steak & caramelized onion paninis

so, i have to say, i'm not a huge fan of going out to eat. [hence the meal plans.]

1. [not to pat myself on the back, but] i can totally make 99% of meals we eat out, in our own kitchen.

[honestly i think anyone can! as long as you can follow a recipe, you're half way to becoming a chef.]

2. i can do #1 for a fraction of the cost we would pay out.

3. it's way more comfortable at home.

thursday night, major barber & i went out to eat with a couple of good friends & a few guys from out of town.

leaving the men up to picking the location, they chose a steak house.

[disclaimer: i hope everyone appreciates my candor...i wouldn't normally discuss dollar amounts like this, but i just want to break it down now on the reals.]

our bill [including tip & a couple drinks for hubs] was $125!!

i don't know about you, but that's a week of groceries in our house.

after two loaves of bread & butter, i took 3 bites of my HUGE ny strip steak entree, & i was full.

SO...that leads me to...

[actually, last night...AND breakfast today!]

steak & caramelized onion paninis

2 slices fresh italian bread

2 slices sharp white cheddar

1/4 c caramelized onions

2 oz leftover steak, thinly sliced

2 oz butter, softened

butter outside of bread. inside, layer cheese, steak, onions, cheese. [i always do a top & bottom layer of cheese in my paninis, because it helps hold everything in.]

cook in a panini press, or in a frying pan over medium heat,  until golden brown.

after dinner, there was STILL leftover steak!! benjamin was positive it was for him, so he sat patiently waiting. [he never got it.] instead, i cut it into a small dice &, along with the leftover onions, saved it for a saturday morning breakfast scramble...& made 1 restaurant meal into 3.

brown sugar acorn squash

OH MY WORD... she's back!

and she's...MARRIED!

i am terribly embarrassed that i have neglected this baby blog, but my excuse is valid. i was planning a wedding while housing all of my in laws. [needless to say, i was a busy lady.]

that being said, i am officially signed, sealed, delivered, mrs. barber. no big deal! i am certainly not the first or last to say this, but i never want this over-the-moon-head-in-the-clouds phase to wear off...the one where you can't stop saying "my husband."

so, now that i'm home and doing my housewifery, i am also going to keep up with this blog project. i. will. be. a. blogger. [not striving to be one of the popular, cool kids; just the kind who starts a project & sticks to it.]

so, onto...

holy moly. this is a treat. being off the wedding diet wagon means carbs & fat served in a bowl of deliciousness. growing up, this was our mom' way of sneaking veg onto our plates. now i know better, but it's still supremely awesome next to it's friends, a juicy pork chop & fresh, steamed green beans.

brown sugar acorn squash

2 acorn squash, cut in half lengthwise & seeded

1/4c h2o

1 stick butter [don't judge me.]

8 T light brown sugar

preheat oven to 350°F. place squash halves [two at a time] face down, in a 8x8 glass baking dish. fill dish with 1/8c water. microwave on high for 7 minutes. take out of micro [caution: HOT!!] & flip over into 9x13 baking dish. [repeat with other halves.] fill each half with 2 T butter & 2 T sugar. bake for 20 minutes, or until sugar is melted.

thai lettuce wraps

this is one of our newly discovered favorites!! it is "paleo" [if that's your thing...i'm not that i'm trying that again, because i wind up having more "cheat" days than good days.]...

anyway, it's a nice, healthy, doesn't make you feel gross, kind of meal.

[p.s. thanks rachael ray for allowing me to extremely adapt this recipe to our liking.] 

thai lettuce wraps
1 heart of romaine
1lb ground pork [or turkey]
1 clove garlic, grated
1 T EV olive oil
1/2 medium red pepper, brunoise [what the french is that?! ...it's a fancy way of saying 1/8" cubes]
1/2 jalapeño, brunoise
1/4 medium sweet onion, bruniose
1/4 c cilantro, chopped
tt soy sauce [depending on your umami tolerance.]
tt sriracha [depending on your spicy tolerance.]
1 T brown sugar
1 tsp fresh squeezed lime juice

sautee peppers & onion, 3 minutes, or until onions look clear. in a separate pan, cook meat and garlic in oil over high, 7 minutes. off heat, stir in next 5 ingredients. serve with lettuce. [use the lettuce like a taco shell...]