Meatacular Memorial Day

With July 4th right around the bend and Father's Day this weekend, I figured it would be important to get the taste thoughts flowing by discussing Memorial Day at the Blackened Out kitchen. Although it rained and Penny stole a steak (and some prosciutto), we still managed to turn out some killer food. Here is a retrospective glance at some recipes to get you prospectively hungry for our Nation's Independence.

Penny dines on a tennis ball after feasting on a steak prior in the day.

The PR Director's pops does things with meat. Namely, he takes cows and the like and turns them into food. Good meat too; well-aged, nicely portioned, and deliciously marbled. With meat of this caliber, I like to do as little as possible to them in the arena of the kitchen. And usually serve a sauce on the side.

Take meat out, season like Ted Kennedy with kosher salt (I prefer Morton's) and fresh cracked black pepper. Just let that hang out.

In a blender, combine one bunch cilantro, 2 cloves garlic, black pepper, salt, one bunch parsley, and 1/4 cup or so of red wine vinegar. Blend furiously, while streaming a good amount of extra virgin olive oil. Taste. Congrats you have made chimichurri .

When cooking strips or filets, I like to pan saute them in an old cast iron skillet. Cuts like ribeyes, and porterhouses just seem to do better on a grill. High heat and a thin coating of lipid, 3 minutes on each side, and do not touch at all till ready to flip. Then into a smoking hot oven for 5-8 minutes. Allow to rest.

Boom. Steak with chimichurri.

Now for the kiddos. How about trading in that burger for some Sloppy Joes? (Sloppy Joes, Slop, Sloppy Joes... Yeah.) Meat, chili flake, salt, pepper, onions, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, into a pot, simmer together until everyone is cozy and friendly. Just like a good cocktail party, you need a minimum of one hour together.

If you want to go a little more adult, add some chopped olives, maybe a little anchovy, and mushrooms-for a kind of Drunken frat star goes into an Italian whorehouse and orders a sloppy joe take on the classic. Serve on squishy hamburger buns with loads of napkins. You just may find the adults sneaking a sloppy joe or three.

Independence Day-it's not just about hating the British anymore.