Weekly Favorites 05/13/18 through 05/19/18

Time for another weekly batch of favorite food and restaurant articles. This week, I'm mixing it up with some of my fellow bloggers, as well as some larger publications!


Grilled Chili Honey Lime Chicken and Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Salsa - via Half Baked Harvest

Grilled Chili Honey Lime Chicken and Sweet
Potatoes with Avocado Salsa
Photo Credit Half Baked Harvest

Right off the bat, this recipe struck me as something that would be perfect to make as spring continues to give way to summer. These flavors are perfect when you're trying to cool off on a hot summer evening.

Spring Cheese Board
Photo Credit Damn Delicious

Spring Cheese Board - via Damn Delicious

Damn Delicious is rapidly becoming one of my favorite blogs. I've never seen anything over there that didn't grab my attention. Here, she covers pairing fruits and veggies and crackers to make the perfect cheese board!


10 Best New Backpacking Meals - Via Outside Magazine

10 Best Backpacking Meals
Photo Credit Outside Magazine

I used to do my fair share of backpacking and hiking. Getting a good meal out on the trail can get a little squirrelly. I wish this list had been around back then. Maybe this is the motivation I need to get back out on the trail!


5 Southern Cooking Myths Debunked - via Garden & Gun 

Five Southern Cooking Myths Debunked
Photo Credit Garden & Gun

There are lots of cooking myths out there, some even less true than others. Here five of the more common
Southern cooking myths are debunked.

Chimichurri Steak

Chimichurri Steak

I've been thinking about making this one for a while, and finally got around to finding a night to try it out! The chimichurri sauce is full of big flavors that compliment steak perfectly! This chimichurri is based off of Anthony Bourdain's version, with a few modifications.


The Recipe:

• 1 1/2 Cups Olive Oil
• 1/4 Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 Cup Finely-Chopped Fresh Parsley
• 1 Cup Finely-Chopped Fresh Cilantro
• 1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
• 1/2 Teaspoon Oregano
• 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
• 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• Juice of Half a Lime
• Juice of Half a Lemon
• Salt to taste
• 1 Top Sirloin, About 2 Pounds

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until combined. Marinate the top sirloin in a plastic storage bag for at least 1 hour. Then, it's time for the grill. I grilled this top sirloin using the reverse sear method.

Chimichurri Steak Ready for the Grill

While the top sirloin was on the grill, I put the remaining marinade on the stove. Once it came to a simmer, I turned down the heat. Now, I had a sauce for my steak! I served this top sirloin along side some crinkle cut sweet potato fries!

Reverse Seared New York Strip

Reverse seared New York Strip!

One of my favorite meals is steak night! Last Saturday night was a rainy, Houston night, so what could be better than a steak and a movie at home? A creature of habit, I usually cook a steak the steak the same way each time. The same seasoning, the same sides, the same method. A good steak doesn't come cheap, so why take a chance and risk getting it wrong?




I have been hearing a lot about the "reverse sear method," when it comes to grilling meats, especially steaks. I decided to take a leap of faith with the two New York Strips I had picked up and try it out. I'm not sure that I'll ever go back. The cooking time is a little longer, but well worth the wait. The color is consistent throughout and melts like butter.

Grill the steak over indirect heat.

Conventional wisdom would tell you that a good sear when a piece of meat first lands on the grill will lock the juices in. The reverse sear does the same thing, but better. Since the meat is not over direct heat, the juices don't ever have a chance to cook out, making for a more tender, juicier steak.




Enough of me talking about it, let's cook!




The Recipe:

• 2 New York Strips
• Steak Seasoning (Cavender's has always been my go to)

Prepare a charcoal grill. For tips on setting up your grill visit here. The fire should be built on one side of the grill, so that the steak can cook over indirect heat.

Grill the steak of indirect heat

Season the steak and let sit out at room temperature. This will allow the steak to cook more evenly. 

Finish the steak over the fire.

The idea of the "reverse sear method" is to cook the steak before it goes over the flame, leaving it to sear at the very end. Place the seasoned steak on the grill, opposite from the fire. I cooked my steak 6 to 7 minutes per side over indirect heat, before searing it about a minute per side over the fire. This still allowed for a nice medium rare dark pink color that was consistent throughout. This steak was delicious and I cannot wait to repeat the experience!

Happy eating!