Cabbie’s Cooking

RT was quite the gentleman for Valentine’s Day!  He prepared breakfast for me, and then packed my lunch to take to school.  He hand delivered a beautiful pink rose bouquet to me at school, and then when we got home that evening, he insisted that I sit down and relax while he prepared a special dinner for me.  He even insisted that I relax while he cleaned up the kitchen after dinner.  RT can grill a mean steak, and that’s what he did for Valentine’s Day.  He prepared a delicious shrimp cocktail with lemon wedges for an appetizer, opened a bottle of Charles Shaw merlot to sip throughout the meal, grilled two great ribeye steaks, had a plate of fresh watermelon slices, an original salad, and an original dessert.   Note that both the salad and the caramel volcano are completely original recipes that RT created as he prepared the meal.  They both were absolutely DELICIOUS!  Here are the recipes:

Grilled Ribeye Steaks

2 high quality ribeye steaks

garlic salt

pepper

Rub both sides of the steak with the garlic salt and pepper.  Be generous with the seasonings.  Grill 6 - 10 minutes per side - depending on the thickness of the steak and your preference for doneness.  After removing from the grill let the steaks rest for a few minutes before serving.

Mandarin Pecan Romaine Salad

Juice of one lemon wedge

1 small can Mandarin oranges

1/4 cup pecans pieces

1/4 cup crisp bacon bits

1/2 cup shredded cheese

1 head shredded Romaine lettuce

Ranch dressing

Mix all the ingredients except lemon and ranch dressing.  Squeeze the lemon wedge over the salad.  Serve with ranch dressing.  DELICIOUS!

Caramel Volcano

1 small can Mandarin oranges

1/2 cup pecan pieces

1 cup vanilla yogurt

2 tsp. light brown sugar

A shot glass of Bailey’s Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur

2 Maraschino cherries with a little of the Marschino liquid

Build your volcano by placing half the Mandarin oranges in the bottom of each of two individual serving bowls.  Sprinkle the pecan pieces on top of the Mandarin oranges - half in each bowl.  Tower half the yogurt in the middle of each bowl.  Sprinkle the brown sugar over the top.  Pour the Bailey’s Caramel Irish Cream on top of it all.  Place the bowls in the freezer for approximately 15 - 20 minutes before serving.  Add a maraschino cherry on top and drizzle a little of the marschino liquid down the sides of he volcano.

It’s Valentine’s Day again, and many of us want to prepare a romantic meal for our significant other. I’ve been through lots of phases in preparing romantic meals. I learned quickly that spending all day preparing an elaborate meal is counter-productive.   After all that time and effort, I wasn’t even hungry by the time mealtime arrived, and the sink was piled high with dirty dishes. Plus, I was too tired to enjoy the rewards of the romantic meal and atmosphere.

With that in mind, here is what I suggest for a simple, delicious and romantic meal:

Make a deliciously fresh salad with romaine lettuce hearts, shredded carrots and tomato slices.  Sprinkle some blue cheese crumbles on top, and use your favorite salad dressing. Buy two good quality ribeye steaks. Season them well.  I usually use garlic salt and pepper.  Wrap in aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator until you’re ready to grill them. Wash two baking potatoes potatoes, pierce each with a fork, spray them lightly with cooking spray, wrap in aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees until tender - about 45 minutes, depending on the size. Approximately 20 minutes before dinner time, grill the steaks - 8-10 minutes on each side.

So here’s your menu: grilled ribeye steak, fresh tossed salad, baked potato.  If you like bread with you meal, buy a baguette to serve.  The perfect dessert for such a meal is sherbet.   It provides a light and refreshing finish to the meal.   Pair a good quality merlot to drink with the meal.  This is a meal that can’t be screwed up (unless you overcook or burn the steak).  It takes little preparation - and most people love a good steak. You can substitute a premium quality salmon steak for the ribeye, if you prefer.

If you want an appetizer, buy a block of a soft cheese like Neufchatel and some sesame or whole wheat crackers.  There’s nothing like spreading a little cheese on a cracker and nibbling on it while sipping wine to set a romantic atmosphere for pre-dinner conversation.

Set the table with pretty placemats and consider buying a small fresh flower bouquet for the table. Then relax and enjoy the meal and conversation - and the rewards of your efforts.