Recipe for Beef Stroganoff

This recipe is an altered version of Paula Deen's Beef Stroganoff. Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 pounds cubed round steak, cut into thin strips (or stew meat)

All-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 can vegetable broth
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2-3/4 Can water (mushroom can)
1 cup chianti wine

1/2 Packet Sazon seasonings

Rub for the meat: Compose a small dish with salt, pepper, garlic powder (4x as much salt than the rest of the spices)

DIRECTIONS:
-Season the steak strips with the rub, then dust with flour.
-In a large skillet on medium, medium/high (I used a ceramic pot) add butter and oil
-Add meat and brown on all sides
-Remove the meat from the pan
-Add the onion slices and mushrooms to the pan drippings and saute for a few minutes, until the onion is tender.
-Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon flour more
-Put the steak back into the pan with the onion and mushrooms
-Deglaze the pot with the Chianti until half the liquid evaporates
-Add the mushroom soup, broth, water 1/2 cup first (add more if needed later) and sazon seasoning
-Cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, covered (or until meat is tender)
-Serve over cooked noodles.

Fab Mascara

My hunt for new mascara is over! Yesterday I purchased Maybelline's XXL Curlpower and I love it! It actually curled my lashes and didn't make them look un-naturally full. Next time you're in the market for new mascara keep this one in mind :)  Fabulous Mascara



Little Man Walks!

This evening Max was rummaging through the hall closet and found a back scratcher which really excited him (he likes baton objects). I moved him out of the closet and set him down on his feet. He usually sits down but this time he was so excited about the scratcher, he took off after Brody with it! He took at least six steps before falling down. Max is turning into such a little man!

Whole Lotta Love

Max gave me a kiss tonight when I asked him to give mommy kisses!! Not once but three times!! My heart melted, I am so in love with him!

An Afternoon In The Gulf

We can now add splashing in the Gulf of Mexico to Max's summer adventures. The trip to the beach also had a first for me...getting pooped on by a bird. GROSS!! Thank goodness the water was nearby-credit to Courtney for cleaning it off me...eww enough about that. Here are some pics:

Giggling at Grandpa Tim blowing bubbles :)

Working on my photography skills

Skyway Bridge

9.11

This year marks the 10th anniversary of 9.11. At the time, I had just started college at UM. My suite-mate Melissa came into my room and told my roommate and I to turn on the news. We saw one of the twin towers was ablaze. Glued to the TV we all watched as the second plane hit the towers. I remember thinking this couldn't really be happening. I called my best friend Jackie to make sure her dad was ok (he worked in the city) and she was hysterical; away at college as well, she couldn't reach him. That was the last time I got in touch with her for a while because then the towers crumbled and the phone lines were no longer working. Classes were cancelled. TV's were set up in the common areas of the dorms and there were students everywhere glued to the news coverage. I felt so far away from my family and friends. What happened was unimaginable. Still today, every time I watch something about 9.11 I can't help but tear up.

Recipe for Steak Sandwiches

Chris was home for the first Hurricane Football game so I wanted to make something special and manly. I made what Chris calls a Melly Steak Sandwich :) I made cheese fries to go along. This recipe was super simple and tasty. It served 2

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 green bell pepper
1/3 medium onion
1/3 package onions (I buy whole & chop myself)
2 bakery subs
4 slices provolone cheese
1/2 pound beef round steak/flip steak (it was sliced thin, I used 1/3 pound-kinda small)
Vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees
-Heat oil in a skillet over medium to medium high heat
-Add peppers and onions and saute until the onions are almost translucent
-Add mushrooms and cook until browned
-Remove veggies and place in a bowl
-Using the same skilled, cook the steak a little less than your desired doneness (thin steak cooks fast)
-Assemble the sandwich using 2 slices of cheese on each & put in the oven for 5 minutes or until bread is toasty looking and cheese is melted.