A Tri-Tip roast is a triangular muscle cut from the bottom sirloin. The cut is lean but tender and rich in beefy flavor. Cooked right, it produces juicy slices of roast beef. You can grill or roast it whole, or cut it into individual steaks.
Tri-tip roast is best when cooked by dry-heat methods, such as roasting, grilling, or broiling. This lean cut becomes tough if overcooked. To ensure a tender result, leave the fat on so it can baste the meat while cooking, then trim it off before serving.
To achieve the doneness you want, use a meat thermometer and cook to 5 to 10 degrees below the desired temperature. Temperatures for medium-rare are 145°F (63°C), for medium 160°F (71°C), and for well done 170°F (77°C). Remove the roast from the oven or grill and let stand 10 to 15 minutes. The roast will continue cooking as it stands.
Tri-tip roast may be marinated or rubbed with a spice mixture before cooking. The purpose of rubs or marinades is not to tenderize, but to add flavoring.
Oven Roasted Tri-Tip Roast
Ingredients
1 beef Tri-Tip Roast (1-1/2 to 2 pounds)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasoning:
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. Combine seasoning ingredients and press onto the beef Tri-Tip Roast. Place roast on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Roast in the preheated oven 30 to 35 minutes for medium-rare; 40 minutes for medium doneness.
Remove the roast when an instant-read thermometer registers 130°F for medium-rare; 140°F for medium. Transfer to a board; tent with foil. Let stand 20 minutes. The temperature will continue to rise.
Carve roast across the grain. Serve with pan gravy, roasted carrots, and mashed potatoes.
Pan Gravy
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup flour
2 cups beef broth
Coarse salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Small can of sliced mushrooms, optional
Directions
Remove the roast and rack. Place the pan over low heat on the stove. Add the butter to the roasting pan. Once it melts and bubbles, whisk in the flour to make a roux. Continue to whisk 1-2 minutes longer, until the paste is light brown Slowly whisk in the broth, and allow the mixture to come to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow the gravy to simmer for 5-10 minutes until it thickens to your preferred consistency Stir often to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Add a small can of sliced mushrooms, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.
Roasted Rainbow Carrots
Ingredients
2 bunches rainbow carrots, peeled and cut ln ½-inch thick sticks
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper plus additional to taste, as needed
Chopped parsley for garnish, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F and oil a large baking dish.
Place carrots in the baking dish and sprinkle with the seasoning. Dot with the butter.
Bake 20 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.
Serve warm, garnished with parsley.
Garlic and Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons butter
3/4-1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Directions
In a 4-quart saucepan, combine water to cover the potatoes, potatoes, and garlic over high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover; simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes and garlic and return them to the empty pot.
Mash potatoes and garlic. Add butter, stir and then add sour cream, chives, salt, and pepper stirring until smooth.
Serve with Sausage and Peppers. Recipe follows.
Ciabatta Rolls
Starter
1 1/2 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 cup room temperature water
1/16 teaspoon instant yeast
Or you can substitute 1 3/4 cups of sourdough starter
To make the biga: Mix all of the ingredients until well blended. Cover the bowl, and let rest at room temperature for 12 to 20 hours, until the mixture is very bubbly.
Dough
All of the starter (from above)
2 teaspoons instant yeast
3 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons Baker’s Special Dry Milk or nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup lukewarm water
3 tablespoons olive oil
To make the dough: Mix the biga with the remaining ingredients for 2 to 4 minutes, using an electric mixer set on slow speed. Increase the mixer speed to medium, and mix for about 4 minutes; the dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
Let the dough rise in a greased bowl, covered, for 1 to 2 hours, until very puffy.
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, and shape it into a 6″ x 12″ rectangle. Using a bench knife, cut out eight 3″ square rolls. Space the rolls out evenly on the board. Let them rise for about 45 minutes, covered with a thin kitchen towel until they’re puffy.
Place a baking stone in the top third of the oven, and preheat the oven to 450°F. With a wide spatula place the rolls on the hot baking stone.
Bake the rolls for 15-18 minutes, until they’re golden brown. Remove them from the oven, and cool on a rack.
Yield: 8 rolls.
Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 lbs hot Italian Sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large onion, diced
2 bags of mini bell peppers, stems sliced off
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 cups finely chopped Italian tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Heat the oil in a large skillet with a cover. Add the sausage and cook until lightly browned. Add the onion and peppers and stir fry for about 5 minutes. Cover the pan and let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes and seasoning and simmer the mixture covered for 15 minutes more.
Ingredients
1 garlic clove grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
l1 tablespoon butter
¼ cup finely chopped onion
¼ cup finely chopped celery
3 mini red sweet peppers, finely chopped
10 oz raw shrimp (about 18), peeled and chopped
6 oz firm white fish such as sea bass, chopped
8 oz lump crab meat
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning (Old Bay)
1 cup whole milk Ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded Mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus extra for the top
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
24 large pasta shells
White Sauce
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup of water
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
3/4 teaspoon seafood seasoning
Directions
Cook the jumbo shells in boiling salted water for two minutes less than the package instructions. Drain in a colander and run cold water over them for a minute or two. Place the shells on kitchen towels while you make the filling.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.Butter a large baking dish
In a skillet, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Add in garlic, onion, celery, and mini peppers, and cook until the vegetables are softened; about 3 minutes. Add in shrimp and sea bass and season with Old Bay seasoning. Cook until the shrimp become pink and the sea bass is cooked; about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and let cool.
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, egg, and fresh ground black pepper. Stir in cooled shrimp mixture and crab meat.
In the same skillet, you cooked the shrimp in, bring the cream and milk to a low boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, add the seafood seasoning. Remove the skillet from the heat and whisk in the flour and parmesan cheese. Return to a simmer, and cook until the sauce thickens about 5 minutes.
Fill each pasta shell with 2 tablespoons of the seafood filling and place them in the baking dish.
Pour the sauce over the filled pasta shells in the baking dish. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Serve with a green mixed salad.
2 dozen cookies
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
6 eggs, room temperature
1 cup of vegetable oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Lemon glaze
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Directions
In an electric mixing bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In a large measuring cup combine the oil, eggs, and lemon juice.
Slowly pour the liquid mixture into the flour mixture with the mixer on low speed until well combined.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350℉.
Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop dough with a medium-sized cookie scoop (¼ cup) and drop on the prepared pan. Place 12 mounds on each baking sheet.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the bottom of the cookies is lightly browned. Switch the baking sheets halfway through the baking time.
Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool.
When the cookies are completely cooled:
Whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice.
Place the cookie racks over waxed paper.
Pour the glaze evenly over the entire tops of the cookies and allow them to dry before serving or storing.
3-4 servings
Ingredients
12-ounce sustainable, wild-caught swordfish or tuna fillet, 1 inch thick
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 celery rib, finely chopped
28 oz container Italian tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
½ teaspoon dried red chile flakes
Salt and pepper, to taste
Aromatics, to taste (bay leaves, thyme, rosemary)
10 black olives, pitted and chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flatleaf parsley
8 oz short pasta
Directions
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until lightly browned and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add anchovies and cook, stirring with the back of a spoon, about 1 minute. Add capers, celery, and olives; cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and herbs of choice and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add salt and drizzle with oil; return to a boil. Add pasta, stirring, until water returns to a boil. Cook until al dente, according to package directions. Drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.
Pour the sauce into the empty pasta pot and keep warm
Slice the swordfish into two ½-inch thick slices. Cut each into 1-inch cubes.
Heat the remaining olive oil in the empty skillet. Add the swordfish and season with salt and black pepper. Cook the swordfish until just cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Transfer the pasta to a large serving platter. Pour half of the sauce over the pasta. Top with the swordfish and pour the remaining sauce over the fish and pasta. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.
Roasted Lemon Chicken with Potatoes and Onions
Leftovers make a great Chicken Pot Pie.
Ingredients
1 lemon, cut into thin circles
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon. kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
11/2 lbs large Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into eighths
1 large onion, cut into eighths
2 lbs chicken parts, trimmed of excess fat and skin (I used 3 thighs and 1 large breast half cut in half.)
Directions
Place 2 tablespoons of the oil in a baking dish. Add the garlic loves, onions and potatoes. Sprinkle with half the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place the chicken on top of the vegetable mixture and sprinkle with the remaining seasoning. Place the lemon slices on top of the chicken. Drizzle the mixture with the remaining oil.
Cover the baking pan with aluminum foil and put it in a preheated oven at 275 degrees F (135 C) for 60 minutes. Remove the foil, turn the oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 C) and roast the chicken and potatoes for 30 minutes more.
Roasted Broccolini
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 small bunch of broccolini
Directions
Place the oil in a baking dish and place the broccolini in the dish in a single layer. Top with the chopped garlic, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. When the oven is raised to 375 degrees F for the chicken dish, place the broccoli in the oven and let it roast for 30 minutes. Remove the broccolini from the oven and squeeze the lemon over the stalks. Serve with the chicken and potatoes.
Grilled Lamb Chops
2 servings
Ingredients
4 loin lamb chops
Marinade
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried Greek seasoning or oregano
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Combine the marinade ingredients in a ziplock food storage bag. Give it a shake. Add the lamb, seal the bag, and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
Preheat an outdoor or stovetop grill. Place the lamb on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove to a serving platter and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Beets With Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
2 large beets washed well
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Salt
1cup plain whole-milk yogurt, preferably Greek-style
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
Black pepper
To roast beets:
Trim the greens off the beets to within 1 inch and scrub the beets. Arrange the beets in a small roasting pan, add 1/8 inch water, and cover loosely with foil. Roast at 450 degrees F for 45-60 minutes, until they are tender when pierced with a knife. When cool enough to handle, peel the beets: Cut off the stem and root ends and scrape the thin layer of skin off with a knife. Quater each beet and place them in a serving bowl. To serve top with several tablespoons of tzatziki sauce.
To make the sauce
In a mixing bowl, combine garlic, lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in yogurt and olive oil and dill. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.
Greek Salad
Dressing
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon sugar or sugar substitute
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoon lemon juice
Salad
4 cups torn Romaine lettuce
1/4 of red onion, sliced
Half cucumber, sliced
1 tomato, diced
12 kalamata olives
4 pepperoncini peppers
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions
Pour all the dressing ingredients into a large jar and shake well.
Place the jar in the refrigerator for a few hours to blend flavors.
Combine the Greek salad ingredients in a large serving bowl. Pour half of the dressing over the salad and toss. Add more dressing if desired.
Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Black Pepper
Directions:
Heat together the cream and butter over medium heat until bubbling.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add the cheese and mix well over medium heat until the sauce thickens. Keep warm.
Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
4 servings
Ingredients
8 oz fettuccine
1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
2 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 recipe of Alfredo Sauce
Directions
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta in a colander.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil; swirl to coat. Add shrimp, green onion, and garlic; sauté for 4 minutes or until shrimp are done.
Reduce heat to medium and add the alfredo sauce. Cook 1 minute and add drained pasta. Stir gently and cook until the pasta is coated and warmed.
Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
America is a melting pot that was formed by the hard-working people who migrated here from lands as far east as China and Japan, as far north as Russia and Europe. They utilized American supplies and prepared them in ways that they had prepared them in their homeland. True American food is a collection of these culinary traditions passed down from generation to generation”.Each culture brought their cooking methods, food, and spices to America. They farmed the soil, hunted game, and incorporated their ways into the food of America.
If you once lived in the New York area you may remember some of the wonderful Eastern European foods you could purchase on the Lower Eastside. But if you live anywhere else in the country, or the world, it’s not likely that you’ would have had the pleasure of enjoying one of these chewy, baked onion-stuffed bialys.
The bialy is not a type of bagel; it’s a thing unto itself. Round with a depressed middle filled with cooked onions and poppy seeds, it is simply baked (bagels are boiled, then baked). This means the outside is crispy and the inside is soft and tender, They can be eaten with cream cheese or straight-up shortly out of the oven.
The bialy was brought to the United States by Polish Jewish refugees in the late 1800s and became a staple of the Jewish bakeries in the Northeastern United States. Thousands of Jewish immigrants arrived from Poland and settled on the Lower East Side of New York City. Like most ethnic groups, they brought with them their local traditions and foods from their homeland. The Jews from Bialystok, Poland brought their local bread, called a “bialy” that they ate with every meal. The word “bialy” is actually a shortened version of “Bialystoker Kuchen” which in Yiddish means “little bread from Bialystok.”
Bialys became a popular bread and also breakfast for people in New York City, and the outlying areas; especially by American Jews. Bialys are considered an iconic food representative of New York City and can be difficult to find outside that area. However, bialys are sold frozen by a number of brands such as Ray’s New York, and others, in supermarkets across the country. Or you can make them at home.
New York Bialys
Dough
3 cups High-Gluten Flour
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons lukewarm water
Filling
1 medium-large onion, peeled and finely diced
1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
Heaping 1/8 teaspoon salt
Topping
Coarse salt and poppy seeds
Directions
Place the dough ingredients in a mixer bowl, and mix and knead for about 7 minutes, until a smooth, fairly stiff dough forms.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it, and allow it to rise for about 90 minutes until doubled in bulk.
While the dough is rising, make the filling. Fry the diced onion in the oil over high heat; it’ll brown very quickly, so stir often. Sprinkle with the salt, stir to combine, and remove the pan from the heat. Transfer to a small bowl to cool.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper and sprinkle lightly with cornmeal.
On a floured board or counter, punch dough down and roll into a cylinder shape. With a sharp knife, cut the cylinder into 8 rounds. Gently pat each dough round into circles each about 4 inches in diameter. I placed English Muffin rings on the baking sheets and placed the dough in each so that they would hold their shape.
Place bialys on prepared baking sheets, cover with a kitchen towel and let rise 30 minutes or until increased by about half in bulk.
Make an indention in the center of each bialy with two fingers of each hand, pressing from the center outward, leaving a 1-inch rim. Place approximately 1 teaspoon of the onion mixture in the hole of each bialy. Dust lightly with flour, cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with salt and poppy seeds. (Remove the muffin rings if used.)
Bake on upper and lower shelves of the oven for 10 minutes, then switch pans and reverse positions of pans and bake another 10 minutes until bialys are lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool on wire racks. Serve with cream cheese, if desired.
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds hot Italian sausage links
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into eighths
1 pound sweet mini peppers, stem end removed but left whole.
1 large onion. sliced
1 teaspoon roasted garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl toss together the oil, sliced potatoes, peppers, onions, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
Spread the mixture in a large roasting pan. Top with the sausage and roast for 60-75 minutes until the sausage is cooked and the vegetables are brown turning the mixture halfway through the baking. Serve with some crusty Italian bread.
