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how-to: the steakhouse filet.

Call me old-fashioned, but I think every woman should know how to cook a steak for her man.

And with Valentine’s Day around the corner, what better time to knock this one off of your bucket list?

{To all of my meat-loving lady readers: You might just decide to make this one for yourself – and there ain’t no shame in that}

I’ve heard of engagement chicken, sure. And there are few things I love more than a good roasted chicken. But – if I were a betting woman, and the future of your relationship status depended on one meal and one meal only, I’m putting my money on steak.

Lesson of the day: Cooking up steaks better than they do at Ruth’s Chris is the real way to a man’s heart. Fact.

And guess what? No grill required! You might be surprised to know that many steakhouses don’t use use a grill to cook filet mignon. I don’t even remember where or when I first learned how to do it, but I’ve been cooking them this way for years now. I know it was before I saw Ina’s recipe because I remember feeling so proud when I saw that she made them the same way! You know, me and Ina, on the same page – NBD.

The method is super-simple – so simple that you’re going to be dumbfounded when you sink your teeth into one of these delicious steaks.

Here’s the secret: Sear on the stove, and finish in the oven.

That’s it. Seriously. This is so simple, you don’t even need a recipe. Get a little oil going over high heat in a cast-iron or stainless steel oven-proof skillet, sear the meat on each side for a minute or two until it develops a beautiful browned crust, and then just add a pat of butter to each steak before throwing ‘em in the oven for 6 minutes or so. Let them rest, covered in foil, for 10 minutes and you’ll get the most perfectly cooked medium-rare filets every time.

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chipotle-glazed squash skewers.

Welcome to the inaugural post for The Food Matters Project!

Each week, a group of food bloggers and home cooks are coming together to cook our way through The Food Matters Cookbook: 500 Revolutionary Recipes for Better Living by Mark Bittman.

I’m not gonna lie. This cookbook is overwhelming. Overwhelming in a way that I want to make at least 90% of the 500+recipes in this beast of a book. Overwhelming even moreso in a way that when I first read about what the “Food Matters” philosophy represents and stands for, I was so inspired that I decided to start this project.

In a nutshell, it’s about eating more plants and natural foods. In turn, we’re talking less meat and processed foods. And it’s about how all of that’s good for our health – duh – and the environment, too.

I selected this recipe to kick-off the launch of our project. It was so, so hard to pick just one. I’ve already cooked at least 5 or 6 recipes from the book, because they’re all just so simple and easy for everyday cooking. (If Mark Bittman’s new to you and if you’re a new-ish cook, I highly recommend you check out another book of his as well: How to Cook Everything.) There’s something about the way he explains things that’s so easy to understand, and his recipes are totally no-nonsense. He gives options and ideas for how to adapt almost any given recipe, so you can truly feel confident in what you’re doing if you’re new to experimenting with different flavors or ingredients. He makes cooking fun – and easy.

You know where I stand on this: If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. And yes, this applies even to healthy, easy-enough-for-a-weeknight cooking.

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BLT wraps with basil aioli.

White bread. A thick smear of mayo, full-fat – preferably homemade. Crispy slices of thick-cut bacon. Cool, crisp Boston lettuce leaves. Thick, juicy bright red slices of heirloom tomato…well-seasoned, of course.

It’s a good time.

That folks, is a real BLT – a traditional BLT. It’s a truly perfect sandwich, if you ask me. The only problem with this  sandwich is that it’s fairly limited by season. If you can’t get your hands on the perfect tomato, then you’re missing an imperative part of the sandwich. A BLT is the poster-child of simple food = beautiful food, and that means all of your ingredients must be, well, perfect.

Which is why I bring you this winter-friendly version of everyone’s favorite sandwich, the BLT.

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{baked} truffle fries.

1 gi-normous Idaho potato = $1. Truffle-infused olive oil = $17. Truffle salt = $15.

Truffle fries you can feel good about eating? Priceless.

Seriously – who doesn’t D.I.E. for truffle fries? Give me the name of one person. I guarantee it’s only because they’ve never had them. Truffles and potatoes were made for each other – heck, truffles plus {fill-in-the-blank-here} were made for each other, when I think about it…eggs, mac and cheese, garlic bread…

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seared scallops + beurre blanc.

One of the very first recipes I ever posted was for seared scallops.

Not just any seared scallops…seared scallops to die for.

But, in reality, all seared scallops are to die for – as long as you’re working with deliciously plump, fresh sea scallops and you know how to get a good sear going. When you get a good sear on a good scallop, it’s heavenly.

And the best part of it is…it’s so. freaking. simple. It makes me wonder why I haven’t made these since, um, Valentine’s Day – that’s two years ago, hi – to be precise. Special thanks to my dear friends Zan and Scott for reminding me of how great these are (they wrote to tell me they enjoyed them, along with this chive pasta and mushroom dish, for New Year’s Eve – which makes me really, really happy…it’s like you’re somehow with your friends, a part of their night, even though they’re thousands of miles away).

I do need to be reminded sometimes, because as much as I obsess over so many different dishes I make, I’m always looking to try something new. It’s rare that I repeat a dish, and I can only hope that soon I’ll become a good enough cook that I’ll start repeating – because repeating dishes is what makes you really good, it’s what makes you learn the dish inside and out. I think, maybe, I’m getting there.

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easy homemade ceviche.

Making ceviche at home might be one of my new favorite activities.

Now, that I’ve finally discovered a fresh seafood market just minutes away… I mean, come on…we only live in the boating capital of the world. You’d think someone would have had this covered sooner.

This place is seriously awesome, and if you happen to live in Fort Lauderdale, I highly recommend it. Not only do they have an incredible selection of fresh seafood, they’ll even cook it for you, if you ask! Now that doesn’t really interest me, because you know I want to take it home and soak it in a big bowl of citrus to make ceviche…but, it’s a nice idea, don’t you think? And if all of that wasn’t enough, this place even sells baguettes from my favorite Las Olas bakery - making it a total and complete one-stop shop. Boom!

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super-easy baked salsa + goat cheese.

Have you ever considered tossing a container of salsa over a mixture of goat cheese, cream cheese, and toasted pine nuts – and then baking it off in the oven until heated through?

If not, I invite you to try it. It’s probably the easiest and quickest appetizer ever to exist, and it’s also super-delicious.

Now, you know I don’t usually condone using store-bought salsa, but here that’s the route I like to go. It makes this dip *that* much easier, and when you’re working with a recipe as simple as this one, it just doesn’t make any sense to complicate things.

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chorizo, potato, and mushroom tacos.

I’m always looking for fresh twists on Mexican food, and Rick Bayless is probably my favorite source for doing so.

I spied this recipe on Pink Parsley eons ago, and then – finally – one day I got the urge to pull the trigger. I decided to make an entirely Bayless-inspired Mexican feast. There was guacamole…there was a great, big Mexican salad…there was fresh corn ice cream, which was the very first batch of ice cream I ever made…

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simple guacamole, rick bayless-style.

Can one ever have too many recipes for guacamole?

I’ll give you a hint: It’s the same answer you’d receive if you were to ask me if one could ever have too many margarita recipes.

Duh.

These types of things just aren’t possible. So, I invite you to try this simple guacamole recipe from the wonderful Rick Bayless. Because…well, he may kiiinda know a thing or two about good Mexican food.

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the ultimate italian-herb vinaigrette.

I have a confession: I made salad dressing from a store-bought packaged seasoning mix. And I liked it.

Understatement – I loved it. And you’ll love it, too. It’s a fact. This is the best salad dressing EVER. I got the recipe from Megsy, my pseudo mother-in-law, and it’s important for you to know that whenever she makes it, I am literally drinking the stuff.

This is not a joke. This is serious dressing. It’s so good, on a variety of things. Salad, yes – but I’m most partial to eating it with antipasti, specifically. I like to pour it on a piece of bread. I like to pour *a lot* of it on a piece of bread.

Good Seasons by Kraft, people. This is not a joke, either. I know you’re all surprised. Or maybe you’ve had this before, and you’re not surprised. You guys know I’m all about making dressings from scratch because it’s so easy to do and so much better than store-bought, but this is an exception. Well, kind of. It is partially homemade.

Try it, and prepare for addiction.

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