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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Rib-Eye Steak With Mushroom Ragu

Bev and I had just returned from Gaffney, SC on Saturday where I attended a super informative two-day class about our RV chassis put on by the Freightliner Custom Chassis folks.  Since we were then leaving on Monday for our first RV rally, we decided we needed to invite friends Joe and Carol over for a margarita and a steak.

We had two 2” thick prime rib-eyes from Mother Earth Meats in the freezer (I’m trying to empty it again).


We also had some mushrooms we needed to use so we opted for a mushroom ragu to go with the beef.  I looked around on the web and found a recipe for Double Mushroom Ragu from Fine Cooking.  Bev adapted it for the mushrooms we had and our taste – just click the link for the original recipe.

Double Mushroom Ragu

Ingredients:
3 Tbs. unsalted butter  
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
20 oz. cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Kosher salt             
1/3 cup finely chopped shallot
1/3 cup Cognac
1 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh thyme
3/4 cup heavy cream; more for reheating
Freshly ground black pepper
Cornstarch to thicken if needed
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
1. In a 10-inch straight-sided saute pan, heat 2 Tbs. of the butter with the olive oil over medium heat. 
2. Add the cremini and 1 tsp. salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have softened and released their liquid, 5 to 8 minutes. 
3. Increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring more frequently, until the mushrooms are shrunken and very well browned, 8 to 10 minutes more.
4. Reduce the heat to medium, add the shallots and the remaining 1 Tbs. butter and cook, stirring, until the shallots are softened, 1 to 2 minutes. 
5. Add the Cognac and thyme then cook and stir until most of the liquid evaporates, 1 to 2 minutes. 
6.Add the cream and cook until reduced to a saucy consistency, 1 to 2 minutes. 
7. Bev added some cornstarch at this point.
8. Stir in the parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Since we were using such good steaks, I seasoned them with only S&P and a little Montreal Steak Seasoning before cooking reverse sear on the charcoal grill – one to 125* and the other to 135* internal temp. 

Joe, Carol, and Bev sat out in the cool while I grilled.


Since we were all hungry, I didn’t worry too much about presentation - my norm.

We began the meal with a salad of grilled romaine (no shots) then sided the steak with grilled herbed potatoes using a recipe from Epicurious  

Grilled Herbed Potatoes

Ingredients:
2 pounds large Yukon Gold or other yellow-fleshed potatoes (we used red)
1/4 cup chopped mixed herbs such as parsley, chives, rosemary, and oregano
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (we used lemon infused EVOO)
1 lemon wedge plus additional for serving (omitted)

Preparation:
1. Wash and cut potatoes into 1/2-inch-thick slices and cook in a large pot of well-salted boiling water 10 minutes (potatoes will not be cooked through).
2. Meanwhile, stir together herbs, garlic, oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large shallow dish.
3. Drain potatoes well and transfer to herb oil, tossing gently to coat.
4. Transfer potatoes to grill, letting excess oil drip into dish (reserve oil in dish). Grill potatoes, covered, turning once or twice, until tender, about 5 minutes total. Return potatoes to dish and toss again with herb oil. Season with salt and serve with lemon wedges.

 My plated shot - I had seconds of the meat and potatoes.  As a kid I didn't like my food to touch and unless I'm really thinking about it, that's still what I do.  This would have looked much better with the meat laying on the taters a little.


Everything was delicious and I especially enjoyed the ragu - it will be made again.  I sampled the meat without sauce and while it was very good, I don’t think my taster can justify the additional cost for prime beef – we had a half-off coupon for these.  Also, the fat between the muscles in a rib-eye doesn’t work as well for this type of presentation as would a filet or strip.

Photos best if enlarged by clicking on them.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

10/21/2013 event date











14 comments:

  1. Yum, steak with mushrooms and potatoes, my favorite. Lucky Joe & Carol to be neighbors of yours when you clean out your frig :)
    Sam

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  2. Everything looks and sounds delicious.. I LOVE grilled potato wedges... and the sauce... I'm loving the sauce... wish I could get Chris to eat mushrooms!!!

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  3. I may have to have Jim drag a steak out of the freezer for dinner tomorrow night. I have to tell you, your comment on my block just cracked me up. But I doubt very much that those favorite words were only when you were younger. I'm sure they still work today. Still chuckling.

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  4. That is my kind of meal! The beef looks perfectly cooked and I am loving those potatoes and mushroom ragu. YUM!

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  5. I have heard nothing but great things about the Freightliner School, but I don't have a Freighliner Chassis.

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  6. YUM.... As much as I love good steak, I'd love that dinner. The Mushroom Ragu sounds wonderful.. Thanks for the recipe.

    Sounds like you learned alot about your new RV.... Glad you had a good time at the rally too. AND---it was nice to catch a time to meet with your friends.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  7. I really like recipes from Fine Cooking and thics mushroom dishes sounds like a good one. Can't think of a more perfect meal. Steak, potatoes, mushrooms and a salad

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  8. Larry, Great looking meal! Laurie would take her steak with the ragu and of course, I'd go without. Love potatoes like that and the grilled romaine sounds interesting too! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  9. I'll leave the mushrooms for you, but everything else looks wonderful.

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  10. Yum. That mushroom ragu looks great on those beautiful steaks. Love the potatoes too. Lucky neighbors.

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  11. What a meal! The mushrooms are the perfect side for those beautiful steaks.

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  12. I love grilled potatoes and especially love a big thick steak! Yum

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  13. That steak looks fantastic. A two day class about an RV chassis?

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  14. Wow, gorgeous steaks. Steaks like that beg the question, when does a steak become a rib roast? lol But to me, you can't beat a 1.5+" steak, totally different thing than a 3/4 to 1" ribeye, isn't it?

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