Happy Monday! Did anyone watch the super bowl? What did you think of it? I thought it was a pretty good game as far as entertainment went. I didn’t really have a favorite team playing so I was somewhat non biased as to who I was hoping to win. The only thing I was really hoping for is the “FOOD“.

Let’s just say that Zesty In-law delivers yet again.  It seems like time after time zesty in law delivers amazing food and it really doesn’t even matter if the TV is on for me.  Lats night’s line up was no different.  You can sum this up as MAN FOOD night.  Boy was it good.  Around 11:00 pm when I left to come home I could barely waddle my way out to the car.

Menu

• Pulled Pork Sliders on homemade rolls
• Fresh baked beans
• Pork Side Ribs from the Grill
• Beef Ribs with Brandy, Molasses and Coffee ( Check out the size of these things )

I was so excited to see what was on the menu and I knew I would not be disappointed.  The flavors of the food was amazing.  You cannot beat the grill no matter if it is snowing out or not.  I was really impressed with the pulled pork…. delicious and I am pretty sure I could have had 10 little sandwiches.  I stopped at 3 just so I would not look like a total PIG.

I have a couple of big announcements to make this week so stay tuned as one of them may be related to Valentine’s day.  Have a great Monday and be safe.

Take care

zesty

Ever feel a need to kick the flavor up a little? Well let’s just say this was a zesty first but I loved it. Flank steak marinated in coffee! This was a very flavorful piece of meat. Not only is it unique that I have never tried a sip of coffee in my life I actually loved this flank steak a lot. There definitely was a flavor of coffee but it was not overpowering. By marinating this cut of meat – it was almost like velvet in your mouth. Now don’t get me wrong – I honestly never tried velvet but I can imagine that it would be smooth and tender.

Marinating is a great way to flavor meats and break down the “tough” fibers and ensure tenderness. This process has been around for many years and it is proven. For some, it is a great way to buy less inexpensive meats and still have a great meal. On the meat side, a cut of meat like flank is all the rage because of it’s low fat content. However usually with a low fat content comes low flavor – that is where the marinating comes in to play.

Next time you are craving some beef – give this recipe a try.

Ingredients

• 1 Flank steak – 1 ½ pounds
• 1 Cup strong black coffee or espressos
• 1 ½ Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 Cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 Shallot finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp canola oil
• 2 Tbsp of brown sugar
• ½ Tsp coarse salt
• 1 Tsp ground black pepper

Method

1. Mix all ingredients but the steak, remove about ¼ cup of the  sauce to use later then add flank steak to the remaining marinade and marinate for at least 2 hours (can be up to next day).



2. Pat steak dry. Rub with small amount oil and grill until done basting frequently with the marinade, 3-6 min per side depending on thickness.



3. Rest at least 5 min before slice across grain. Rest is very important for this type of steak.





4. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: If not a grill is not available then  broil for the same amount of time.  You do not want to cook this passed medium for optimal flavor and texture.

Around the Blogsphere

Now I know some of you may be looking for a different type of steak so of course I am always on the look out for you.  I happen to have come across a few pretty fun looking pieces of steak.  Check this out when you have some free time.

• Choosing Raw – A very interesting play on a raw steak.  I know I would love this combo.
• Aggie’s Kitchen – A pretty special looking Steak sandwich that i would pretty much love to sink my teeth.
• Sippity Sup – Greg shares a very interesting post on steak and really can enlighten the crowd around cuts of beef.
• Steamy Kitchen – Jaden kicks it up a notch and shares how to turn choice steak into “prime” steak.

So there you have it a fun post on steak with a great way to flavor it with coffee and some other great blogs that talk about steak.  I really hope you have a great weekend and let me know your thoughts on steak.

Take care

zesty