Manfriend Meals: Stuffed Flank Steak

Although I'm a vegetarian, I do still cook meat dishes for others from time to time.

A few weeks ago, I treated my manfriend and Little Sister's manfriend to a home cooked dinner featuring these Stuffed Flank Steaks:


The grocery store I stopped at on the way home from work (Carlie C's) didn't have any "flank steaks" specifically, so I purchased two different types of steak in the thinnest cuts I could get. Here's where the vegetarian in me strikes: I don't remember what they were. Sorry!

The guys loved them, especially with the spinach and blue cheese stuffing.

Feel free to check out my latest Pinterest board, Manfriend Meals, for more ideas that are sure to please any hungry man.

Images and recipe via FamilyCircle.com

Put the Boys to Work... at Hardly Working

I realize Thanksgiving has just come and gone, but Christmas dinner is right around the corner. I love Andrea Weigl's suggestion of putting the boys to work!

Thursday when I serve Thanksgiving dinner to a small group of friends, everyone will contribute. I will bake a pecan pie and a pumpkin cheesecake. My husband will cook leg of lamb on the smoker. (One tip for holiday sanity is cooking the meat outside on the grill, in the smoker or in the deep-fryer. Luckily, many men who like to cook don't mind spending the day outside, drinking a beer and minding the meat.) A friend will make stuffed acorn squash and the homemade noodles that are his family's tradition. A third will clear the table.

She's right - it's not at all an up-hill battle to suggest that the man (and his buddies) hang around outside with beer, a fried turkey, and perhaps even a fire pit.

The Good Stuff

Because my posts about booze, tailgating, and the like always get the most attention, I know you all will enjoy this budget-saving tidbit.

Courtesy of local retail queen - Sue Stock - this is a mail-in rebate that basically hooks you up with... you guessed it... free vodka! And not just any vodka, but good for the earth vodka (billed as "the world's first eco luxury vodka")!

It's distilled by a company called "Earth Friendly Distilling Vodka, Co." out of Missouri (yes, I had to Google it to make sure MO was in fact Missouri - don't laugh).

Read Sue's whole post here and print off your mail-in rebate!

As Sue mentioned, the fine print doesn't include NC in the ineligible states, but the biggest obstacle is whether or not it has been approved by the state and county boards for distribution here... guess we'll find out (or at least I will find out)!


{Image: Vodka360.com}

"Home Made Simple" Looking for Some Raleighs

From the City of Raleigh eNews:

Cable Network Television Show to Film Episodes in Raleigh

“Home Made Simple,” a show on the cable television network TLC (The Learning Channel) is in Raleigh to film six episodes.

Producers are looking for Raleigh residents to feature on the show. The show features three types of people:

* Volunteers who help others in the community;
* People who have recently or are currently overcoming adversity and need a “little pick-me-up”; and,
* People who need assistance organizing to homes to host a dinner party, book club meeting, fundraisers or other event.

To nominate yourself or someone else to appear on “Home Made Simple,” email the following information to Andrea_Levine@discovery.com:

* Name of the nominee;
* Contact information for the nominee;
* The nominee’s story (i.e., always giving to others, needs help planning an event, adversity faced);
* Pictures of the nominee’s family and their home.

If you are unable to email the information, Ms. Levine, the show’s casting producer, can be reached at (617) 777-3934.

“Home Made Simple” airs on Saturdays at noon on TLC, which is cable Channel 39 on Time Warner Cable.I've never seen this show, but I'll have to check it out now - especially when the Raleigh episode airs!

Super Bowl Recessionistas

Yup - just used another buzz word - "recessionistas".

This year we'll be doing Super Bowl festivities with college friends at casa de Adrianne, Joey, and Sweetie... but not to the tune of $57.00/person! My word... apparently our manfriends could equally as well pull us out of a recession as we girls can spend money on shopping, entertaining, and traveling.

In the spirit of not breaking the bank on the 'Bowl.... let's do some recipe sharing. My first comes from Nick's mom (who luckily has me to share these kinds of things with as Nick only has a brother):

Super Bowl Dip

Ingredients:
-1 pkg Velveeta Cheese (I got for the healthier version and you can also mix in other flavors of shredded cheese for kick... ie: pepper jack?)
-1 lb sausage (you can go less)
-1 lb beef (again, you can go less)
-1 bottle of salsa
-A few spoonfuls of sour cream

Preparation:
Brown the meats in a skillet and melt the cheese.
Combine all ingredients in a large (and I mean large) mixing bowl.
Serve hot.SO easy and our friends LOVE it.

Southern Favorites: Cooking with Beer

I'm thinking this should be a perpetual recipe post as I know many of you include beer (either as a cooking aid to the chef or actually in the recipe) in many of your Southern concoctions.

I literally laughed out loud when I read "Life is Reed-iculous"'s post today which featured an Eastern NC favorite: Roasted Chicken a la Natty LightSend on your favorites to be featured!

PS - Yes, thanks to this post, I just added the following label to my blog: "beer".

CB Goes {Green}

I saw this featured on News14 - a woman from Carolina Beach has come up with a great fabric wrapping system for gifts (all shapes and sizes) that reduces your paper waste and can be used year after year - and even all year long!

In all honesty, I can't totally afford to do all of our gifts this way this year (we all know being green ain't always cheap!), but I'd like to move to using a system like this all the time in the future.

Double love that 1% of each sale goes to an eco-organization!

PS - I still consider Carolina Beach, NC to be "local". It's a few hours away, but the products are made in the US and even better... made in NC!

Some Good {Green} Tips from My City

I love Raleigh - email Chris Riley to subscribe to the weekly enewsletter.

City of Raleigh Urges Residents to Reduce Waste During the Holidays
On average, Raleigh residents produce about 3,000 tons of garbage each week. That number jumps dramatically to 3,750 tons per week during the holiday period, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

To reduce the amount of waste taken to the landfill, the City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services (SWS) Department and the City’s curbside recycling program, Raleigh Recycling, are encouraging residents to follow holiday waste reduction tips. SWS and Raleigh Recycling have joined other agencies in issuing these tips so everyone can enjoy a “Green” Christmas. Actually many of the tips can be used throughout the year, not just the holidays.

The holiday waste reduction tips are thorough and cover a variety of topics. These include holiday decorations, parties, holiday food, holiday cards, gift wrapping, enviro-shopping, gift giving, green gift ideas, gifts of time, gifts of charity, gifts for grandparents, homemade gifts, homemade gifts/non-homemade gifts made from reused materials and decorations, zero budget gifts, mailing packages, changing gift giving traditions, and energy savings.

To view all of the holiday waste reduction tips offered by SWS and Raleigh Recycling, visit the City of Raleigh’s website at www.raleighnc.gov.

Here are a few of the tips:
* Decorate your home, tree and centerpiece with
holly, cedar, berries, cranberries, popcorn, fruits and nuts, all of which can be composted or used for bird food after use;

* To add a special touch to your decorating consider using memorabilia such as a child's first shoe or teething ring, old jewelry, mementos from vacations, small stuffed animals and toys, holiday card ornaments, miniature toy cars, cookie cutters, dressed up dolls, or edible cookie ornaments;

* Email holiday party invitations making it clear that the invitation is in lieu of a traditional card;

* Eliminate disposal plates, cups and napkins from your holiday party. Instead, use “real” dishes and cloth napkins that can be washed and reused. Everyone loves hanging around the kitchen so make cleaning up part of the party;

* Give home-baked goodies in reusable holiday tins;

* Recycle all beverage and food cans and bottles from your holiday gathering;

* Buy the highest content post-consumer recycled holiday greeting cards that you can find. These cards are becoming easier to find in stores. Look for the recycling symbol inside a circle or a statement that says the cards are made from recycled paper;

* Reuse wrapping and ribbon when possible or purchase gift bags that can be reused as an alternative;

* Call the toll-free phone numbers on unwanted holiday catalogs and have your name taken off their mailing lists;

* Give non-materialistic “green” gifts that do not require wrapping, such as gift certificates for massages, restaurants, cooking classes, sailing lessons, etc. Experiences are remembered long after other presents wear out;

* Help someone recycle by buying a can-crusher, recycling or compost bin, or a tote cart to help get the bin to the curb;

* Prepare homemade soups or dinners that can be frozen for future use;

* Give away --- not throw away --- the last great book you bought. Give it to someone who enjoys your taste and later the two of you can talk about it;

* Save gift boxes, bows and ribbon for use next holiday season; and,

* Start off 2009 by making waste reduction your No. 1 New Year’s resolution. Commit to purchasing longer lasting products, such as compact florescent light bulbs and rechargeable batteries. You will save money and have less trash to discard.And the next headline from this week's eNews:City to Recycle Discarded Christmas Trees
What’s an easy and environmentally friendly way to get rid of your Christmas tree following the holidays? Raleigh residents should place their discarded trees at the curb with regular yard waste on their scheduled collection day.
...
All natural Christmas trees collected by the City’s Solid Waste Services Department, including those taken to the Yard Waste Center, are recycled into wood chips and mulch. These products are sold to the general public at the Yard Waste Center, which can be reached at 250-2728.Can you believe how much our waste increases during this short time period?

Super Addicting

From the folks who brought us TheKnot.com (don't act like you don't know what it is - that's impossible if you've been exposed to any wedding in any way, shape or form, circa 2000 or later), they've now found another way to keep us connected at the hip: TheNest.com.

Dear Productivity Gods - please don't let me subscribe to any associated email newsletters or blogs... like I need ANOTHER distraction.

Ooops, too late.

Domestic Adventures Round-Up

Some good reads for the good times ahead for the domestic gods and goddesses.

-For the winos, from LifeHacker.com - How to Wrap a Wine Bottle Restaurant-Style
-For the beer & margaritas folks - Kristy's revised beer margaritas (beergaritas
-From NCSU's Technician - How to Tailgate During a HurricaneMy favorite fall flavor: pumpkin.-Barefoot in the Park's What's in the Kitchen Wednesday: Pumpkin Ale
-I prefer Port City Java (local by way of the Dub!) to *bux, but I wanted an online link: Pumpkin Spice Créme. (Note to PCJ - expand your online menu so fans can blog about our favorites!)
-Pumpkin-shaped doughnuts from Krispy Kreme!And last, but not least - my dear twin (separated a birth) Renee, on all things October around NC.

Funniest Blog Ever for the Domestically-Inclined

Are you a cake-decorating guru? No? It's ok, just take a look at this blog and make a mental note of what NOT to do.

Cake Wrecks
When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong.


(Looks like someone took the written directions a little too literally.)They even have a facebook page, too for those of you who are on blog overload. Thanks for sharing this Rachel Ann!

Cherry Bounce

What a true Raleigh-kid tradition!

If you're not a big Downtowner, here's what you've missed the past few weeks (err... months) in the blogosphere:
Drink Cherry Bounce at Deep South (The Raleigh Connoisseur)
The drink that started it all (Raleigh Philosophical Society)

"Cherry" is alraedy a major part of my drink and dessert vocabularies... can't wait to give this a try at Deep South the Bar, soon! Here's a list of 6 different recipes for Cherry Bounce from cooks.com - be sure to report back if you give any a try!

Could be an interesting fall cocktail experiment for me to take on, as well...

11/10 Update: I've had the Deep South cocktail... it was yummy. (Skip the martini glass, ask for a rocks or pint glass. It's my own little trick to not spilling red drink all down a white top.)

Aaaaand Leo's back with his own success story - which includes another save-worthy recipe from a commenter!