Feelin meaty?

As winter approaches and the weather gets chilly, lets face it we all want some heartier meals. The salmon breast and light salad with Sauvignon Blanc may have worked when it was 90+ degrees outside and humid, but that just isn't going to cut it anymore. When I think of good winter meals, they are generally meaty and preferably from a cow. In the last few evenings I have prepared these beefy meals and hope that you enjoy them also. Loos for special wine and beer pairings at the end.



Spicy Barbecue Meatloaf and Roasted Butter Potatoes




Meatloaf

- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb 80/20 ground beef
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms
- 1 carrot diced
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 celery stalk diced
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mozzarella

Sauce

- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 yellow onion diced
- 1 tsbp worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp honey mustard
- 1/2 tbsp chile garlic sauce (asian food section)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Jamaican allspice
- 1 tsp garlic powder



Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Saute vegetables above in olive oil over medium heat - carrots, onion, celery in one pan, and onions in another for sauce. Soak mushrooms in bowl of water. Once vegetables are tender add all ingredients for meatloaf and 1/3 cup of mushroom liquid. Do not overwork meat. Add in fresh mozzarella last. Form log onto greased sheet pan. Combine the rest of ingredients for sauce and coat the meat log. Bake for about 1 hour or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Serve with butter potato wedges coated in olive oil, cayenne pepper, and salt that are baked for 1 hour or so. Dip potatoes in a sour cream, chives, and honey mustard dressing.





Steak and Mashed Potatoes

- New york strip steak
- Minced garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Minced thyme
- balsamic vinegar

Marinate steaks and pre-heat oven to 450. In cast iron skillet, sear steaks for about 3 minutes on each side, high heat. Bake in skillet for 20-30 minutes or until internal temperature is at 140
(medium rare).

For potatoes...
- 3 red potatoes chopped in big chunks
- 1/4 cup salty cheese like fresh Ricotta, Gruyere, Blue cheese
- Red onions julienned
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 1 tbsp minced fresh Italian parsley
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup sour cream

Boil potatoes until tender. Meanwhile, saute red onions, add red wine and brown sugar to caramelize. Add thyme and set aside. Mash all ingredients together and serve.



Wine & Beer: A spicy California Zinfandel or a Dark Stout would pair perfectly with these meals.
Santa Barbara Winery ZCS or Southern Tier Iniquity