Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze

This is an elegant and quick romantic dinner for two. Wonderful served with steamed asparagus and baby red potatoes.

Ingredients

• 2 (4 ounce) filet mignon steaks
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to taste
• salt to taste
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup dry red wine

Directions

1. Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over both sides of each steak, and sprinkle with salt to taste.
2. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place steaks in hot pan, and cook for 1 minute on each side, or until browned. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add balsamic vinegar and red wine. Cover, and cook for 4 minutes on each side, basting with sauce when you turn the meat over.
3. Remove steaks to two warmed plates, spoon one tablespoon of glaze over each, and serve immediately.

Triple Pork Sliders

With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, you'll need some snack for the game.  While they're throwing around the old pigskin, try the triple pork sliders.  With spicy mayo and chorizo, these will definitely kick the game up a notch.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground pork

• 1/2 pound fresh Mexican chorizo sausage, casings removed

• 1/4 cup finely grated pepper jack cheese

• 1 small shallot, finely chopped

• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 8 slices applewood smoked bacon, cooked crisp

• 16 small dinner rolls, sliced in half

• Curly leaf lettuce

• 3 sliced plum tomatoes

• Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise, recipe follows

Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika

• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (recommended: Sriracha)

Directions

1. Preheat a flat top grill pan to medium-high heat.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the ground pork, sausage, cheese, shallot, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Form the meat mixture into small equal-sized patties.

3. Cook the burgers for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan and serve on split rolls with a half a slice of bacon, lettuce, tomato and Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise.

Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise:

Mix all of the ingredients together in s medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving, allowing the flavors to meld. Can be made a day ahead.

Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage leaves stuffed with ground beef, onion and rice, covered in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce and cooked in a slow cooker.

Ingredients

• 12 leaves cabbage
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Boil cabbage leaves 2 minutes; drain.
2. In large bowl, combine 1 cup cooked rice, egg, milk, onion, ground beef, salt, and pepper. Place about 1/4 cup of meat mixture in center of each cabbage leaf, and roll up, tucking in ends. Place rolls in slow cooker.
3. In a small bowl, mix together tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over cabbage rolls.
4. Cover, and cook on Low 8 to 9 hours.

Sausage, Potato and Kale Soup

Ingredients

• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 4 cups half-and-half
• 3 cups cubed potatoes
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups torn kale leaves (bite-size pieces)

Directions

1. Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Crumble sausage into pot; cook and stir until browned, about 10 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
2. Stir half-and-half, potatoes, chicken broth, milk, onion, oregano, and red pepper flakes into sausage, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low. Simmer until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
3. Season with black pepper; stir kale into soup. Simmer until kale is tender, 10 to 15 more minutes.

Grilled Salmon with Brown Sugar Marinade

A simple soy sauce and brown sugar marinade, with hints of lemon and garlic, are the perfect salty-sweet complement to rich salmon fillets.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets
• lemon pepper to taste
• garlic powder to taste
• salt to taste
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. Season salmon fillets with lemon pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
2. In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, and vegetable oil until sugar is dissolved. Place fish in a large resealable plastic bag with the soy sauce mixture, seal, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. Preheat grill for medium heat.
4. Lightly oil grill grate. Place salmon on the preheated grill, and discard marinade. Cook salmon for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Apple Butter

Serve with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Super easy Sunday meal. Thicken the sauce with cornstarch, if desired.  We suggest some Bob's Market apple butter as the perfect ingredient!

Ingredients

• 1 (2 1/2 pound) boneless pork loin roast
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 onion, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary

Directions

1. Place pork roast in a slow cooker; sprinkle thyme over the top. Cover roast with onion and garlic; spread apple butter over the top. Pour chicken broth into the bottom of the slow cooker and place rosemary sprigs in broth.
2. Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.