Pepper steak / beef broccoli

My recipes for pepper steak and beef broccoli are pretty damn similar; often I do a hybrid that combines the ingredients for both. For beef broccoli, eliminate the peppers, and add broccoli and water chestnuts.

John’s hot sandwiches

That post title sounds dirty for some reason. Probably because I’m twelve.

These are two of John’s go-to entertaining recipes. I made them myself last night for Scrabble, and they went over really well, particularly the hot roast beef. And they’re so easy, it’s almost embarrassing to call them recipes.

Guacamole

Guac is one of my favorite things to make. Partly because I get to use a mortar and pestle, hehe. Plus it’s so easy and so yum. And I used to be able to use my own tomatoes…

Steak salad

I threw this together for lunch this morning, and was surprised with how satisfying it ended up being.

Orzo and shrimp

This is a Barefoot Contessa recipe I made for George and myself one night. Very summery.

Valentine’s Day Surf & Turf

I’m a lucky woman. John made me his take on surf & turf for belated Valentine’s Day dinner. His combo was crab cakes and braised short ribs, and he served it with mashed potatoes, garlic bread and what would have been string beans, but we ate so late that we ended up omitting those. The short ribs and crab cake recipes I will share with you!

Easy baked chicken

This is pretty much how my mom used to make baked chicken. She did it with split bone-in chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless depending on what you have on hand. The picture below is actually boneless chicken thighs, served with tator tots and paprika-scented peas.

John’s “Samoans”

Yes, John calls samosas “samoans”. To the point where I do, too. Somewhat in homage to “Baby Got Back”…We had these at a game night or party and they were delish.

John’s Caribbean Pasta with Shrimp

Ok, if I’m totally honest, John basically won in the Caribbean shrimp pasta-off between him and me for Jess’s birthday. Here’s his recipe, though mine is still worth checking out as well, hehe.

Crock pot carnitas

I’m back! I’ve spent the past two weeks on a theater journalism fellowship, so not much time for recipe posting. Here’s one Becky sent me in the meantime.

I’ve made carnitas in the crock pot twice before and Beck’s recipe looks pretty similar to what I did. I can’t vouch for the salsa, as I haven’t had it, but it looks great!