Pepper Steak

Pepper SteakI recently found a notebook from a cooking class I took where I rated different recipes that were made in the class. I wish I found this notebook sooner because I've found a ton of recipes in there that are dairy free AND I already had rated them beforehand so that I now don't have to waste my time on the recipes that weren't good. The recipe calls for round steak. When I went to the store round steaks were a terrible price, but they had a round London broil roast on sale and so I bought that and then cut it up to use in several meals, like one of our favorites- Beef Noodle Bowl. If you haven't tried buying roasts for steaks before I encourage you to because it's a great way to stretch a buck. This dish turned out so wonderful and my husband absolutely loved it. The sauce was also excellent. Make sure you don't clean the pan out from all the steak drippings because that's where it gets the flavor from.

Pepper Steak

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 1/2 lbs round steak cut into 1/4" strips

2 chicken bouillon cubes dissolved in 2 cups hot water (or 2 cups chicken stock)

dash of garlic salt

1 Tbsp sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch mixed with 3 Tbsp water

1 cup fresh or 1 (4 oz can) mushrooms

3 Tbsp soy sauce

1/4 tsp black pepper
1 green pepper cut into slices

3-4 cups hot cooked rice

Brown steak in the vegetable oil in a large pan or skillet (make sure it has a lid). Take the steak out and pour bouillon mixture/stock into the pan. Add garlic salt and black pepper and stir in soy sauce, sugar and mushrooms. Blend in the cornstarch & water mixture and stir. Add meat and cover tightly; simmer for 20 minutes. Add green pepper on top and simmer another 10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste and serve over rice.

Sugar Cookies

I love making sugar cookies! I don't mean to brag, but my neighbors know me for my really moist sugar cookies. My tried and true recipe uses butter and sour cream (if you are interested in that recipe you can email me and I'll be happy to share), so I've been on a long search for a good dairy free sugar cookie recipe. As most of you who have experimented already know, you just don't get the same results when you substitute dairy free margarine for butter with baking. That's why I'm happy to share this recipe I just tried. I couldn't find any reason anyone would ever suspect these to be dairy free-they turned out great! I'm excited I found a recipe before the big holiday season hits!

A few good things to know:

When you substitute margarine for butter you will get a stickier product, so chill the dough in the fridge as long as you can- at least an hour (I did mine about 3) just to make them easier to work with. I always use Nucoa margarine when I bake, but I'm sure there are a ton of great products out there.

Also take them out of the oven BEFORE they start to brown on top. They can still be white on top and starting to get golden on the bottoms. Otherwise they won't be chewy.

Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

Makes around 28 (2 1/2 inch) cookies

2/3 cup dairy free margarine, softened (I use Nucoa)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 Tbsp regular soy milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

In a large bowl beat margarine on high for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder and salt and beat until combined, scraping sides occasionally. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. Beat in the flour. Divide dough in half, cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface roll half the dough at a time to 1/8-1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough into shapes and place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake @ 375 for 7-8 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool before frosting.

Frost with dairy free frosting- you can substitute soy milk and dairy free margarine for any frosting recipe, or do like I do and add some fun food coloring to Duncan Hines Vanilla Frosting

Halloween Phantom

Halloween Treat Phantom So two nights ago I had a hard pound at my door at about 9:30 pm. It wasn't a friendly knock and when I saw that nobody was there out the peep hole, I called my husband to tell him that we were getting door-ditched. He said he was on his way home. Well after I knew for certain there was nobody out there to grab me, I opened up the door and sighed. It was the Halloween Phantom. My husband was with a group and when he told the rest of the guys who that it was just the Halloween Phantom, they were all hysterical and told me not to worry, they wouldn't tell anyone. So what is the Halloween Phantom? Well every year in October my quaint little neighborhood does something called the "Halloween Phantom" or "Halloween Ghost". I know not everyone is lucky enough to trust treats left at your doorstep, but such is my neighborhood.

You get a hard knock or ring late at night and when you peek out to your dark doorstep you'll find treats with a little note. I think this is a fun tradition and so I thought I'd pass it along. Don't worry, I'll also post the treats I made for my night as the "Halloween Phantom!"

Make sure you attach a ghost to the poem as well (the one above is the one I got with my poem this year) This year's note was different, so here's two to choose from. Have fun and Happy Halloween!

"Since this is the time for goblins and bats,
For Halloween spirits, for ghosts and cats,
For weird happenings and witches’ brew,
These are the things that I wish for you…..
May the only spirit you chance to meet
Be the spirit of love and friends warm and sweet
May the only goblin that comes your way
Be this Neighborhood Phantom you must give away
'Tis much better to give than to receive' goes the old verse
And something this easy won’t empty your purse
It’s your turn to pass along a treat and a BOO
Because now the Neighborhood Phantom is little old YOU!
So by this time tomorrow, pick two friends sweet,
And give them each a Halloween treat.
You have only one day-so you’ll need to hurry-
Leave a treat on the doorstep, ring the bell and then scury!"

or

"Late last night, we left you a treat.

The tradition is fun, one we hope you'll repeat.

Take the ghost and pin it on your door,

To let others know, you need ghosted no more.

Now it's your duty to pass on the surprise

To two more families, we must advise.

Gather some treats and deliver them soon,

Within two nights, under the light of the moon.

Include a ghost with each package you give,

Along with this poem for the tradition to live."