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Its February in Canada. Weather, crowds, prices. Stay home and cook an amazing steak dinner. Stress-free.

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Valentine’s Day strip loin steak, Herb butter shrimp skewers, and twice-baked potatoes.

Simple, indulgent, and done right.

 

Twice-Baked Potatoes

Ingredients:

 

• 2 large baking potatoes

• Sour cream

• Shredded cheese

• Green onion, finely sliced

• Cooked bacon, crumbled

• Butter

• Salt and pepper

• Garlic, minced or powdered

 

Method

 

1. Bake potatoes at 400°F for about 35 minutes or until tender when pierced.

2. Let cool just until warm. Slice the top off lengthwise.

3. Carefully scoop the potato into a bowl, keeping the skins intact.

4. Add your sour cream, shredded cheese, green onion, bacon, butter, salt, pepper, and garlic. Mix until smooth. (*Tip warm your liquid ingredients before adding to potato mixture to prevent a gluey, gummy mix.)

5. Spoon the mixture back into the skins, filling generously.
    

   • If you have a piping bag, pipe rosettes on top for a steakhouse finish.

   • If not, mound the filling about an inch above the skin with a spoon.

6. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until golden and lightly crisp on top.

 

 

Upgrade tip

Brush the skins lightly with olive oil and salt before refilling. It keeps them from going leathery.

 

Strip Loin Steak (8 to 10 oz)

 

What you need

 

• Strip loin steaks

• Butter

• Steak & Burger seasoning

• Instant-read thermometer

 

 

Method

 

1. Remove steaks from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking.

2. Pat dry thoroughly. Moisture kills your crust.

3. Heat a pan over medium-high heat, (stainless-steel works best but any pan you love will work). No oil or butter yet.

4. Place steaks in the hot pan. They will stick. Let them.

5. When a deep crust forms, the steak will release naturally. Flip and repeat.

6. When the second side is nearly done, add 1 tablespoon butter.

7. Season with Steak & Burger seasoning and baste continuously with the melted butter.

8. Cook to temperature:
    

   • 145°F medium-rare

   • 155°F medium

   • 165°F well done

9. Remove from pan and rest 5 minutes before slicing.

 

*Upgrade tip:

Add a crushed garlic clove or a sprig of thyme to the butter while basting for aroma without overpowering the beef or taking away from the Steak & Burger flavor.

 

 Garlic Butter Shrimp Skewers:

 Shortcut version

 

• Buy pre-skewered shrimp from the frozen seafood section.

 

 Method

 

1. Sear shrimp in the steak butter over medium heat, add more butter if needed.

2. Cook just until pink and opaque. No dark or translucent spots.

3. Baste with the butter and remove immediately.

 

 Upgrade tip

A squeeze of lemon right at the end wakes everything up.

 

 Sweet Chili Mayo (For Shrimp)

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• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon sweet Thai chili sauce

• A few squeezes of lemon juice

 

 Mix well and serve in small ramekins.

 

Plating​:

• Place the rested steak beside the potato.

• Lay shrimp skewers across the steak.

• Add the sauce ramekin to the side.

• Finish with cracked black pepper and a light sprinkle of green onion

• Light a candle, crack the wine and enjoy each others company for a lot less money.

 

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