlic cloves, (minced) 1/2 tsp dried thyme 1/2 tsp dried basil 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

In a sealable ziplock bag or air-tight container, add the skirt steak, followed by all the ingredients for the marinade.

Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the steak to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 6-20 hours.

Fajita Marinade

Ingredients separated for Fajita Marinade, including lime juice, pineapple juice, low sodium soy sauce, minced garlic, ground cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, sea salt, black pepper, chopped cilantro and olive oil. Sealable freezer bag with skirt steak and the Fajita Marinade, marinating and ready to cook.

C’mon, who doesn’t like fajitas?  Combine the best of both worlds and spice up your next steak dinner by letting the meat soak up all the colorful flavors of my Fajita Marinade. Use low-sodium soy sauce and pineapple juice with no added sugar in order to keep this recipe not just yummy but healthy, too.

Fajita Marinade

Combine the best of both worlds and spice up your next steak dinner by letting the meat soak up all the colorful flavors of my Fajita Marinade.

1 lb skirt steak 1/3 cup lime juice ((approx. 2-3 limes)) 1/4 cup pineapple juice, (no sugar added) 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce 1 clove garlic, (minced) 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 1/4 cup cilantro, (chopped) 2 tbsp olive oil

In a sealable ziplock bag or air-tight container, add the skirt steak, followed by all the ingredients for the marinade.

Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the steak to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 6-20 hours.

Garlic And Herb Marinade

Ingredients separated for the Garlic & Herb Marinade, including olive oil, minced garlic cloves, rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. Sealable freezer bag with steak and the Garlic & Herb Marinade, marinating and ready to cook.

Let this simple Garlic and Herb recipe marinate overnight, throw it on the grill, and pair up with a glass of your favorite wine. The ultimate weekday dinner!

Garlic And Herb Marinade

Let this simple Garlic and Herb recipe marinate overnight, throw it on the grill, and pair up with a glass of your favorite wine.

1 lb skirt steak 1/4 cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic, (minced) 1/2 tsp dried rosemary 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp dried thyme 1/2 tsp dried basil 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

In a sealable ziplock bag or air-tight container, add the skirt steak, followed by all the ingredients for the marinade.

Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the steak to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 6-20 hours.

Ginger Soy Marinade

Ingredients separated for the Ginger Soy Marinade, including low sodium soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, olive oil, raw honey, minced garlic cloves and minced fresh ginger. Sealable freezer bag with skirt steak and the Ginger Soy Marinade, marinating and ready to cook.

Give your skirt steak a punch of Asian flavors by marinating it in my Ginger Soy Marinade. The strong flavors of the rice wine vinegar and raw honey balance each other out. To keep your sodium levels in check, always opt for the low sodium soy sauce.

Ginger Soy Marinade

Give your skirt steak a punch of Asian flavors by marinating it in my Ginger Soy Marinade. The strong flavors of the rice wine vinegar and raw honey balance each other out.

1 lb skirt steak 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar 1/3 cup olive oil 1 1/2 tbsp raw honey 4 garlic cloves, (minced) 1 tbsp fresh ginger, (minced)

In a sealable ziplock bag or air-tight container, add the skirt steak, followed by all the ingredients for the marinade.

Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the steak to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 6-20 hours.

Lemon Pepper Marinade

Ingredients separated for the Lemon Pepper Marinade, including lemon zest, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic cloves, crushed black peppercorns, sea salt and olive oil. Sealable freezer bag with steak and the Lemon Pepper Marinade, marinating and ready to cook.

It just doesn’t get more simple (or more delicious) than this Lemon Pepper Marinade. Zesty lemon juice, crushed black peppercorns, olive oil, a pinch of sea salt… Sheer perfection!

Lemon Pepper Marinade

It just doesn’t get more simple (or more delicious) than this Lemon Pepper Marinade. Zesty lemon juice, crushed black peppercorns, olive oil, a pinch of sea salt.

1 lb skirt steak 1 tbsp lemon zest 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 garlic cloves, (minced) 1 tbsp black peppercorns, (crushed) 1/2 tsp sea salt 2 tbsp olive oil

In a sealable ziplock bag or air-tight container, add the skirt steak, followed by all the ingredients for the marinade.

Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the steak to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 6-20 hours.

Chipotle Marinade

Ingredients separated for the Chipotle Marinade including ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, freshly squeezed lime juice and olive oil. Sealable freezer bag with steak and the Chipotle Marinade, marinating and ready to cook.

Add some serious spiciness to your favorite steak by adding adobo sauce (from canned chipotle peppers) to the marinade. My Chipotle Marinade incorporates cumin, onion and garlic powder with some freshly squeezed lime juice creating a satisfying combination of flavors.

Chipotle Marinade

Add some serious spice to your favorite steak by adding adobo sauce (from canned chipotle peppers) to the marinade. My Chipotle Marinade incorporates cumin, onion and garlic powder with some freshly squeezed lime juice creating a satisfying combination of flavors.

1 lb skirt steak 2 tsp adobo sauce ((from canned chipotle peppers)) 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp granulated garlic 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice 2 tbsp olive oil

In a sealable ziplock bag or air-tight container, add the skirt steak, followed by all the ingredients for the marinade.

Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly, making sure to press the marinade around the steak to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes, ideally up to 6-20 hours.

How Long To Marinate A Steak

When it comes to marinating steak, whichever type of steak you choose, whether it’s a shoulder, skirt or flank steak, you can go ahead and choose any marinade and flavor combination you want. The only thing that does differ is the marination time.

If you already have a tender cut of beef, like New York strip or filet mignon, only 15 minutes to 2 hours of marinating time are required to add flavor. But, if you’re wanting to tenderize your beef for tougher cuts, like skirt steak or flank steak, the meat should soak in the marinade for at least 6 hours but no more than 24 hours.

Close up of several marinating steaks lines up in a row, ready to be placed into the fridge to marinate and be cooked later.

How Long Is Too Long To Marinate Steak?

Ideally, you should not marinate a steak for more than 24 hours.  Any longer than that and the muscle fibers will break down and the texture will become mushy.

Some types of steak, like skirt steak, are naturally not very tender and should be left to marinate for a longer time in order to tenderize. Whenever you have enough time and need to properly tenderize a steak before cooking, I strongly recommend you prepare the marinade the day before and let the steak tenderize and soak up all the flavors overnight.  Then, just grab and go.

7 sealable freezer bags filled with steak and marinating in different steak marinades, including red wine, Italian, fajita, garlic & herb, ginger soy, lemon pepper, and chipotle.

How To Freeze Marinated Steak

If you can’t get to cooking your marinated steak within 24 hours, you can safely freeze the meat in the marinade to be used later. That’s why I love using the freezer ziplock bags when marinating steak, for you can just toss them right into the freezer for later. When it’s time to cook the steak, just thaw the meat and toss in on the grill.

 

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

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Cookie and Kate
Perfect Stovetop Popcorn

how to cook stovetop popcorn

Little-known fact: I am a stovetop popcorn connoisseur. I’ve been making popcorn on the stove since my parents taught me in elementary school. Stovetop popcorn is infinitely better than microwave popcorn or air-popped popcorn. If you haven’t made it yet, you’ve been missing out!

I’m on a mission to make sure everyone knows how to make popcorn from scratch. Today, I’m sharing all of my popcorn-making tips so you can make perfect stovetop popcorn at home, too. All you need are popcorn kernels, a good pot with a lid, oil and salt. You can do it!

popcorn kernels

Of all the salty, crunchy, savory snacks out there, stovetop popcorn is one of the tastiest and least expensive. I love that I can make it in under 10 minutes if I’m craving a snack, and easily adjust the amounts to yield a single serving or popcorn for a party.

The 10-minute buffer period is actually great, since it means I can’t reach into the pantry and mindlessly snack on popcorn. That’s why I don’t keep tortilla chips on hand—I eat them too fast.

Continue to the recipe...

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