Need a special Father's Day Recipe? - Steaks with Gorgonzola Butter

I am actually thinking ahead in my recipe posting today. It is probably because I am getting my Father's Day menu ready. We have no money to go out to eat, so I am going to fix a special meal for Justin with his favorite sides. Here is the special part.. Steak with Gorgonzola butter...

We love Bonefish Grill and they have the most amazing fillet with Gorgonzola butter. The only time we get to go there is when my dad is treating... Even though money is tight this Father's Day.. I am going to splurge a little and fix Justin this recipe with his favorite sides. The Gorgonzola butter makes alot, but it freezes really well. This butter is the perfect addition to any steak!

Gorgonzola Butter (6 servings)

INGREDIENTS:
2 heads of garlic, top 3/4 inch cut off to expose cloves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1/3 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (about 2 ounces)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place garlic on piece of foil; drizzle with olive oil. Enclose garlic in foil. Bake until garlic is very soft, about 1 hour. Cool. Squeeze garlic cloves out from papery skins into medium bowl; mash garlic with fork. Mix in butter, cheese, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer Gorgonzola butter to sheet of plastic wrap. Using plastic wrap as aid, form butter into 1 1/4-inch-diameter log, wrapping plastic tightly around butter. Chill until firm. (Can be made 2 days ahead; keep chilled.) Cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds.

Steaks

Steaks (his favorite cut)

-Marinate with Gravy Master (my aunt's secret ingredient) and Garlic Pepper

-Grill or Cook in Skillet or Cast Iron Skillet to desired doneness (4 -5 min per side for med-rare).

-PLEASE DO NOT OVERCOOK! (Although even if you overcook, the Gorgonzola butter will add flavor and take away the dryness.)

Serve with his favorite sides. I will be serving this with Potato Skins (appetizer) and Green Bean Casserole.

Enjoy!

Why haven't you updated your blog?

My mom called me last week and asked.. Why haven't you updated your blog? I told her to tune in this week, I have plenty of stories from last week. If she would have seen my house and if she knows how slow I am at writing blogs.. she would have said.. you need to take a break and get your house in order. So much happened last week.. I will get you caught up now.

Kate threw her first real fit.. yes, that was NOT fun! Oh, and she says "Toby" all the time and loves him.. I wish I could say that he feels the same way, but he is a little fickle.. he usually acts like he likes her, jumps up on her, licks her, etc. Then last Tuesday she tried to take back her socks he stole and...I think demons came out of him and he bit her hand. She is fine (he is so small, so no real damage done). I think they are back to loving each other now. Justin on the other hand... says he is moving to FL. We will see.

I got caught up on laundry/cleaning, mowed the lawn (the first time ever.. and will save the story for another post) and re-did two rooms. Ok, let me be honest, I didn't even do those things last week (I have done all those things the past two days.. since Justin has been out of town). For some reason I get so motivated when he is gone. I really have no idea why... my only excuse is he is so much fun when he is home.. I just want to hang out with him... therefore, my chores do not get done. Oh wait, that doesn't exactly work... because is his not here all day, only the evenings.

Last Monday we had just woken up. I was getting Kate up and ready for breakfast. Justin was taking Toby out and watering the plants. (This is our normal and exciting daily morning routine). All of a sudden Justin ran in the house and yelled, NICOLE... there are ANIMALS {ok, I want to pause right here.. because in that second I was picturing rats, mice, raccoons and snakes in our attic or garage.} He said, "there are animals... eating our new plants." For those of you who missed it, we just had new landscaping put in (Here is the post.) Last Monday it had been one week.

You know I love before and after photos.. so here you go, did I mention it has only been two weeks since we planted these plants?

Before Deer:

After Deer (the circles show the now DEAD plants):

You have no idea the lengths that Justin has taken to keep the deer away.. I won't go into detail of all his secrets.. but it has included liquid fence, eggs, garlic, pepper, hair and urine. I will have to say that I think it is working (I hope). Also.. I am calling the landscapers today.. hoping they will replace the plants!

Other things we have been up to.. graduation parties, and going to the pool. Here are a couple pictures of our baby girl.. she is growing up so fast!

Here is Kate at Tiffany's graduation party. She took every lei out of the basket and put it on her.

Kate this morning.. I took it with her new favorite toy. She loves the little bunny purse my friend Laine got her. She carries it everywhere.

Now back to cleaning and getting ready for VBS tonight. I hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Need a new favorite, fast recipe? Kielbasa, Veggies and Rice

I am taking a break from blogging this week.. don't worry, I do have stories to tell, but they will have to wait until next week. I decided to go ahead and post a recipe today.. mainly because I cooked this on Monday and it was so EASY, FAST and really good! We had it again for leftovers last night and Justin kept telling me how good it was. To make it even better is a recipe you can easily adjust depending on what you have on hand.

My friend, Amy told me about this recipe and I decided to try it. You really don't even need a "recipe", but here you go.

I always forget to take a picture of the recipes, but you will get the idea.

Kielbasa and Veggies with Rice

INGREDIENTS:
Kielbasa (1 package per 3-4 people)
Veggies (what ever you have on hand or whatever you like) (I only had onions, so I only made it with onions)
3 Onions (sliced)
Green Peppers (sliced)
Mushrooms (sliced)
Salt
Pepper
Emeril's Essence
2 Tablespoons Butter

Rice (white, dirty, jambalaya) {I had jambalaya, so that is what we used)

DIRECTIONS:
-Turn on Grill to Heat (medium heat)
-Start Cooking your favorite Rice.
-Tear off a two large pieces of foil (To make a foil pouch)
-Slice Kielbasa and place on foil.
-Place sliced veggies over Kielbasa.
-Sprinkle Salt, Pepper and Emeril's Essence over veggies.
-Place two tablespoons of butter on top of veggies.
-Cover and seal foil - to make a pouch and make sure it is sealed (you may need a couple pieces of foil).
-Place pouch directly over burner on grill.
-Cook for 30-40 min.
-Remove from grill, place in pan and serve over your favorite rice.

Want a free Doughnut? Freebie Friday

Did you know that today is National Free Donut day? Seriously, who comes up with these "holidays"? Anyway, Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts are both giving away free donuts today. Are they completely trying to sabotage my 30 day shred? Krispy Kreme is giving away one free donut per customer (no purchase required) and Dunkin Donuts is giving away one free donut with purchase of a drink.

In case you were wondering...

Why is National Donut Day celebrated on the first Friday in June? In 1917, Salvation Army female volunteers known as “lassies” prepared thousands of fresh donuts to the homesick soldiers that served in France during World War I. National Donut Day was officially established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise much-needed funds during the Great Depression.

Donut Facts:
-In the U.S. alone, more than 10 billion donuts are made every year.
-The largest donut ever made was an American-style jelly donut weighing 1.7 tons, which was 16 feet in diameter and 16 inches high in the center.
-Per capita, Canada has more donut shops than any other country.
-The hole in the donut's center appeared in the first half of the 19th Century.
-Adolph Levitt invented the first donut machine in 1920.

Also, did you know there are two correct ways to spell doughnut and donut?

Ok, so enough of this boring, pointless and COMPLETELY RANDOM post. I guess I am bitter.. this free donut stuff doesn't really go with my 30 day shred!

Do you want to see the "after"? "Need" new Flip Flops?

Our new landscaping is now in and daily watering has begun. I have posted pictures below... you may have to squint, yes the plants are very small (we were on a SMALL budget). They tell us they will grow fast, but I am pretty sure they will not grow as fast as I want. Hopefully we won't kill them. Good news though, it cost less than they quoted us. Thank you Barefoot & Assoc. Landscaping!

Now for something totally random.. I got these in the mail today. I LOVE THEM!

I saw them on the E! channel. They were doing a special for cheap summer fashion. I had a rough week last week and Justin (my sweet husband) gave me some money to go shopping with. When I saw these on TV, I immediately went online and ordered them. They are even cuter in person and on my feet. So I thought I would share. They are are 100% vegan and 100% recyclable footwear so lightweight and airy, they'll feel better than bare feet on a warm summer day. So if you are looking for a cute, cheap pair of sandals.. I totally recommend these -Footpetals Flexyfeet . They are only $22.95. I ordered them in black, but I want the silver and gold. Seriously cute!

Now for our new landscaping photos:

THE CREW:

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER