Braised Crockpot Balsamic Steak with Gorgonzola Alfredo

So I am finally getting around to cooking up one of the Crockpot make ahead freezer meals that I prepped, froze and mentioned a few weeks back.

Since it is yet still dreary and raining here, this is one of those perfect warm and cozy dinners that was super easy and delicious!  I am such a fan of anything with Gorgonzola cheese in it, I think this was my favorite of all the make ahead meals we have done thus far.

Braised Crockpot Balsamic Steak with Gorgonzola Alfredo
Courtesy of Who Needs A Cape

For The Steak

1.5 lb beef top round steak cut into 2" squares
1 c balsalmic vinegar
1/3 c olive oil
2 T honey
1/4 c worcestershire sauce
3 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste

For the Sauce

4 cups heavy whipping cream
2 cups parmesean cheese
8 oz gorgonzola cheese crumbled (half for sauce half for garnish)
1 cup of butter
6 oz fresh baby spinach
1 1/2 c sun-dried tomatoes
1 tsp basil
1 lb pasta of your choice (I used Campanelle)

Instructions

For the Steak

Mix all the ingredients and marinate over night.

Pour all the ingredients into the crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours until steak is tender

.
Serve over sauced pasta

** If freezing combine all the steak ingredients only and freeze in freezer safe bag. DO NOT freeze the pasta  or sauce portion of this dish.

For the Sauce

Follow instructions for cooking pasta.

Add the butter to the cream cooking bring the cream to a slow boil, frequently stirring.

Slowly add the parmesan cheese until it is melted into the cream.

Add 4 oz of the gorgonzola a little at a time into the Alfredo sauce until it is combined into the sauce.

Add the sun-dried tomatoes and basil, then add the spinach a little at a time, letting it wilt before adding more spinach.

When the pasta is done drain the water and pour the sauce over the pasta tossing it until coated.

Use the rest of the gorgonzola to garnish the pasta as it is served. Spoon the steak and a bit of the sauce on top of pasta.

This sauce was also amazing over our grilled asparagus!  

**Taste test note, the balsamic taste is really strong in this dish, if you are fan of balsamic vinegar.  If you are not, you may want to do equal parts of the balsamic vinegar and some beef broth, to mellow it out.

Spicy Sausage Skillet and Home Sweet Home

Our team with "Humphrey" the camel mascot.

What felt like 5 weeks away, has actually only been 5 days and we are now back home. After arriving at 1:00 am last night (or does that count as this morning), my bed never felt so wonderful.

The South and people of Atlanta were very good to us.  It was an awesome experience for our team, my girls and everyone who attended the weekend. The sites around town were tons of fun and although I was not wearing a pedometer, I am quite certain I put on 10,000 steps every day, which is good because I needed to burn off all our great meals we had out.

One of my favorite breakfast/lunch places is Corner Bakery Cafe.  I treated myself to a turkey sandwich lunch on the patio overlooking their gorgeous tulip garden.  It is so rare that I get a quiet meal to myself and even though I really don't like eating alone, it was nice to take in some sunshine and relax for a while.

I made this dish for dinner a couple weeks ago and it was terrific!  I hope I froze some leftovers because after arriving in the middle of the night last night, I have no idea what to do for dinner tonight!!

Spicy Sausage Skillet
Courtesy of Plain Chicken

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 lb smoked sausage, sliced into 1/4" slices

2 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes

1 tsp garlic powder

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 (10 oz) can Rotel tomatoes

1/2 cup heavy cream

8 oz campanelle pasta (or penne)

1/4 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp pepper

1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions

Heat olive oil over medium hight heat in a 12-inch oven safe skillet until hot.  Add sausage and cook until lightly browned.  

Add onion flakes, garlic powder, broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt and pepper and stir. Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and cover skillet. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until pasta is tender.

Remove skillet from heat and stir in half of the cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions.  Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.

One Year Ago:  Mushroom Soup

Happy Spring to everyone !!!