Steak and Potato Soup

I made some steak and potato soup for lunch today and hubby thought it was great. So did I, and I was thrilled. LOL  No exact proportions to the ingredients, I just toss. lol  I didn't make a whole lot, enough for four servings. I used left over steak and cut off the fatty stuff (cringing, don't like fat) and cut the pieces of steak into small pieces. I also used pork broth I had in the freezer from when I had made a pork roast. I save the broths when I cook meat. I read an article in a magazine about keeping the broth when you cook veggies, too, and think I will do that, too. After cooking the meat I pour the juice into a plastic bowl, put a lid on it and stick it in the fridge. The fat rises to the top and I take that off, rinse it in cold water, and put it into a plastic bag and stick it in the freezer. Beef fat, tallow, can be used to make candles. They are soft so I put them into containers to stay in there. Pork fat, lard, for pies and biscuits.

Have you bought lard in the stores lately? It has hydrogenated oil in it! I was going to buy lard to get away from the hydrogenated junk and low and behold, there it was in the can of lard! That's why I have REAL lard in my freezer in a bag.

Steak and Potato Soup

• Cubed left over steak left 
• Pork broth to fill pan 3/4 full
• Chopped onion
• Chopped red pepper
• White potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cubed (I used three med sized potatoes)
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, basil, sage, oregano, thyme, celery salt, garlic, rosemary

Throw it all into the pan and cook it till the potatoes are tender. 

We didn't have any leftover soup today. YAYAYAAYAYAAYA  LOL

Cajun Pepper Steak

ohh... this one was good. Yes yes yes yes yes. I didn't have a jar of Cajun spice that it called for, so I didn't use any, but I did put SOME spiced in there. LOL Denny just loved this, he talked about it for a couple of days how good it was. Had me send the recipe to my son, who loves to cook. It's to be served over hot rice or noodles, I used the rice.

BTW, it's been snowing outside here during the night and all day today and more is to come tonight. I think the temperature is a little lower than the average 50 degrees this time of year! I was beginning to think we had been transported back to Illinois! LOL

Cajun Pepper Steak pg 167 Taste of Home Winning Recipes

1 1/2 lb boneless beef round steak, cubed 2 Tbs vegetable oil

1 can (14 1/2 oz) beef broth 1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 C chopped green pepper 1/2 C chopped onion

3 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 bay leaf 1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 to 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning 1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper 2 Tbs cornstarch

2 Tbs cold water Hot cooked rice or noodles

In a large skillet, cook beef in oil over medium heat until browned; drain. Stir in the broth, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until meat is tender.

Discard bay leaf. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into meat mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over rice or noodles.

Yield: 4 - 6 servings.

I don't know if Seth has tried this yet, or not. I will have to ask him. We all sure liked it! Gonna go check the fire in the wood stove now.. it sure does make a room warm !!! :)