Not Turkey

This year's Christmas dinner marks the beginning of a new holiday tradition. A Christmas without Turkey... without stuffing, without mashed potatoes and best of all... without driving for hours on end on Christmas eve.

Instead, a chance to relax and enjoy the perfect holiday meal... beef tenderloin with a green peppercorn sauce. On the side—sautéed savoy cabbage with pancetta and rosti potato.

Happy Ho Ho

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Steak Frites

I'd never make it as a vegetarian. I'm not a huge meat eater, and I love my veggies, but when I get the craving for a steak, I can't imagine a substitute.

This afternoon, after lunch oddly enough, the craving hit me. Right after work I went to the market and found a beautiful tenderloin roast from Top Meadow Farms. I was also craving a salsa or something tangy to go with the steak frites. I settled on a purée of sautéed shallots, arugula and horseradish. Once it cooled, I added plain yogurt to smooth it out. On the side, instead of potato, I roasted yams. 

C’est fantastique! Non?

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What's red, white, green and orange?

Tonight's dinner was all about the roasted veggies. Broccoli, fennel and sweet potatoes. New York strip is not a vegetable.

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Flank Steak = ♥

Lately, I'm really loving the flank steak. So much that it might just bounce tenderloin from the top of my list. It's such a nice cut when you cook, and slice it properly.

I didn't have time to marinade this piece according to tradition. This normally involves soaking it for several hours, if not overnight, in a boozy tenderizing cocktail. Instead, I rubbed it lovingly with cumin, pepper flakes, pepper, garlic, olive oil and lemon rind.

After a quick ride in the grill pan, it rested comfortably while I prepped the salad, toasted the walnuts and shaved the pecorino. After plating I added a splash of balsamic to round it out.

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Animal Style, Part Deux

We always like to steal great ideas and apply them to beef tenderloin! Browned the fillet quickly and then slathered with mustard (thanks In N Out Burger) and grated horseradish, then roasted in the oven. Monte thought the whole thing was very very interesting.

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Grilled Veggies & Flank Steak

Day 1 – Dinner: While the flank steak was marinating in lime juice and tequila, we set about floating in the pool. Later, we fired up the old-school bbq and grilled peppers, zucchini and asparagus. On the side – baked potato with crème fraîche.

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Blackened Steak Salad

Start with a triple vodka / oj cocktail, then blacken up some beef tenderloin by frying after rubbed with a pepper, thyme, cayenne, garlic, salt, paprika spice rub then dip both sides of your nippierd in melted butter and sear on each side, slice on top of simple lettuce in balsamic, dijon, olive oil dressing and crumble with blue cheese. To trump Ginger's dish add homemade croutons - slice french bread, fry in olive oil, pour on chopped rosemary, thyme, basil, chopped garlic and then melt on parmesan cheese. Wine - Sa Solin Ripasso, wine of the month at the LCBO. Get the recipe - minus the croutons.

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