Welcome!

Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Thursday, October 6, 2011

When I was a kid my mom used to make what we called Swiss Steak. I know that a traditional Swiss Steak has tomatoes in it but we never had that. The first time I ever heard of  Swiss Steak with tomatoes was when a friend (Hi Denise!) told me that's how her mom used to make it. She dreaded it every time, she said. So when my mom invited my friend and her family to dinner, I told her that my mom said they were having Swiss Steak. I thought she was going to drop dead right on the spot. She said she heaved a big sigh of relief when she saw it was Swiss Steak with brown gravy. This is a dish that has IT Guy's name all over it!! Meat....it's what for dinner!!

Swiss Steak in Brown Gravy




1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
1 pound cube steak
2 tablespoons oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 cups water
1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, salt and pepper. Add steak and shake to coat.

In a Dutch oven, brown steak in oil on both sides. Arrange onion slices between layers of meat. Add water and Worcestershire sauce.

Cover and bake at 325° for about 2 hours until meat is very tender. Remove to a serving platter and keep warm.

Gravy

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 cups beef broth or water

In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper and broth until smooth; stir into pan juices. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Serve steak and gravy with noodles.



The goods...


Throw the flour, salt, pepper and garlic salt in a large ziptop bag then add the meat. Give it shake until the meat is well covered.


Then put the meat in a large skillet with 
some oil and brown on both sides.


Mix together the water and the Worcestershire sauce. 
I'm not sure why the beef broth is in this picture.


Then pour that over the browned meat.


Add the onions. Cover and bake.


In a small bowl, mix the beef broth, 
flour and salt and pepper.


See this stuff? It makes gravy GOOD! 
Gives it some flavor and a nice, rich color.


Pour the broth/flour mixture into the pan after you've taken the cooked meat out of it. Drizzle in some of the Kitchen Bouquet. I just eye-ball it but maybe a tablespoon or so.


Stir the gravy until it's nice and thick then add the meat 
back into the skillet. Serve over noodles!!