EASIEST ANTIPASTI

   Here we have some packaged together Gallo brand provolone cheese and Italian dry salame, some green olives (these are Picholine olives from Trader Joe's, selling for a great price of $1.99)  and some marinated mushrooms.      

MARINATED MUSHROOMS

        You can, of course, used canned button mushroom, drained and drizzled with olive oil and vinegar, mixed and chilled for ½ hour, or you can make them yourself.

          These are Crimini. Rinse the mushrooms, pat them dry, cut off the tough end of the  stems.

          Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in an 8-inch skillet, cover and steam mushrooms over low heat for 5  minutes or until they are just tender.  Drizzle over vinegar, mix and chill for at  least ½ hour.   

  

       I call this ‘Laziest Day Appetizers.’

            

         Teeny pearl tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, rinsed—if you leave a little water on them, you can lightly salt them and the salt will adhere.

          A can of artichoke hearts, rinsed quickly and marinated with olive oil and vinegar.

          And a can of drained smoked oysters.

All photos by Carol Guilford.    

EASIEST SALISBURY STEAK

I wrote in The Easiest Cookbook--

Below, a multiple-choice question:

Salisbury steak was named for

a)      Salisbury, England

b)      J.H. Salisbury, a New York City socialite doctor specializing in obesity

c)      the Duke of Salisbury, who first served it at his table.

The correct answer is b.  At the turn of the 20^th century Dr.J. H. Salisbury’s Steak

appeared on the ornate menu at Delmonico’s Restaurant.

What this is, is a glorified, seasoned, baked hamburger — once you start putting in stuff, such as an egg or breadcrumbs, it’s meatloaf.  The recipe will serve 2-3. I do it in my shallow Pyrex, oven-proof deal.

      1-pound lean ground beef

    I like 15 percent fat. The beef should be at room temperature

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon salt

Worcestershire sauce

1.      Mix the beef, garlic powder, onion powder and salt.

              2.  Shape into a steak-like oval.                  

3.  Put the steak into the pan and brush the top with Worcestershire.

4.      Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. The inside will be

slightly pink. If you want medium, cook for 5 minutes more.

Cg note: To serve with baked potatoes, put the potatoes in the oven before preheating and bake 30 minutes.  Then put in the steak and cook for the recommended 20 minutes.

A small green salad  goes well with the dinner.