Copycat P.F. Chang's Chili Sauce and Sofas

It has been a full month of weekend projects and I'm happy to say the end is closing near.  Four straight weekends of hard physical work, I recover during the week and then we're back at it again on Saturday/Sunday mornings.  I have never been in so much pain in my life.  Muscles that I didn't even know that I owned have been screaming at me.  You know what they say though...no pain, no gain.

We have now changed our upstairs flooring (check back later this month for more on that...), and installed our downstairs flooring.  As you know, when you change just one thing, the domino effect starts falling...quickly.

We decided last summer that our sofa, loveseat, chair and ottoman were tired...very, very tired.  We think they are 16 years old.  16 years of kids, dogs, recuperating sick days home, evening debriefings, parties and celebrations, quiet book reading coffee times, family game and movie nights, and 5 residential moves.  

In this time, I had them reupholstered once, and I spent countless afternoons using leather conditioning treatments (which by the way is also a great arm workout).  There wasn't much more I could do to keep up their appearance, it was time to say good-bye.  I advertised them on the free page of Craigslist and someone from Wyoming drove all the way here to pick up the furniture for his new "man cave" he was building...perfect!

We placed our order of the new furnishings and waited...and waited...and waited.  Our six to eight week lead time turned into five months.  In the end though, it all worked out and was worth the wait.

What was once old, is now a new refreshed living room.  Even Princess Brinkley clearly approves of if all.

Since every waking weekend moment and dollar has been focused on the house, we really don't go out much at all for meals.  However, one of our favorite restaurants for special occasions is P.F. Chang's.

We always start our evening with their Steamed Handmade Shrimp Dumplings.  They serve them with a chili sauce drizzle that is simply out of this world.  We always ask for extra sauce.  Honestly, we could ask for a bucket and it wouldn't be enough.

Luckily, after many years of trial and error, we have conquered this sauce to make at home with our own dumplings.  So, so good and ridiculous how easy it is!

Copycat P.F. Chang's Chili Sauce

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 Tbl soy sauce

2 Tbl rice wine vinegar

2 Tbl ketchup

1 Tbl lemon juice

1/8 tsp sesame oil

1 Tbl hot Chinese mustard

2 tsp water

1-2 tsp garlic and chili paste

Dissolve the sugar in 1/2 cup water, stirring until completely incorporated.  Add the rest of ingredients and slowly whisk to combine.

This sauce is also super great to drizzle over grilled meats, shrimp, or rice.

One Year Ago:  Shrimp Cucumber Bites

Two Years Ago:  Chicken, Artichoke and Cannellini Bean Spezzatino

Three Years Ago:  Eating My Words...Part 1 and Cheesy Country Ham Dip

Four Years Ago:  Julie & Julia's Tomato Bruschetta

Five Years Ago:  BBQ Glazed Meatloaf and Jack and The Beanstalk

Six Years Ago:  24 Hour Salad (And To Departure)

Seven Years Ago:  Chile-Cheese Egg Bake

Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli with Lemon Butter Sauce

Oh my goodness!  Have you been catching Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy on Sunday nights CNN travel channel?  I am so hooked on this series...once again I am fully convinced that somewhere in my DNA, I am Italian.

It goes without saying how charming Stanley Tucci is, but the places he takes you, the scenery landscape and architecture, and the people he introduces to your living room every week is breathtaking.  

The food though!  By the end of each episode, I am starving (and I have usually watched after eating dinner already).  I am determined to try and make at least one dish from each episode and region that Stanley visits.

Before I get started on that adventure though, I did make this Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli with Lemon Butter Sauce.  This sauce is so beautiful and silky and the pop of lemon just screams Spring, which we are all ready for around here.  How about you?

This dish (less the chicken that we had with it that evening), would also make for a great Lent meatless dinner.

Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli with Lemon Butter Sauce

1 package (1 lb.) frozen Spinach & Ricotta ravioli

4 Tbl unsalted butter

2 lemons, zested and juiced

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.  Cook ravioli according to package directions.  Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water after the ravioli has finished cooking.

While the ravioli is boiling, make the sauce.  In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add the lemon zest and juice.  Add 1/4 cup pasta water and bring to a low simmer.  Season with salt and pepper.

Add the cooked ravioli to the skillet and carefully toss to coat in the sauce.  Stir in the heavy cream, and if the pasta looks dry, add a little more pasta water.  Turn off the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Plate and serve with more Parm...enjoy!

One Year Ago:  Jordan Marsh's Blueberry Muffins

Two Years Ago:  "Man"estrone Soup

Three Years Ago:  Eating My Words...Part 1 and Cheesy Country Ham Dip

Four Years Ago:  Nicoise Salad and No Meat Fridays

Five Years Ago:  Wisdom...(Words and Teeth) and Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken

Six Years Ago:  Spicy Asian Beef and Stocking Snacks

Seven Years Ago:  Tapenade Pasta Salad and Prayers

Butter-Basted Rib Eye Steaks

Spring is around the corner...I can see, smell, and taste it on a daily basis.  The stores are displaying their newest lines of patio furniture and the latest BBQs and smokers are showing up every weekend.  I for one, cannot wait to be back out in some warmer weather again.

We have been experiencing some high 50's days which has been making for wonderful lunch time walking weather and yet unfortunately teasing me because I know another blizzard will be making an appearance next week.

We have been eating a lot of chicken and seafood lately.  I was craving a steak like nobody's business this week.  Mama was on a carnivore mission to say the least.

I wanted to cook outside, but the night temperatures are too difficult to get the grill or Traeger where they need to be.  Since I just cleaned my ovens, broiling was out of the question.

I remembered seeing an episode of Chopped After Hours a long time ago.  If you have not seen one of these episodes, you must.  They are hilarious and you get to see the chefs in a whole other light.  This one I saw with Scott Conant and he was basting a steak in a cast iron skillet to cook it.  I think I may have started drooling!!  Great camera work, because it looked amazing!

So, I started researching and studying.  I can do this.  I know this, I got this!  WOW!!!  Just, WOW!!

I may never cook steak any other way than this.  Unbelievably great.  Get yourself a cast iron skillet (and an apron), this method is so worth it.

Butter-Basted Rib Eye Steaks

Courtesy of Food & Wine magazine

2 (1-1/4 pound) bone-in rib eye steaks

Kosher salt

Freshly ground pepper

2 Tbl canola oil

4 Tbl unsalted butter

4 thyme sprigs

3 garlic cloves, peeled

1 rosemary sprig

Season the rib eye steaks all over with salt and freshly ground pepper.  Let the meat stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

In a large cast iron skillet, heat the canola oil until shimmering.  Add the steaks and cook over high heat until crusty on the bottom, about 5 minutes.  Turn the steaks over and add the butter, thyme, garlic, and rosemary to the skillet.  Cook over high heat, basting the steaks with the melted butter, garlic, and herbs, until the steaks are medium-rare, 5 to 7 minutes longer.  Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.  Cut the steaks off the bone, then slice the meat across the grain and serve.

**I also added a dollop of blue cheese compound butter on the steaks, which takes this over the top!

We enjoyed the dinner with Rickshaw Cabernet Sauvignon.

One Year Ago:  Winter Minestrone

Two Years Ago:  Cherry Almond Skillet Shortbread and New Laundry Room

Three Years Ago:  Eating My Words...Part 1 and Cheesy Country Ham Dip

Four Years Ago:  Twix Thank You Cookies and The Sharing Plate

Five Years Ago:  Wisdom...(Words and Teeth) and Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken

Six Years Ago:  Spicy Asian Beef and Stocking Snacks

Seven Years Ago:  Mustard-Roasted Potatoes and Too Much Fun